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 or 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

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 and Conditions

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, 26th of 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, interviews etc. 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 26th of March 2026:

(a) A qualification of at least Level 7 (minimum 180 credits) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) (or NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications equivalent) in Health and Safety,

and

(b) At least two years’ relevant experience in a safety role,

OR

(a) A qualification at minimum Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ),

and

(b) A recognised qualification in Health and Safety e.g. NEBOSH General Cert. or QQI Level 6 or above in Health and Safety,

and

(c) At least three years’ relevant experience in a safety role.

Candidates must also have:

Participated in conducting accident or incident investigations including maintaining accurate records and or drawing up reports or risk assessments for management with recommendations for corrective actions.

A demonstrated ability to implement and or manage a health and safety management system.

Excellent knowledge of ISO 45001 or equivalent standard.

Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation, systems and processes and demonstrate an appreciation of the legal process.

Excellent organisational skills with the ability to work under pressure, handle multiple assignments, deal with changing priorities and meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.

The ability to work independently, capable of operating under own initiative and ability to motivate and support others.

Excellent written and oral communication skills including a good technical working knowledge of English and the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.

Excellent interpersonal and teamworking skills, with a demonstrated ability to successfully engage and collaborate with internal colleagues at all levels.

Motivation and resilience with the ability to cope with the sometimes dynamic environment of emergency health and safety incidents.

Adaptability and the ability to coordinate with other maritime agencies and to deal easily in a multinational, multicultural environment.

Strong Information Technology (IT) skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Word etc.

An ongoing commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

A current full driving licence (Category B), valid in Ireland.

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.