Healthy Ireland Co-Ordinator

Purpose of the Role

The Healthy Ireland Coordinator is an Administrative Officer grade post. Administrative Officer positions are assigned functional responsibility for the management of their respective Healthy Ireland Programme areas. The Coordinator is the primary point of contact and liaison with other sections in relation to all operational matters for the Healthy Ireland Programme for which they are responsible, as well as other assigned duties/functions, depending on the organisational arrangements in place.

The post holder will work under the direction and control of the Senior Executive Officer or analogous grade, or any other officer designated by the Chief Executive or Director of Services as appropriate. The Coordinator is responsible for management of the day-to-day operations of the relevant programme and is a contributor to the strategic and policy-making decisions of the local authority. They will be expected to contribute to the development and implementation of policies and strategies and to work closely with the elected councillors, Oireachtas members, and senior managers in delivering services to the highest standard.

The post holder may represent the Local Authority on committees and at meetings, including, for example, Municipal District meetings and Strategic Policy Committee meetings, and may be asked to report on progress in their respective section or department. The post holder will be expected to support the operations of the elected Council, the Strategic Policy Committees, Local Community Development Committee and Healthy Ireland Sub Committee, Municipal Districts, and other Council Structures.

The job description below outlines the requirements for the position, which operates within a multi-level governance environment—from municipal district and community level to national and EU levels. The postholder will be responsible for coordinating, influencing, and aligning activity across political, managerial, sectoral, and community domains, working at local, municipal district, plenary, regional, national, and European levels.

The position requires professionals with the ability to coordinate, influence, and lead cross-sectoral and community initiatives that address health inequalities, promote prevention, and build resilient, inclusive places within their designated Local Authority.

The role will support the delivery of the emerging outcomes framework for Healthy Ireland in 2026 and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network (Phase VIII) objectives at local and regional levels. The role prioritises actions to improve the wider determinants of health through local government’s statutory and developmental responsibilities, with a strong emphasis on empowering communities, research and innovation, intersectoral collaboration, data management, and evidence-informed decision-making.

While this is not a conventional Administrative Officer position, the post holder should be aware that, should the need for the role cease to exist, they can be moved/reassigned within the local authority on a grade-equivalent basis.

Role & Duties of the Post The Healthy Ireland Coordinator will perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time, which will involve the facilitation, implementation, and promotion of the policies and objectives of Roscommon County Council for the advancement of the Healthy Cities & Counties Programme.

Duties include:

• Work intensively with communities of interest and place to co-design, develop, and implement locally tailored wellbeing initiatives.

• Apply principles of empowerment, participation, social justice, and equality in all aspects of planning and delivery.

• Work with relevant Healthy Ireland partners to ensure integrated and improved delivery of health and wellbeing initiatives and support programmes across the County Council.

• Use and gather relevant local datasets to target communities experiencing the greatest health inequities and build an evidence case for resource allocation or intervention.

• Develop a 5-year Healthy Cities & Counties Work Programme based on local need and priorities, established from innovative and participatory community engagement and needs assessment exercises, with Annual Action Plans comprising of Healthy Ireland Fund or similar funding to action local priorities.

• Participate in Regional Healthy Ireland Coordinator Cluster and National Network fora.

• Map, align, and leverage local authority activities that influence the wider determinants of health and include them within relevant Healthy Ireland data gathering exercises.

• Advise elected members and senior executives on relevant policies and programmes related to health and wellbeing and deliver relevant upskilling/enabling opportunities.

• Facilitate Local Authority wide/Regional Health and Wellbeing Networks and support the development of local wellbeing forums and wellbeing leadership initiatives within communities.

• Work confidently and sensitively with elected representatives, senior executives, and cross-sectoral leaders to address determinants of health activity within the local authority.

• Act as a catalyst and connector across directorates and sections (e.g., planning, transport, housing, environment, community) to align activity with health and wellbeing objectives.

• Champion whole-system, place-based, preventative approaches to health and wellbeing, working across local authority directorates and with external partners to create enabling environments that foster wellbeing for all.

• Explore resource mechanisms across all Government Departments and at EU level to address local community priorities.

• Leverage research, data, innovation, and WHO/EU collaboration to encourage local government leadership in improving health and wellbeing outcomes.

