National Co-ordinator

Introduction:

Waterford City & County Council currently host the National Office for Healthy Ireland Local Government under Service Level Agreement with the Department of Health until 31st December 2027. The Healthy Ireland Local Government National Co-ordinator will be assigned to Waterford City & County Council for the period of the above SLA.

The post holder will provide national leadership and coordination for two main programmes of Healthy Ireland, the Healthy Cities and Counties programme and Sláintecare Healthy Communities. Healthy Ireland Local Government is focused on encouraging the 31 local authorities across Ireland to work to improve wellbeing outcomes and address health inequalities, which is supported with whole-of-government approaches and backed by strong political interventions and support.

With this approach, Healthy Ireland Local Government seeks to enable greater participation and empowerment of local communities to reduce the widening gap in health inequalities and improve wellbeing at the local level.

Healthy Cities and Counties National Network:

The Healthy Cities programme is a global World Health Organization (WHO) movement, set up initially in 1987. The concept is based on the importance of local action and the key role of local governments and Local Authorities in health and sustainable development. As the WHO Healthy Cities programme expanded, National Networks were established.

National Networks connect and support all cities and counties within their country. Today, there are accredited National Networks in 20 countries in the WHO European Region, bringing together more than 1,100 cities, counties and towns. The National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network is an accredited National Network of the WHO.

The aim of the National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network is to develop a structure to support Local Authorities to implement the Healthy Ireland Framework.

A healthy city or county works to:

improve health and wellbeing by creating and continually improving its physical and social environments

develop community resources that help people to support each other and achieve their potential

Sláintecare Healthy Communities:

Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health between different groups of people. The aim of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme (SHCP) will be to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of people who live in areas of highest health inequality.

SHCP has five main goals:

Deliver evidence-based programmes that prevent premature non-communicable disease mortality by increasing behaviours that reduce risk, such as physical activity, good nutrition, smoking cessation, social connection and good parenting.

Facilitate cross-government collaboration to align service delivery and to address service provision gaps in the selected areas.

Ensure that identified communities have ownership of the SHCP programme and that people are engaged and enabled by its initiatives.

Build a national, regional, and local governance and implementation structure with responsibility for the oversight, implementation, accountability and learning from SHCP.

Integrate a policy–practice learning cycle into the governance and implementation processes that works to implement a “health in all policies” approach.

The Role:

This post will present the successful candidate with an opportunity to lead and facilitate the implementation of two innovative Social Determinants of Health focused strategies that promote equality in health and wellbeing outcomes and address health inequalities.

The post holder will work in partnership with a range of statutory and community authorities, networks, and agencies to collaboratively develop and deliver the programmes. The core partnerships include all 31 Local Authorities, the HSE, multiple state agencies and organisations focused on community development, poverty, equality, and social inclusion and the WHO European Office, specifically the European Network of Health Cities.

The post will be hosted by a Local Authority within the programme but will be responsible for coordination of Local Development Officers and Healthy Cities and Counties Coordinators nationally. Currently, the National Office is hosted by Waterford City & County Council under SLA until December 2027.

The post is funded by the Department of Health and the HILG National Coordinator will report to the HILG National Steering Committee, the National Committee of Healthy Cities and Counties and to the Department of Health.

The co-ordinator will also report to the County and City Management Associations’ (CCMA) nominated committee, currently the CCMA Rural, Community & Culture Committee. The CCMA will provide the oversight and overall local government sector guidance on all matters relating to the Healthy Ireland Local Government programmes.

The National Co-ordinator Healthy Ireland (Local Government) duties include but are not limited to the following:

Lead on and work closely with policy colleagues, the 31 local authorities, and civil society organisations in the development and delivery of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities structures and Healthy Cities & Counties structures at a local, national and European level.

Guide and support Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme Development Officers and Healthy Cities & Counties Coordinators in progressing their programmes at a local level.

Guide and support local coordinators in progressing HILG.

Provide training, supports and guidance to the implementation of local wellbeing initiatives.

Support the establishment of Sláintecare Healthy Communities in any new areas and the expansion of the programme in the existing 24 areas.

Lead on the development of an overarching HILG national implementation plan to guide and direct the coherent implementation of HILG, in conjunction with national partners including the relevant Local Authorities, the HSE, and community representatives.

Support evaluation and monitoring processes of the Department of Health programmes and encourage relevant research opportunities at national and local level to ensure alignment and engagement with data collection.

Play a lead role in setting up processes to identify and address barriers and challenges to the implementation of HILG, problem-solving with HILG partners nationally and locally.

Support the development of a practice-to-policy learning and development cycle that is inclusive of local communities, to bring shared experiences, learning and challenges from local to national levels.

