Facilities Officer (Front of House Manager)

Job Title

Facilities Officer (Front of House Manager) (Senior Clerk of Works)

Location

The post-holder will be based at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, or at any other National Museum of Ireland (NMI) site as may be designated from time to time by the Director. The Facilities Officer, Irish Folklife Division, may be required to travel to any of the Museum’s sites.

Reporting To

The post-holder will report to the Head of Estates.

Job Purpose

To lead, direct, manage and support the Deputy Front of House Managers and Visitor and Security Officer teams in delivering the visitor experience. To work with the Estates team and other NMI departments to progress and implement NMI projects, programs, policies and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Principal Interactions

This role leads and manages a team of two Deputy Front of House Managers and eight Visitor and Security Officers. The focus is on developing the teams in terms of visitor experience delivery. The role is central to coordinating and managing activities at the location, including:

• Management of events (education and corporate)

• Facilities activity (health and safety, maintenance, security, and sustainability)

Working with Deputy Front of House Managers and VSO Teams

• Ensure gallery/public spaces are staffed appropriately and operations are running smoothly

• Develop, source, implement training, and support programmes for front of house teams delivering visitor experience

• Coach and support teams and individual team members

• Lead on implementing change initiatives in the Estates function

Working with the Wider Estates Team (Facilities, Health and Safety, Purchasing, Security, Sustainability)

• Ensure staff are trained in the operation of health and safety, security, and maintenance equipment, systems, and procedures

• Advise relevant Estates personnel of business and operational issues

• Liaise with external service providers (e.g., Office of Public Works, Mayo County Council)

Working with Other NMI Departments

• Coordinate and manage on-site activities

• Chair weekly cross-departmental communications

• Progress projects and events across NMI

Working with the Line Management Team

• Contribute to the development of policy, procedures, and best practices in visitor experience

Systems and Procedures

• Develop and implement staff rosters, schedules, and operational systems

• Oversee the operation of transaction management systems such as:

  • Staff roster compliance

  • Annual leave and sick leave recording via relevant systems (e.g., NSSO)

Personal Development

• Identify personal training and skills development requirements and actively engage with training opportunities

Personal Specification

Essential Requirements

• Experience in directing, leading, and managing a team delivering visitor/customer services to diverse customers

• Experience developing and implementing rosters and work schedules

• Experience working effectively as part of a team

• Excellent communication skills, both spoken and written

• Experience managing difficult and challenging situations

• Commitment to personal development and a willingness to acquire new skills

• Flexible approach to work

• Be suitable on the grounds of character

• Fully competent and available to undertake the duties of the position

• Hold ECDL certificate or equivalent

Desirable (But Not Essential)

• Experience managing visitor services in the cultural sector

• Proficiency in the Irish Language

Selection Process

In the event of a high volume of applications, a shortlisting process may be used to select candidates for interview based on the information provided in their applications. This does not suggest that other candidates are unsuitable or incapable of doing the job, but that others may be better qualified or more experienced.

The National Museum of Ireland does not reimburse the cost of travel to interviews.

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) – EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (b) A Swiss citizen (under the EU-Switzerland agreement on free movement) (c) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse/child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and holds a Stamp 4 visa (d) A person granted international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 (or a family member under reunification, holding Stamp 4) (e) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent EEA/Swiss citizen child residing in the EEA or Switzerland and holding Stamp 4

UK Citizens: The Common Travel Area Agreement remains unchanged post-Brexit. UK citizens may work and reside in Ireland without restriction.

Incentivised and Redundancy Schemes

• ISER: Retirees under the scheme are not eligible

• VER/VRS: Not eligible unless 7 years have passed and Ministerial approval is obtained

• Collective Agreement: A 2-year non-eligibility period applies unless Ministerial consent is secured

Declaration: Applicants must disclose prior early retirement, pension entitlements, or redundancy-related payments.

Principal Conditions of Service

Pay

Senior Clerk of Works PPC Scale (Public Service Agreement 2024–2026): €53,987 – €66,002 per yearIncrements subject to satisfactory performance.

Starting Salary

€53,987 per annum (first point of the scale). May be adjusted per Government pay policy.

Tenure

Full-time contract of indefinite duration, subject to a one-year probation period. Either party may terminate the contract under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts.

Annual Leave

26 working days per year, rising to:

• 27 days after 5 years

• 29 days after 10 years (Excludes public holidays)

Hours of Attendance

43.25 gross hours/week (35 net hours). Overtime/time-off-in-lieu is available under civil service regulations. Flexible working hours apply under NMI policy.

Other Conditions

Duties

You will be required to perform any duties appropriate to the position as assigned. The role is full-time, and outside business interests must not interfere with official duties.

General

The appointment is subject to:

• Civil Service Regulation Acts (1956–1996)

• Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004

• Any applicable civil service laws

• NMI policies, including Code of Standards and Behaviour

Superannuation and Retirement

Offered based on the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, unless the appointee qualifies for a previous scheme under non-single terms.

Key Provisions:

a. Pensionable Age: Minimum age is 66 (rising to 67/68 in line with State Pension)

b. Retirement Age: Maximum age is 70

c. Pension Abatement:

• Applies if receiving a Civil/Public Service pension

• Early retirement pensions (except ISER/VER) will cease upon reappointment

• Public Service Pensions Act 2012 extends abatement across all re-employment

• Teachers under Circular 102/2007: Pension ceases if re-employed in the public sector (except in specific cases)

• Ill-Health Retirement: Subject to review per scheme rules

d. Prior Public Servants: If employed in a pensionable public service job within 26 weeks of appointment, membership may default to the Non-Established State Employee Scheme instead of the Single Scheme.

e. Pension Accrual: A 40-year limit applies where multiple public service pensions are accrued.

f. Pension-Related Deduction: Deductions apply as per Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. More info: http://www.per.gov.ie/pensions

Sick Leave

• Full pay for up to 92 days in one year (properly certified)

• Half pay thereafter, subject to a max of 183 days over 4 years

• Appointee must authorise DSP to pay illness benefits directly to NMI

Official Secrecy and Integrity

• Subject to the Official Secrets Act 1963, amended by the Freedom of Information Act 1997

• Must not disclose confidential/commercial information during or after employment

Prior Approval of Publications

Approval must be obtained from the Director before publishing material related to official duties.

Political Activity

Subject to civil service rules regarding political neutrality.