Health and Safety Training Officer

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 & SCOPE OF THE POSITION

The College wishes to fill the position of Health and Safety Training Officer, Mary Immaculate College, on a full-time, permanent basis. The position of Health and Safety Training Officer is a key administrative role. The appointee will have responsibility for a wide range of duties relating to the functioning of Health and Safety. Overall, the role is essential to ensuring that the organisation can meet its legal obligations, manage increased operational demands and sustain a proactive, effective health and safety culture.

Essential Skills & Qualifications:

A relevant third level qualification at level 6 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications and a minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience, preferably in a large organisation or a third level institution or a minimum of three years' relevant experience in health and safety, risk management, compliance or health and safety administration, preferably within a large organisation or third-level institution.

Significant administrative experience in a busy office environment, including experience coordinating training programmes, compliance activities, projects or other organisational processes, with responsibility for maintaining records, monitoring progress and supporting reporting requirements.

Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, competing demands and deadlines.

Strong record management, database administration and reporting skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Excellent IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Outlook.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to work independently and use initiative.

Willingness and ability to undertake training in health and safety-related areas, including Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessment, and the ability to travel regularly between College campuses and other locations as required in the performance of duties.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience:

9. Experience working in a health and safety, compliance, facilities, training, human resources or similar administrative role.

10. A recognised health and safety qualification, or knowledge and experience of health and safety legislation, compliance processes, workplace assessments, audits or health and safety management systems. Experience delivering, coordinating or facilitating health and safety training programmes, including DSE assessments, manual handling training or similar workplace safety initiatives, would be desirable.

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 Senior Health and Safety Manager, to whom you report, and are responsible, for the performance of these duties in the first instance. The appointee will report through the Senior Health and Safety Manager to the Director of Estates and Sustainability. 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:

• Coordinate, schedule and monitor all mandatory health and safety training, including fire safety, manual handling and other statutory requirements

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date training records and ensure timely completion of refresher training across all departments

• Develop and implement systems to track compliance and generate reports for management and audit purposes

• Conduct onsite Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments for fixed workstations and ensure corrective actions are implemented, provide guidance and support to staff on ergonomic best practices and safe workstation setup

• Support compliance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated regulations

• Assist in ensuring organisational alignment with ISO 45001, including preparation for audits and inspections

• Support the coordination and review of risk assessments, safety statements and safe systems of work

• Assist with contractor management processes, including review of safety documentation (RAMS), inductions and compliance monitoring

• Provide health and safety support in relation to upcoming capital and maintenance projects

• Monitor and track health and safety actions arising from inspections, audits and incident investigations

• Support incident reporting processes, including documentation, follow-up actions and trend analysis

• Assist in the development and delivery of health and safety communications and awareness initiatives

• Provide administrative and clerical support to the Health and Safety function, including document control, reporting and record management

• Liaise with internal departments and external stakeholders to support the effective implementation of health and safety requirements

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of health and safety systems and practices across all campuses

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.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

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. 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 1st June 2026, the annual salary scale for Executive Officer (New Entrant - Grossed Up) grade is:

€36,569; €38,803; €39,595; €41,870; €44,030; €45,966; €47,838; €49,703; €51,534; €53,418; €55,297; €57,288; €58,625; €60,529 (LSI 1); €62,444 (LSI 2).

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

€39,595; €41,870; €44,030; €44,966; €47,838; €49,703; €51,534; €53,418; €55,297; €57,288; €58,625; €60,529 (LSI 1); €62,444 (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).