Graduate IS Technical Support Officer

A panel will be formed from which any future Graduate IS Technical Support Officer vacancies may be filled in any of the current or future River Basin Management Service regional offices.

Current RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT SERVICE regional office locations:

Border Region: Bundoran, Co. Donegal; and Ballybay, Co. Monaghan.

Midlands and East Region: Dublin 8, Dublin and Tullamore, Co. Offaly

South-East Region: Clonmel & Tipperary town, Co. Tipperary, and Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny.

South-West Region: Croom, Co Limerick and Inniscarra, Co. Cork

Western Region: Liosbán Business Park, Galway; and Castlebar, Co. Mayo

A fixed term contract of employment or specified purpose contract of employment will be issued by the relevant employing Local Authority (Tipperary or Kilkenny County Council) and it is envisaged that contract will terminate on or before 22nd December 2027.

A review of the River Basin Management Service is currently being undertaken by the County and City Management Association (CCMA) on behalf of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to inform the appropriate level of resources required to meet current and future Water Framework Directive commitments and objectives.

It is likely that parts of the work schedule will be outside normal office hours, so flexibility will be required.

THE ROLE AND DUTIES

Graduate IS Technical Support Officer

In the case of vacancies within the Water Framework Directive (WFD) team, the Graduate IS Technical Support Officer will report to the IS Project Lead (WFD) and will be part of the Information Systems (IS) team. The role will involve the provision of an IT service to a nationally dispersed user base for all our office locations, on premises and remotely.

The duties will include but will not be limited to:

• Provide first-line (Level 1) ICT support to users via phone, email and the Helpdesk.• Log, prioritise and track incidents and service requests in accordance with service desk procedures and service levels.• Resolve routine ICT issues and escalate more complex incidents where required.• Assist in the provision of end user support for Business, Web and IT systems.• Support user onboarding activities, including account setup, access provisioning and device configuration.• Assist with device builds, software installations and standard ICT equipment setup.• Maintain accurate records of incidents, requests and actions taken.• Provide a professional, responsive and customer-focused service to all users.• Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including information security and data protection requirements.• Participate in training and development as required.

Additional duties will include:

• Contribute to root cause analysis to improve IT support on an on-going basis.• Contribute to the development and maintenance of ICT documentation, including user guides, IT process and policy documentation and knowledge base materials.• Liaise with relevant third-party suppliers in the deployment, creation of content, hosting of portals.• Liaise with relevant third-party suppliers regarding technical support of systems.• Assist with ICT projects, system upgrades and technology refresh activities to support the continuous improvement of IT systems, applications and technologies.• Assist in the implementation of the goals, targets and standards set out in the IS Team Development Plan.• Carry out such other duties as may be assigned from time to time, appropriate to the grade.

These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and are carried out under general guidance.

The Graduate IS Technical Support Officer will be employed by Tipperary County Council OR Kilkenny County Council.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE ROLE

CHARACTER

Each candidate must be of good character.

HEALTH

Each candidate shall be in a state of health such as indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE ETC.

Candidates must on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

• A qualification at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major award (i.e. ordinary degree) in a relevant computing discipline.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate must have:

• Basic technical knowledge, including:o Microsoft O365o Windows operating systemso End-user device management

• Good problem-solving skills and a willingness to learn

• Effective communication skills, particularly when supporting non-technical users

In addition:

• Have a proven record of willingness to take the initiative and adopt a proactive approach to the introduction of ICT-based solutions

• Have the ability to keep senior staff and team informed and up-to-date

• Have the ability to work under pressure in a complex environment on own initiative, with minimum supervision and to tight timelines

• Have a positive attitude with self-motivation skills

• Have very strong customer service skills, understanding the importance of systems, process and structures in enabling efficient delivery of an effective team

• Have the ability to interact with staff at all levels in the organization

• Hold a current, full, unendorsed Class B Drivers Licence and have access to own car

SALARY

Current Salary (Single point scale): €36,474 (Grade IV equivalent)

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time.

The employee shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to or received by him/her by virtue of his/her employment or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point.

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employee’s nominated bank account. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g. P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I.

Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

Under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013, the working hours for newly appointed/promoted staff are 35 hours per week. All posts will be offered on the basis of the candidate working wholetime.

PROBATION

Where persons who are not already permanent employees of a Local Authority are appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) there shall be a period after such appointment takes effect, during which such person shall hold office on probation;

(b) such period shall be one year, but the Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend such period;

(c) such persons shall cease to hold the position at the end of such period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory.

SUPERANNUATION

The relevant Superannuation Scheme will apply.

The provisions of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 may apply.

Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority as follows:

1.5% of their pensionable remuneration

plus

3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

The provisions of the Spouses and Children’s/Widows and Orphans Contributory Pension Scheme will continue to apply.

New entrants will be admitted to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme with effect from the date of appointment. The scheme is contributory and provides pension, retirement gratuity, death gratuity and survivors benefits. To qualify for a pension the successful candidate must have served a minimum of two years employment in a Local Authority.

RETIREMENT AGE

There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.

Anyone who is not a new entrant to the public service, as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, is subject to a compulsory retirement age of 70 years or as determined in accordance with Department Circulars and in line with Government Policy.

The maximum retirement age for new entrants as defined by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012 is 70 years.

The Council may refer staff to a medical advisor at any time to determine fitness for carrying out the duties to which they have been assigned.

INCENTIVISED SCHEME FOR EARLY RETIREMENT (ISER)

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector.

Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

HOURS OF WORK

The hours of work are 35 hours per week. All hours worked are subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations, 2001.

Flexible working arrangements apply. RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT SERVICE requires employees to record their hours using a time management system.

RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT SERVICE does not offer Blended Working arrangements to Graduates. The role is fully office based.

ANNUAL LEAVE

The annual leave entitlement for the Graduate grade is 24 days per annum.

The Chief Executives of Tipperary County Council & Kilkenny County Council retain autonomy with regard to office closures, (e.g. Christmas Office Closure); any days arising from such closure will be reserved from the employee’s annual leave entitlement.

Proposed office closure days will be reviewed and advised to all employees each year.

RESIDENCE & CITIZENSHIP

The successful candidate shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed, or within a reasonable distance thereof.

Each Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or

f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

DRIVING LICENCE

Tipperary/Kilkenny County Council employees may on occasion be required to use their car on official business. In such situations the employee must hold a current clean driving licence and have available adequate means of transport.

It is the responsibility of the employee to arrange the appropriate car insurance for business use and to indemnify Kilkenny/Tipperary County Council with the indeminty specified on the insurance certificate under the heading “Persons or classes of person who are covered”. Documentation to confirm the appropriate insurance cover will be required to be supplied to the Council on an annual basis.

CODE OF CONDUCT/ORGANISATIONAL POLICIES

Employees are required to adhere to all current and future Kilkenny/Tipperary County Council codes of practice including Code of Conduct of Employees and all current and future organisational policies including, but not limited to Health and Safety, Communications, Data Protection, Equality, Staff Mobility, Attendance Management and Use of Electronic Equipment. A full list of relevant policies is contained on the Council intranet.

TRAINING

Employees are required to attend and participate fully in training programmes as may be decided by the Council from time to time and to apply their learning in the course of their daily working activities.

LOCATION OF ASSIGNMENT/APPOINTMENT

The Graduate IS Technical Support Officer will work as part of a national Information Systems (IS) team.

Tipperary/Kilkenny County Councils reserves the right to assign the successful candidate to any premises in use by the Council within the region of appointment, now or in the future. This will be agreed in advance with the successful candidate.

The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own means of transport and at their own expense.