Executive Officer: CRAFT Facilitator

1. PREAMBLE

Mary Immaculate College is an autonomous, university-level, Catholic College of Education and the Liberal Arts. Founded in 1898, and linked academically with the University of Limerick, MIC is the oldest higher education institution in Limerick. Significant expansion in recent decades has seen the College’s offerings expand across two modern campuses, one based in Limerick City and one in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. The student community consists of more than 5,000 learners, participating in fifteen undergraduate degree programmes and several postgraduate programmes extending to PhD/Doctoral level. Academic staff engage in a wide range of academic research areas, and research underpins all teaching and learning at MIC.

MIC seeks to prepare its students for professional excellence and to nurture their capacity to lead flourishing lives.

2. CANDIDATE PROFILE & SCOPE OF THE POSITION

The College wishes to fill the position of CRAFT Facilitator on a full-time, Fixed term Contract for a 2-year period with an expected start date of April 2026. This post will be filled at Executive Officer Grade.

The CRAFT (Creative Arts, Future Technologies) Facilitator will assist with the delivery of a variety of different STEM & STEAM outreach workshops and events under the CRAFT initiative. The CRAFT Maker Space in MIC, Limerick, is a designated Research Ireland Discover Centre, serving as a regional hub for STEAM engagement. CRAFT is a dedicated, inspiring and dynamic STEAM engagement centre that delivers inclusive, hands-on educational experiences to children, families, educators, and communities across the Mid-West Region of Ireland and beyond. Participants at CRAFT workshops explore STEAM through engineering design challenges that incorporate new and innovative technologies, co-created and co-delivered with experts from the wider education community, community organisations, enterprise, industry and the arts. Further information can be found at: https://stemcraft.mic.ul.ie/

The CRAFT Facilitator will be required to support the design and delivery of CRAFT workshops on campus at MIC and out in the community with the CRAFT Manager, MIC Staff and MIC students, bringing CRAFT into schools and other community settings in towns and villages and rural areas across the region. The Facilitator will also support the running of STEM outreach workshops to children, parents and teachers during regional and national festivals such as Maths, Science, Engineers and Space Weeks, and MIC initiatives such as the MIC DELL Vex Robotics Programme and Microsoft Minecraft Education at MIC, Summer Camps for children and Summer Courses for teachers.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree or higher qualification, preferably in the field of STEM education/education or education research or a related discipline, and a minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience in the field of STEM education/educational outreach or educational disadvantage;

or

A minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience in the field of STEM education/education or educational disadvantage;

Experience in the preparation of training and/or educational materials and/or planning and delivery of workshops and activities to children and the general public;

Excellent interpersonal skills along with advanced verbal and written communication skills;

Proven ability to deliver information, and provide expert support in a professional manner to meet the needs of stakeholders on a range of issues;

Excellent IT and data management skills with a high degree of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Teams;

Excellent administrative and organisational skills with the ability to manage, prioritise, and complete a variety of competing tasks on time;

Full Drivers License, with access to a car or access to alternative means of transport that is suitable to meet the requirements of the post.

It is desirable that candidates will also have:

(1) Experience with educational research whether directly as a researcher, or engagement through professional capacity as an educator.

Cuirfear fáilte roimh iarratais ó dhaoine go bhfuil dearcadh dearfach acu i leith na Gaeilge. Applications are welcome from people who have a positive outlook to Irish.

3. JOB DESCRIPTIONReporting Relationship

The appointee is required to carry out the duties attached to the post, under the general direction of Director of Enterprise & Community Engagement and the STEM Outreach Manager at CRAFT, to whom they report, and to whom they are responsible for the performance of these duties in the first instance.

The reporting relationship is subject to review and may be altered from time to time in line with service needs and developments in the College.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitation of workshops in schools and community settings as well as in CRAFT on the MIC Campus.

• Co-delivery of creative, inspiring and interactive interdisciplinary STEAM workshops and resources for a wide range of learners, as well as pre-service teachers, teachers, families and the public.

• Design and publish STEAM teaching resources and practitioner guides for the CRAFT website in collaboration with MIC staff.

• Contribute to the planning, coordinating and delivery of the day-to-day activities of CRAFT.

• Support with administration duties related to the delivery of CRAFT Maker Space STEM outreach activities.

• Organise teaching materials and consumables for CRAFT workshops.

• Maintain relationships and ensure that all day-to-day interactions with external stakeholders (schools, families, community organisations and industry) are delivered to the highest standards.

• Build relationships with schools and teachers to strengthen and build awareness for MIC STEM Outreach events and initiatives.

The work is broadly defined and the list of duties is not exhaustive. The performance of the entire range of duties is not necessarily confined to any one individual, as the work requires that staff function in a flexible manner and work together as a team. The College retains the right to assign new duties and/or reassign staff to other areas of the College in response to service needs.

4. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENTGeneral

All persons employed will sign an appropriate contract, which will contain terms and conditions of the employment. A job description is given to all applicants for employment and this will form part of the contract documentation.

Place of Work

Though this post is situated in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, and there will be occasional necessity to be present on campus there, the post-holder will have the option to work primarily remotely if desired.

MIC operates a blended working policy, which offers scope for the post holder to combine office attendance with remote working, subject to the provisions of the policy.

