General Assistant: Courtbrack Assistant

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.

CANDIDATE PROFILE AND SCOPE OF THE POSITION

Mary Immaculate College wishes to appoint suitable candidates to the positions of General Assistants, Courtbrack Accommodation on a fixed term part time basis from May 2026 to August 2026.

This is an important service role within the College. The successful candidate will be responsible for general operative work, Courtbrack Accommodation, working under the supervision of the Manager, Courtbrack Accommodation.

Applicants must be available from May to August 2026 on a shift rostered, 3 to 5 days per week basis from Saturday to Friday, including night duties.

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

(1) High standard of organisational skills; (2) Strong interpersonal and communication skills; (3) Ability to work effectively within an established team environment and equally on own initiative; (4) Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines; (5) Excellent problem solving abilities.

It is desirable that candidates will also have:

(6) Relevant experience in a hospitality environment; (7) Prior customer service experience;

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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting Relationship

The appointee is required to carry out the duties attached to the post, under the general direction of the Manager Courtbrack Accommodation, to whom he or she reports, and to whom he or she is responsible to for the performance of these duties in the first instance. The appointee will also have a reporting relationship to the Vice President, Administration and Finance.

The appointee will report through the Manager Courtbrack Accommodation to the College President and or to such other College Officers as the President may designate from time to time. He or she will liaise with the Heads of Departments and other College personnel in carrying out the duties attaching to the post.

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

• To assist with the end of term clean up in May after the students leave and the clean up in August when preparing for the new students.

• To work during the summer months May to August and work shifts required which are rostered on a seven day basis Saturday to Friday.

• To cover reception duties with shifts usually from either 8 – 4 or 4 – 12 (these shift start times can vary). Duties include taking and recording accommodation bookings, booking customers in, keeping account of the takings on daily sheets, balancing the takings at shift end, lodging the money in the safe, accounting for discrepancies should they arise and communicating and dealing with any customer enquiries. Also the preparation of a daily housekeeping sheet.

• To work the housekeeping shift, this is usually from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Duties include the daily cleaning of the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, common room and computer room. It also involves the changing of bed linen after customers have stayed.

• To work the night shift (12am – 8am) when rostered each fortnight, on this shift to be responsible for the general safety of the building and of customers. The night shift duties also include the cleaning of all communal areas, the setting up of the breakfast buffet and checking in late arrivals.

• To carry out maintenance and cleaning duties as instructed by the management. These duties will include painting, changing bulbs and any other light maintenance tasks should they occur.

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 the staff function in a flexible manner and work together as a team. The College retains the right to assign new duties and or re assign staff to other areas of the College in response to service needs.

General

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

The appointee’s normal place of work will be Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. The College reserves the right to require the appointee to work from any other location. It is a requirement of the College that the appointee must reside within a reasonable distance of the College.

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

Full time hours are 35 hours per week. A shift rostered 3 to 5 days per week basis from Saturday to Friday, including night duties applies to these roles.

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

You will be entitled to a 15 minute paid break in the mornings only.

By law you are entitled to a 30 minute break where your working day exceeds 6 hours. In total, by law, you should receive at least 30 minutes during the working day, 11 hours daily rest and 24 hours weekly rest. If you do not receive these breaks, please inform your supervisor within 7 days.

You will be required to comply with attendance recording procedures, including electronic methods, which may be introduced.

Salary

The salary for this position has been approved as €17.30 per hour.

Sunday attendance will be remunerated at double time, i.e. €34.60 per hour.

Public Holiday attendance will be remunerated at double time, i.e. €34.60 per hour, subject to the employee having worked at least 40 hours in the previous 5 weeks.

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 percent 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 1st April 2004 and 31st 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 or 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 22 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 and 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 or 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 or Incident Report Form.