• Develop or contribute to funding bids where appropriate in conjunction with communities to resource local priority initiatives.

• Capacity to influence, align, and coordinate across internal directorates and external stakeholders and demonstrate partnership management and stakeholder engagement skills, e.g., coordination of Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Implementation Team.

• Use local data, research, and evidence to shape decisions and measure outcomes.

• Represent the Local Authority in regional and national networks and participate in international platforms such as the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

• Drive whole-of-local-government, whole-of-community, and whole-of-place approaches to wellbeing, focusing on the social, economic, environmental, and cultural determinants of health.

• Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

1. Character Candidates must be of good character, with a friendly, open, and outgoing disposition.

2. Health Candidates shall be in a state of health to render regular and efficient service.

3. Education & Experience Each candidate must have on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

• A third-level degree (NFQ Level 8 or higher) in a relevant field such as community/sports development, youth work, social sciences, public health, social policy, public administration, planning, or related discipline.

• A minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience in any of the following:

  • Local government, public sector, or similar roles involving strategic planning, project coordination, or community engagement.

  • Work with disadvantaged communities or target populations to address social exclusion or inequality.

  • Cross-sectoral coordination or partnership development.

  • Policy development, research, or evaluation related to the determinants of health.

  • Operating effectively within political, community, and policy-making environments, demonstrating ability to work across boundaries of role, sector, and geography.

  • Project management and delivery, budgeting, and performance-monitoring experience.

• A current full driving licence in respect of category B vehicles or equivalent in the EU Model Driving Licence on the latest date for the receipt of completed applications.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Attitude

• Knowledge and understanding of Sláintecare Reform, Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework.

• Experience of building, managing, and nurturing partnerships and relationships across a wide range of key stakeholders.

• An understanding and/or experience of local government structures and political environment.

• Facilitation and group-work skills.

• Understanding of those who experience health inequalities.

• Experience of report writing, strategic planning, and funding application processes.

• Effective communication skills.

• Excellent IT & administration skills, including MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint.

• Experience in managing budgets and finances and experience with processing payments.

• An understanding and/or experience in gathering qualitative and quantitative data, analysis, research, and evaluation to policy and practice.

• Appreciation of use of social media and varied communication platforms.

• Understanding of multi-level governance and/or experience of working across local, regional, national, and European contexts.

4. Citizenship Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

Particulars of Employment

The post is whole time and pensionable. A panel will be formed from which permanent and temporary vacancies may be filled and will be for an initial period of one year, which may be extended at the discretion of the Chief Executive. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panels.

Probation:

• Where persons who are not already permanent employees of a local authority are appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

  • There shall be a period after such appointments take effect during which such persons shall hold such position on probation.

  • Such period shall be one year, but the Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend such period.

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

    Salary: €60,011 - 78,015 (LSI2) per annum.

• Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular.

• The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the post shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to and received by them by virtue of their post or in respect of services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

• In accordance with EL02/2011, persons who are not serving Local Authority employees must be placed on the minimum of the scale. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government policy.

  Garda Vetting/Child Protection

• Successful candidates may be subject to the Garda Vetting and Child Safeguarding procedures.

  Health

• For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are appointed, to undergo at their expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to candidates.

  Residence

• Roscommon County Council reserves the right to assign you to any department, premises, or district in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation.

• The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself, at his/her own expense, with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

  Annual Leave

• Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave, and arrangement for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. Annual leave entitlement will be 30 days per annum (inclusive of days pre-allocated for Christmas period).

• The annual leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December.

  Working Hours

• The successful candidate’s normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week, which will include weekend and evening working hours. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time.

  Superannuation

• Candidates will be informed of their superannuation position at the time an offer of appointment is being made.

  Recruitment

• The Selection Process may include the following:

  • Short-listing of candidates on the basis of the information contained in their application.

  • Any tests/exercises that are deemed appropriate.

  • Preliminary interview.

  • Final interview.

• Please note that Roscommon County Council reserves the right to hold any part of the selection process by way of remote/video-call platform or other appropriate methodology. Panels may be formed on the basis of such a selection process. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the local authority that they possess the qualifications declared for the post at the closing date for the competition and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may be appointed to this post.