Exclusivity of Service and Outside Work

The person appointed will be required to devote their full-time attention and abilities to their duties during their working hours in the College and to act in the best interest of the College at all times.

Therefore, for as long as the successful applicant is working in the College, they may not, without the prior written consent of the Vice President Administration and Finance (VPAF), be actively engaged or concerned in any way, either directly or indirectly, in any other business or undertaking where this is or is likely to be in conflict with the College’s interests or the performance of the duties that the person has been employed for.

The appointee will not, during their tenure of office, undertake paid outside work unless they have received the permission of the VPAF of Mary Immaculate College to undertake such work on the terms and conditions as agreed for the particular undertaking in question. In every case, it is the duty of the appointee to seek in writing the prior permission of the VPAF. It is also the duty, in every case, of the appointee to inform the person or body for whom the work is being undertaken that the work is being conducted in a private capacity and that the College cannot in any circumstances be responsible for such work.

Probationary Period

The appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of the standard 6-month probationary period. The probationary period may be extended at the discretion of the College but will not in any case exceed 11 months. Absences during the period of probation will extend the probationary period.

Performance and conduct during the probationary period will be reviewed through a process of assessment meetings. Termination of the appointment during the probationary period, for any reason or no reason, will be at the discretion of the College. The disciplinary procedure will not apply to a dismissal during probation where the probationary employee has been employed by MIC for less than 12 months.

Hours of Attendance

The full-time working hours are 35 hours per week.

The normal hours of duty are Monday to Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break each day, and Friday, 9:00 am to 4:45 pm with a 45-minute unpaid lunch break.

However, the duties attaching to the position are such that the post holder may be required to work evenings/weekends on occasion to accommodate service needs. Subject to College policy, the post holder may avail of Time-Off-In-Lieu (TOIL) or overtime where working hours exceed the contract hours per week.

The College reserves the right to adjust starting and finishing times or days of duty to meet service needs.

Salary

The Salary scale for this position has been approved by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Higher Education Authority in line with Government Policy on Public Sector remuneration. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. The appointment will be made on the salary scale at a point in line with current Government Pay Policy. New entrants to the Civil or Public Sector, as defined in Circular 18/2010, will commence on the first point of the salary scale.

The grade for this post is Executive Officer.

With effect from 1 February 2026, the annual salary scale for Executive Officer (New Entrant - Grossed Up) grade is:

€36,207; €38,419; €39,203; €41,455; €43,594; €45,511; €47,364; €49,211; €51,024; €52,889; €54,749; €56,721; €58,044; €59,930 (LSI); €61,826 (LS2)

With effect from 1 February 2026, the annual salary scale for the grade of Executive Officer (Grossed Up Non New Entrant) is:

€39,203; €41,455; €43,594; €45,511; €47,364; €49,211; €51,024; €52,889; €54,749; €56,721; €58,044; €59,930 (LSI 1); €61,826 (LSI 2)

Increments are awarded in line with national pay agreements.

Salary will be paid on a monthly basis on the 25th of each month, or the previous Friday if 25th falls on a weekend, using the Paypath facility. Payment of salaries and wages are subject to statutory deductions, i.e. Income Tax (PAYE), Superannuation Contributions, Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) and Universal Social Charge (USC).

Superannuation

New entrants to the public service will be required to participate in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme and pay Superannuation contributions at the appropriate rates in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act, 2012.

All other eligible appointees are automatically included in the Colleges of Education Pension Scheme on taking up appointment. In compliance with the Colleges of Education Pension Scheme, deductions amounting to 6.5% are made from salary.

The appointee will be required to pay Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) under the provisions of the Public Service and Pensions Act 2017.

Appointees who commenced employment in the public service between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 and have not had a break in employment of greater than 6 months will have no mandatory retirement age. All other appointees will have a mandatory retirement age of 70.

Pension Abatement

If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service, or where a Civil/Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee’s re-employment, that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

In applying for this position, the applicant is acknowledging that they understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the College will support an application for an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position.

Annual Leave

The annual leave entitlement for this grade is 25 working days per leave year. Annual leave should be taken when students are off campus and the taking of leave must have the prior approval of the relevant Line Manager.

Public Holidays are granted in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Sick Leave

Employees who have a minimum 3 months’ continuous employment with the College may be granted sick pay subject to the terms of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. Sick pay is contingent on full cooperation and compliance with the College’s absence management procedures.

Confidentiality

In the course of working in Mary Immaculate College, the person appointed may have access to or hear information concerning staff and/or students and/or the functioning and the business of the College. Such information acquired in the course of employment with the College, including any aspect of the College’s responsibilities or operations, is considered to be confidential information.

On no account must information concerning students, staff or other College business be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duties and, unless authorised to do so, this information shall not be communicated to a third party. In addition, records must never be left in a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required.

Health & Safety

Mary Immaculate College attaches the highest regard to the safety, health and welfare of its employees. It is the duty of each employee to take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of themselves and of other people in the workplace. Each employee must comply with all health and safety policies and procedures in operation in Mary Immaculate College and familiarise themselves with the Safety Statement.

Employees are obliged to wear any PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that they may be provided with and no person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse any appliance, protective clothing or other equipment provided in the workplace for health and safety purposes.

Employees are statutorily and legally obliged to ensure that any accidents or incidents which may occur are reported promptly to the Health and Safety Officer on the MIC Accident/Incident Report Form.