Internship Officer, FTE

Post Title & Subject Area: Internship Officer (FTE 0.5)

Grade: Grade V

Faculty/Unit: Creative Futures Academy / NCAD

Post Duration: 18-month specified purpose funded contract

Reports to: Head of School Design

Salary: Grade V salary scale €51,211 - €61,251 per annum pro-rata, i.e. €25,605.5 - €30,625.50* per annum

*Candidates should note that as per Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines, entry will be at the minimum point 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.

Annual Leave: Annual Leave will be 25 working days pro-rata, i.e. 12.5 days per annum. This leave is exclusive of public holidays.

Hours of Attendance: Working hours will be 17.5 hours per week - net of rest breaks.

Location: This position is based at NCAD, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8

NCAD are seeking an Internship Officer to support students seeking and undertaking internships within their studies, with a primary focus of supporting the BA Studio+ creative internship modules.

The aim of these modules is to provide the student with the opportunity to apply the subject specific art and design skills, knowledge and understanding, as well as personal transferable skills, acquired within their programmes of study, to the real-world environment of work.

The modules seek to:

• enable students to gain real life ‘practical’ experience within their chosen area of study;
• increase student employability;
• provide students with a professional network within their chosen field.

Students undertake a work placement and agreed programme of full or part-time work within a vetted company or organisation, and follow an agreed learning plan in order to receive meaningful, study-related work experience, which will be of significant advantage to them when in post-graduation employment. Students record their experience in both a logbook, placement report and a reflective journal, and their performance at work is evaluated by their respective in-placement company via an evaluation form. Placements may be multiple and weighted accordingly at assessment.

The role will also support staff to develop and deliver real world projects with industry partners within the studio+ year, building opportunities for knowledge transfer between students and external partners.

The college is seeking to increase the proportion of our students undertaking internships and real world projects, and this role will help meet our strategic targets over the next two years.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Internship Officer is responsible for negotiating and arranging work placements and supporting real world projects which meet the practice learning requirements for students undertaking the Studio+ year of their BA studies. The officer is responsible for the assessment of potential internship positions, securing work placements and maintaining positive working relationships with a variety of contacts, companies, institutions and partners.

The role is to ensure students have access to placements in order to fill the needs of their work placement requirements.

These include but are not limited to:

The role will also support staff to develop and deliver real world projects with industry partners, and provide client/stakeholder liaison support where required.

Collaboration Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the relevant academic staff to determine internship and experience needs of students.
• Collaborate and consult with academic staff to determine the educational requirements of work placement experiences for NCAD students.
• Research and recommend appropriate host companies and organisations that meet the identified educational requirements for NCAD students.
• Interpret the needs of students and match with appropriate learning experience available within the agencies.
• Evaluate in collaboration with academic staff the appropriateness of internship opportunities and makes any necessary changes to learning contracts and related documentation.
• Engage in discussions with students on choice of internship, reasons for selection and individual learning contracts and approval of said internships.
• Compile written evaluation of internship settings, (this will include elements of administrative and supervision).
• Conduct reflective feedback sessions with students during and after their internships.
• Record feedback to ensure ongoing quality assurance of the process.
• Liaise with students and academic staff over any issues arising during internships.
• Coordinate preparation and delivery of internship briefing sessions in conjunction with academic staff and Careers Officer.

Internship Responsibilities

• Make initial contact with potential companies and organisations with a view to them becoming suitable internship hosts.
• Communicate with companies and organisations regarding NCAD plans, policies and procedures for student internships, and ensure required set-up documentation is completed.
• Establish and maintain relationships with representatives of companies and organisations in which students are placed.
• Facilitate the establishment of learning contracts and related documentation prior to student commencement at the placement site.
• Provide necessary induction sessions to all students on internship pertinent to their area of study.
• Delivering an induction for academic staff supervisors in advance of internship.
• Report areas of concern to the appropriate academic staff in a timely manner and work with academic staff to ensure a positive outcome for both host companies and companies as well as students.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Work with academic staff to develop and provide internship policies and procedures, handbook/manuals and evaluation forms, site visit forms etc., for both the students, and host companies and organisations and NCAD staff.
• Maintain a register of suitable internship settings including details of the kinds of learning opportunities these settings provide mapped to the practice requirements of the programme/s.
• Ensure any and all appropriate documentation is established and maintained.
• Communicate/liaise with the internship providers in respect of all aspects of the internship.
• Provide support to students in relation to any personal or professional issues which may arise in relation to their internships. If appropriate refer to students to additional supports to respond to their support needs.
• Maintain accurate records of all components of internships undertaken including written critical evaluation of the placement/s comprising of a log book, reflective journal, and an evaluation form completed by the student’s placement host company or organisation, and a portfolio of creative work evidencing all work carried out during the placement/s.
• Provide reports to College Management Team as requested.
• Provide flexibility in dealing with work within Studio+
• Undertake any other appropriate duties as may be assigned by the Appropriate Officer from time to time

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

• (a) A minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience in an equivalent role PLUS relevant academic qualification (NFQ Level 6 or higher)

OR

(b) a minimum of 5 year’s relevant experience

• Excellent organisational skills
• A strong commitment to developing and maintaining quality standards in student internships
• Ability to work well within a team but also to work independently without close supervision
• Excellent communication skills
• An innovative and flexible approach to internships

Desirable

• Experience of internship / work placement coordination in a third-level environment
• Experience of developing and maintaining real world projects and partnerships between HEI’s and Industry
• Experience coordinating and delivering a service is desirable