Work closely in HILG structures with partners across Government Departments, local authorities, national agencies, and the anti-poverty and community development sector to identify and address systemic issues and challenges identified through HILG community practice experience.

Produce concise, clear, well-structured written reports, submissions and senior officials briefings and respond to requests for information as required.

Encourage Irish WHO European Healthy Cities Network city accreditation and participation across the European Healthy Cities Network.

Manage and administer the effective running of the National HILG Office.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has declared that the qualifications for National Co-ordinator Healthy Ireland are as set out hereunder:

Character Each candidate must be of good character.

Health Each candidate shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Experience, Etc. Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(a) Be well educated; (b) Have significant experience at an appropriate level in leading teams and managing resources; (c) Possess a high standard of administrative and management experience at an appropriate level; (d) Have experience of policy / strategy implementation in a complex environment; (e) Have a satisfactory knowledge of public service organisation or the ability to acquire such knowledge.

The ideal candidate shall have the following Skills and Experience:

• A relevant Third Level Qualification or substantial work experience in a relevant health / community or administrative area.
• A minimum of three years experience of programme management at a national level.
• Knowledge and understanding of Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013–2025 and the Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework.
• Experience of building, managing and nurturing partnerships and relationships across a wide range of key stakeholders.
• Experience of pulling together multiple strands of information, qualitative and quantitative, and processing this to enable analysis and decision making.
• An understanding and experience of community development issues at local level.
• Facilitation and group-work skills.
• Understanding of those who experience health inequalities.
• Report writing, strategic, organisational, funding application processes.
• Effective communication skills.
• Excellent IT & administration skills, including MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint.

It would be desirable if the successful candidate had the following Skills and Experience:

• Excellent communication, planning and organisational skills, with the ability to progress a dynamic and multi-facetted initiative confidently, flexibly, and effectively.
• Experience and capacity to build partnerships around the social determinants of health, bringing together different sectors and interests in a collective strategy to tackle inequality and poverty and align local and national priorities.
• The ability to build trust and rapport and develop a shared agenda across sectors who may have different views.
• Experience in team leadership, management, and facilitation in a complex context.
• The ability and a track record in effective collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, and skilful negotiation and management of competing needs, tasks, and priorities.
• An understanding of the policy domains relevant to the Social Determinants of Health and the interplay of factors that impact on health and wellbeing outcomes.
• An understanding of the role of evaluation in tracking implementation and outcomes across the initiative.
• Awareness and experience of financial management and budgetary accountability systems.

Candidates must also:

• Have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned;
• Be suitable on the grounds of character;
• Be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned.

Candidates, if successful, will not be appointed to the post unless they:

• Agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed;
• Are fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms, meet the above essential criteria.

The Office

The office is whole time, permanent and pensionable.

The holder of the office shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an officer of a local authority, to such an extent as to impair the performance of their duties as an officer of a local authority or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of the local authority or which might be inconsistent with discharge of their duties as a local authority officer.

Probation

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

(i) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect during which such persons shall hold the position on probation; (ii) Such period shall be a maximum of 12 months; (iii) Such persons shall cease to hold the 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

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 or received by them by virtue of the post or in respect of any services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

The salary scale for the position of National Co-ordinator Healthy Ireland is:

Salary Scale effective from 1st February 2026: €81,777 - €82,506 - €85,715 - €88,944 - €92,179 - €95,379 - €98,600 - €102,252 (LSI1) - €108,074 (LSI2)

Salary for the post shall be in accordance with existing practice as set out in relevant circulars. Starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale. Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011 will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point. Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

Residence

The holder of the office shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

Start Date

The Local Authority shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than three months and, if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the Local Authority shall not appoint them.

Duties

In accordance with Section 159(3) & (4) of the Local Government Act 2001, an employee of the local authority shall perform the duties of the office and give the local authority, under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other officer as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an executive, administrative or management nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties.

The employee shall also exercise such powers, duties and functions as may be delegated to them by the Chief Executive from time to time, including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by the local authority and such duties as may be required in relation to the area of any local authority.

The holder of the office will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 hours gross per week. The successful candidate will be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of their duties, subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations.

The rate of remuneration payable covers any extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.

Annual Leave

The annual leave allowance for the position of National Co-ordinator Healthy Ireland is 30 days. This allowance is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave in the public 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.

Superannuation Contributions

Persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

Persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children).

All persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority are required, in respect of the Local Government (Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension) Scheme, 1986, to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration or net pensionable remuneration, whichever is relevant, and in accordance with the terms of the Scheme.

Persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority for the first time on or after 1 January 2013 are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution and are required, in respect of superannuation, to contribute at the rate of 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children) plus 3% of pensionable pay.