Health & Safety Officer

The Role Reporting directly to the Head of the SQC Section, Health and Safety Officers work to prevent accidents, injuries and work-related illnesses in the IRCG.

Health and Safety Officers create and implement health and safety policies in accordance with the latest legislation, national and international standards and to ensure that these policies are implemented by management, staff and Coast Guard volunteers. The role requires active engagement with personnel at all levels of the organisation on health and safety related matters.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities of the Role

The principal duties and responsibilities of the role will include the following:

• Managing IRCG Occupational Health and Safety Management System which is based on the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) 45001 standard.

• Assisting the Head of the Section in managing health and safety across IRCG locations.

• Developing and managing health and safety objectives for the IRCG.

• Carrying out risk assessments, producing method statements and other related health and safety documents and making recommendations to management on foot of risk assessments carried out.

• Monitoring and measuring the health and safety performance of the IRCG in support of identifying areas of improvement.

• Ensuring staff welfare is a high priority by:

• Preparing health and safety strategies and developing internal policies in line with IRCG health and safety objectives and recognised best practice.

• Developing and implementing effective programmes for maintaining, enhancing and fostering a zero incident and just culture within the IRCG.

• Managing, carrying out and ensuring closure of safety audits throughout the entire organisation.

• Fostering a high standard approach to health and safety compliance across all sites.

• Supporting IRCG line management with health and safety matters, monitoring developments in health and safety and ensuring compliance with same.

• Leading communication and engagement efforts within the IRCG and with stakeholders and promoting positive and proactive interaction with the Safety Management System.

• Actively engaging with safety representatives in the IRCG.

• Taking a prominent role in reviewing and revising (where necessary) the Safety Statement and associated Safety Management System.

• Conducting accident and near miss investigations including drawing up reports and risk assessments for management recommending corrective actions, observing trends and communicating these to relevant stakeholders.

• Actively participating in national health and safety forums including those under the National Search and Rescue (SAR) Committee where required.

• Keeping up to date on all matters regarding health and safety legislation and guidance and keeping management and employees informed.

• Managing the legal compliance register.

• Responsible for reporting to and dealing with the Health and Safety Authority as required.

Please note: The above is a general guide to the key duties and responsibilities of the role and is not an exhaustive description. Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role may also be assigned from time to time in line with the development of the role and section.

Please note: The position is a uniformed grade. The successful candidate will be required to wear their uniform and or Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in a presentable manner and to maintain a smart and neat appearance, as determined by Coast Guard management.

Location of Post

The successful candidate will be based in the Department’s office in Leeson Lane, Dublin 2.

Working Environment

A key facet of the Health and Safety Officer’s responsibilities will be regular travel (including overnights) to IRCG locations nationwide to carry out duties of the role, for example attending meetings, facilitating training, briefing IRCG Volunteers, carrying out audits and similar duties. These duties may require extra attendance after office hours.

Travel and subsistence and payment or time off in lieu will be covered in accordance with Civil Service regulations. IRCG pool vehicles will be provided for official business use only. The officers driving them will be responsible for their control, cleanliness and maintenance.

Under the Department’s Blended Working Policy, working from home may be facilitated, subject to business needs.

Vacancy

There is currently one vacancy. Candidates who are successful in this competition will be placed on a panel, in an order of merit, to fill current and any future vacancies that may arise over the lifetime of the panel.

It is not expected that appointments will be made from this panel after November 2027.

Training and Development

The candidate appointed as a result of this competition will be required to undergo any course of instruction or training (including academic education) that, in the opinion of the Irish Coast Guard, would be necessary and relevant to the duties of the post. This may also include attendance at conferences and seminars.

On the job training is provided and encouraged. The Department has in place a performance management development system (PMDS) in conformity with the general policy of the Civil Service. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) among its professional staff is encouraged and supported.

In addition, the Department may assist with educational opportunities through a refund of fees scheme for attendance at third level further education.

Benefits

As well as a rewarding and challenging career, some of the benefits of working as a Health and Safety Officer in the IRCG include:

• Salary starting at €53,740 with yearly increments for satisfactory performance. • Public Sector pension. • Annual leave of 29 days. • Access to well being programmes to support a healthy work life balance. • Opportunity to avail of the Cycle to Work scheme and the tax saver public transport pass. • Opportunity to join the Public Service Credit Union.

Subject to business needs and a satisfactory probationary period:

• Flexible working with a commitment to work life balance and a family friendly workplace including work sharing arrangements and a wide variety of special leave options. • Access to Shorter Working Year Scheme. • Facility to apply for career breaks. • Learning and development opportunities. • Opportunities for promotion through internal, interdepartmental and open competitions.

Salary Range (Engineering Officer): €53,740 – €75,788 Annual Leave: 29 days Hours of attendance: 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week

Principal Conditions of Service: The Principal Conditions of Service applicable to the role including Eligibility to Compete and Certain Restrictions on Eligibility are on page 9 and 10 of this booklet.

Competition Closing Date: Your application must be submitted on the publicjobs website not later than 3pm on Thursday, 26 March 2026.

If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 24 hours of submitting your application, please email: Aoife.DePree@publicjobs.ie

Interviews are expected to commence from April or May 2026.

For full details on the recruitment process, please see the Competition Process section on page 15 of this booklet.

You should check your publicjobs.ie Application Centre on a regular basis as email notifications about updates, tests and interviews published in the Review Communications area can sometimes be filtered into your Junk or Spam email folders. You are also advised to check all these folders regularly.

