Night-time Economy Advisor

Kilkenny County Council provides services to a population of over 103,000 citizens in County Kilkenny in areas of housing, roads, transportation, planning, environment, economic and community development, tourism, libraries, fire and emergency response, parks, amenities, heritage, arts and water services. We have over 750 employees and can offer exciting careers across our services in various roles such as engineering, technical, financial, management, administration, library services, fire services and general services. Our headquarters are in Kilkenny City and we have area offices throughout the county. The Council operates within an annual revenue budget of €120.9 million and a multi-annual six-year capital budget of €832 million.

Our Mission Kilkenny County Council is committed to working with the people of Kilkenny to develop sustainable, connected, economically thriving and proud communities with the consideration of climate change embedded into all of our policies and services.

Our Values

• Accountability and Transparency We will communicate openly with people and we will be transparent in all decisionmaking.

• Inclusiveness, Equality and Accessibility. We prioritise social inclusion, equality of access and opportunity, and we will encourage the people, groups and organisations we work with to take a similar approach.

• Leadership We are committed to providing democratic and civic leadership in guiding the positive development of the City and County.

• Pride We will take pride in our work and in the leadership role of Kilkenny County Council in the economic, social, cultural and environmental development of the City and County.

• Quality Service We will provide an accessible, courteous, consistent, impartial and responsive service and we will strive for continuous improvement in our service delivery.

• Sustainability We will act in a sustainable way in relation to finance, the environment, our heritage, community affairs and socio-economic issues. We will work in ways that will not constrain the current or future needs of the people and communities of Kilkenny City and County.

• Value for Money We will use resources efficiently and continually assess and evaluate our performance.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements are the minimum requirements required for the position and are set out by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for administrative and technical/engineering grades. For outdoor grades and some specialised grades, the minimum eligibility requirements are set out by Kilkenny County Council Human Resources Department in consultation with the relevant Line Manager as they are not set centrally by the Department.

Applicants will be required to submit scanned images of documentation to establish the applicant meets the following minimum eligibility criteria:

CHARACTER Applicants shall be of good character

HEALTH Each applicant must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Minimum Eligibility Requirements are the minimum requirements required for the position and are set out by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for administrative and technical/engineering grades.

Applicants will be required to submit scanned images of documentation to establish the applicant meets the following minimum eligibility criteria:

Each candidate must on the latest date for receipt of completed application form have:

• A relevant Third Level Qualification

• A minimum of three years substantial work experience in an area relevant to the Night-Time economy

• Knowledge and understanding of the Night-Time Economy and work of the national Night Time Economy Taskforce.

• Knowledge of Kilkenny in relation to the Night-Time Economy – including assets, gaps and opportunities

• Experience in the gathering/use and interpretation of data to help inform decision making.

• Experience of building, managing and nurturing partnerships and relationships across a wide range of key stakeholders in the Night-Time Economy including Facilitation, networking and group-work skills

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Kilkenny County Council can for any position they advertise, include Desirable Requirements. Desirable Requirements are those that would be beneficial to optimising job performance. Desirable Requirements can be used if necessary to reduce numbers called for interview.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS:

• Operational experience of working with Stakeholders in the Night-Time Economy

• Knowledge of Kilkenny in relation to the Night-Time Economy – including assets, gaps and opportunities.

• Proven track record of experience at a senior level in at least one of the following:

  • Communications/Media.

  • Event Management in the NTE.

  • Cultural/creative project management.

  • Digital Media including demonstrable knowledge of the value and use of social media and emerging technologies in making the NTE accessible to wider audiences.

  • Public relations and marketing.

  • Promotion, education.

  • Public engagement.

• Proven Leadership and experience of working with and coordinating the activity of key stakeholders in the Night-Time Economy (this can include cultural and creative sectors – commercial and non-commercial, retailers, residents and local and national government where applicable).

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across local structures and with diverse communities and different sectors operating in the NTE (including An Garda Síochána, Culture and Creativity Teams, Residents Associations, new Town Regeneration Officers; local Town Teams, Purple Flag Groups etc.).

• Negotiation skills – working with competing interests in the NTE.

• Knowledge of local and national structures and resources which NTE can access (i.e., local and national funding streams, local committees etc.).

• Knowledge of the current licensing laws and planning and development system and key national policies and strategies affecting the Night-Time Economy.

• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and/or experience of equalities and diversity issues.

• Willingness to work outside of typical office hours as required to support full engagement with night-time industries.

• Proficiency in Report writing, strategic, organisational, funding application processes.

• Effective communication skills including experience across social media platforms.

• Excellent IT and administration skills, including MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint, Project Management Software Packages

Applicants should satisfy themselves they are eligible under the required qualifications. Kilkenny County Council may not be in a position to investigate the eligibility of all candidates in advance of the interview/examination, and hence persons who are ineligible but nevertheless enter, may put themselves to unnecessary expense.