Essential

Candidates must have, on or before Thursday 26 March 2026:

OR

Candidates must also have:

In addition to the above, candidates must also be able to demonstrate the Key Competencies identified for effective performance in this role (outlined on page 8).

Special Essential Personal Attributes required for the performance of the job

• In a safety sensitive organisation such as the Irish Coast Guard, non dependence on drugs and alcohol is essential.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering safety communications directly to personnel. • Knowledge and or experience of public sector organisation and health and safety governance. • Knowledge and or experience in a maritime or emergency service environment. • Membership of the IOSH at Technical level (TechIOSH) or higher.

Eligibility to Compete and Certain Restrictions on Eligibility

Citizenship Requirement

Eligible Candidates must be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, or (b) A citizen of the United Kingdom, or (c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the European Union and Switzerland on the free movement of persons, or (d) A non EEA citizen who has a Stamp 4 or Stamp 5 permission.

Employer of Choice

As an Employer of Choice the Civil Service has many flexible and family friendly policies such as Worksharing, Shorter Working Year, Remote Working operated on a blended basis and similar arrangements. All elective policies can be applied for in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions and are subject to the business needs of the organisation.

Principal Conditions of Service

General

The appointment is to a permanent post in the Civil Service and is subject to the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil Service. The appointee will also be subject to the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.

Salary

The salary scale for this position with effect from 1 February 2026 is as follows:

ENGINEERING OFFICER (IRISH COAST GUARD) Personal Pension Contribution (PPC):

€53,740 – €56,769 – €59,435 – €61,173 – €62,908 – €64,640 – €66,380 – €68,111 – €69,849 (NMAX) – €72,353 (LSI1) – €75,788 (LSI2)

The PPC pay rate applies when the individual is required to pay a Personal Pension Contribution otherwise known as a main scheme contribution in accordance with the rules of their main or personal superannuation scheme. This is different to a contribution in respect of membership of a Spouses’ and Children’s scheme or the Additional Superannuation Contributions.

A different rate will apply where the appointee is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution.

Long Service Increments may be payable after three years (LSI1) and six years (LSI2) satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale.

Important Note

Entry will be at the minimum of the scale and the rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Different terms and conditions may apply if you are a currently serving civil or public servant.

Subject to satisfactory performance, increments may be payable in line with current Government policy.

Payment will be made fortnightly by Electronic Fund Transfer into a bank account of your choice. Payment cannot be made until a bank account number and bank sort code has been supplied on appointment and statutory deductions from salary will be made as appropriate.

You will agree that any overpayment of salary, allowances or expenses will be repaid by you in accordance with Circular 07/2018: Recovery of Salary, Allowances and Expenses Overpayments made to Staff Members, Former Staff Members and Pensioners.

Tenure and Probation

The appointment is to a permanent position on a probationary contract in the Civil Service.

The probationary contract will be for a period of twelve months from the date specified on the contract.

During the period of your probationary contract, your performance will be subject to review by your supervisors to determine whether you:

(i) have performed in a satisfactory manner (ii) have been satisfactory in general conduct (iii) are suitable from the viewpoint of health with particular regard to sick leave.

Prior to the completion of the probationary contract a decision will be made as to whether or not you will be retained pursuant to Section 5A(2) Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005. This decision will be based on your performance assessed against the criteria set out above.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs in this section, the probationary contract may be terminated at any time prior to the expiry of the term of the contract by either side in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005.

In the following circumstances your contract may be extended and your probation period suspended:

• The probationary period stands suspended when an employee is absent due to Maternity Leave or Adoptive Leave.

• In relation to an employee absent on Parental Leave or Carers Leave, the employer may require probation to be suspended if the absence is not considered to be consistent with the continuation of the probation.

• Any other statutory provision providing that probation shall: (i) stand suspended during an employee’s absence from work, and (ii) be completed by the employee on the employee’s return from work after such absence.

Where probation is suspended the employer should notify the employee of the circumstances relating to the suspension.

All appointees will serve a one year probationary period. If an appointee who fails to satisfy the conditions of probation has been a serving civil servant immediately prior to their appointment from this competition, the issue of reversion will normally arise. In the event of reversion, an officer will return to a vacancy in their former grade in their former Department.

Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2015

The Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2015 will not apply to the termination of your employment by reason only of the expiry of this probationary contract without it being renewed.

Duties

You will be required to perform any duties appropriate to your grade which may be assigned to you. You may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties.

Headquarters

An officer’s work base will be such as may be designated from time to time by the Head of the Department or Office. When absent from home and designated work base on duty an officer will be paid appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances, subject to the normal Civil Service regulations.

The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997

The terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 will apply to your employment and the hours of attendance and leave entitlements that will apply are outlined below.

Hours of attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to, on average, not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross or 35 hours net per week.

There will be a requirement to attend after office hours on occasion, for example when visiting IRCG station houses and briefing IRCG Volunteers. Where extra attendance is necessary, payment or time off in lieu may be allowed in accordance with Civil Service regulations.

Annual Leave

The annual leave is 29 days. This allowance is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave in the Civil Service, is based on a five day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.

Sick Leave

Pay during properly certified sick absence, provided there is no evidence of permanent disability for service, will apply on a pro rata basis in accordance with the provisions of the sick leave circulars.