JOB DESCRIPTION ROLE

The Night-Time Advisor will be appointed for a one-year period. The post is funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM). If further funding becomes available this one-year contract may be extended.

The aim of this initiative is to stimulate NTE activity in Kilkenny through the development of enhanced collaborative structures at local level supported by a Night-Time Economy Advisor.

The anticipated outcomes are:

• the ongoing development and enhancement of the Kilkenny Night Time economy forum within the local authority for longer-term/ongoing work in the area of the NTE.

• Ongoing delivery of the objectives and actions in the Kilkenny City Night Time Economy Action plan which is a cohesive action plan for the Kilkenny including a range of proven interventions in this regard to include activities for different age-groups and different time spans.

• Further development of the Kilkenny NTE Plan and enhance a plan for the future sustainability of the structure.

• Support the delivery of Festivals led by Kilkenny County Council for example Yulefest and St Patricks Festival with a particular emphasis on NTE and festivals leadership Innovation within Kilkenny County Council

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE ROLE SHALL INCLUDE: The duties may include but are not limited to the following and the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

• Managing and Communicating with the Night-Time Economy Forum. This committee has a diverse membership including artists, cultural facilities, event promoters, festival organisers, hospitality interests, local champions, public bodies, retailers and other businesses, residents, venue owners/operators. The group oversee the implementation of the action plan and a key stakeholder in the NTE process.

• Optimise and collate local data which will feed into the outcomes and future iterations of the NTE Action Plan for Kilkenny.

• Consult. Conduct ongoing consultation to engage the local community in the process of developing ideas for the NTE in the pilot area.

• Review existing funding structures at local and national level to highlight potential funding streams for the Action Plan.

• Highlight challenges and opportunities and potential solutions. Many interventions required for a successful NTE are not necessarily financial and may be organisational, structural or otherwise. In driving a more vibrant NTE, the Advisor should look at current ways of working in the NTE, core relationships within the NTE and any other relevant issues and suggest improved systems where possible.

• Support the implementation of the NTE Plan and develop future iterations. The plan has key deliverables, identify a funding stream and have an agreed responsible owner.

• Support the delivery of Festivals led by Kilkenny County Council for example Yulefest and St Patricks Festival with a particular emphasis on NTE and festivals leadership Innovation within Kilkenny County Council

• Support and manage the innovative and creative use of spaces owned by Kilkenny County Council

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE

TYPE OF POST

To form a panel from which relevant vacancies may be filled during the lifetime of the panel.

SALARY

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the office shall pay to Kilkenny County Council any fees or other monies (other than inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is 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. Where a person being appointed is a serving Local Authority employee normal starting pay rules will apply. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government policy.

The current salary scale for the position is €60,011 minimum to €78,015 maximum inclusive of LSI.

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 or 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.

SUPERANNUATION CONTRIBUTION

Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 New members joining the public sector on or after 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. It applies to all first-time entrants to the Public Service as well as former public servants returning to the public sector after a break of more than 26 weeks.

Your contributions will be made up of 3% of your gross pensionable remuneration and 3.5% of your net pensionable remuneration (your gross pensionable remuneration less twice the value of the Contributory State Pension). As of 25th March 2019, the weekly CSP rate is €248.30.

Your normal retirement age under this scheme is the same age at which you can claim the Contributory State Pension. The minimum age for receipt of this pension is Age 66. There is a compulsory retirement age of 70 years.

Persons who commenced in Public Service Employment after 6th April 1995 and prior to 1st January 2013: Persons who became pensionable employees after 6th April 1995 and prior to 1st of January 2013, without a break in employment, will join the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998. Contributions are payable at the rate of 1.5% of your basic salary, 3.5% of basic salary less twice two times the value of the Contributory State Pension and a further 1.5% is payable for spouse and children’s contributions (non-officer grades pay a co-ordinated contribution).

Non-New Entrants (those who became pensionable after 6th of April 1995 and prior to 1st April 2004) have a minimum retirement age of 60 and a compulsory retirement age of 70. New Entrants (those who became pensionable after 1st April 2004 and prior to 1st January 2013) have minimum retirement age of 65 with no compulsory retirement age.

Persons who commenced in Public Service Employment before 6th April 1995: Their minimum retirement age is 60 and they have a compulsory retirement age of 70 as per Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Circular Letter CL/2/2019. Contributions are 5% of basic salary and 1.5% of basic salary toward Widow’s & Orphan’s or Spouse & Children’s Scheme.

PENSION ABATEMENT

If the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service or in the Public Service please note that the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (Section 52) includes a provision which extends abatement of pension for all Civil and Public Servants who are re-employed where a Public Service Pension is in payment. This provision to apply abatement across the wider public service came into effect on 1 November 2012. This may have pension implications for any person appointed to this position that is currently in receipt of a Civil or Public Service pension or has a preserved Civil or Public Service pension which will come into payment during his/her employment in this position.