Project Administrator

The Role The person appointed as the LIFE on Machair Project Administrator will be responsible for administrative tasks relevant to the EU LIFE project LIFE20 NAT/IE/000263 ‘Protecting and restoring Ireland’s network of machair systems and associated breeding wader and pollinator communities’. The successful candidate will be responsible for the financial and day to day administration of all areas of the project and the implementation of financial and administration systems, in conjunction with the Project Manager. The successful candidate will report to the Project Manager and will participate in the delivery of the reporting and dissemination of actions associated with the project. The job includes providing a secretarial service to the Project Steering Group, which meets throughout the course of the project. The post also involves fostering productive relationships with all project stakeholders, including, in particular, the local communities. Location The person appointed will be required to operate in an office in Westport, County Mayo, or in an office to be agreed by NPWS. A blended working pattern will be available, subject to approval by DHLGH

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Use of appropriate financial and system controls in agreement with the Project Manager and in compliance with European Commission requirements
• Co-ordination of all project purchasing and adherence to green procurement procedures
• Preparation of progress, monthly, quarterly and annual reports in accordance with the Common Provisions relating to the project and relevant guidelines
• Development of appropriate administrative systems to support the Project Team
• Undertaking general office management duties and the provision of administration support to the Project Team
• Financial monitoring and application of all necessary financial system controls to ensure compliance with requirements, including maintenance of accurate and up to date financial records for the entire project
• Organising and processing payments, accounts and budgets
• Full ownership of Project Website to ensure compliancy with national guidelines and LIFE requirements
• Managing the project social media channels
• Maintaining books of account and record management for income, expenditure and revenue
• Participating in the delivery of the reporting and dissemination of actions associated with the project, including providing input to the interim and final project reports
• Maintaining a detailed record keeping system, particularly in relation to procurement activities
• Acting as secretariat to the Project Steering Group and other project Advisory Groups which may be established.
• Liaising and communicating with stakeholders (particularly members of the communities’ local to the project sites), the general public and local and national media.
• Provide assistance to Community Engagement Officers in developing schools programmes local to project areas.

Eligibility Requirements Qualifications and Experience Essential: Candidates must, on or before closing date for the competition:

• Have achieved at a minimum Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications in Business Administration or Public Service Administration or a relevant qualification which is acceptable to DHLGH as equivalent and
• Have a minimum of 3 years’ experience relevant to this post (including procurement and financial management) and
• Have a full clean driving licence and access to their own transport.

In addition, candidates must demonstrate an appropriate level of competence in those competencies listed in the ‘Key Competencies for this Role’ section above.

Desirable:

• Experience of financial management systems
• Comprehension of written Irish and the ability to communicate in spoken Irish
• An understanding of the nature conservation challenges that the project is undertaking to address in the project regions of West Connacht and/or Donegal.

Specific Candidate Criteria Candidates must:

• Have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned
• Be suitable on grounds of character
• Be suitable in all other relevant respects for the appointment to the post concerned; and if successful, they 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
• Be fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Eligibility to compete and certain restrictions on eligibility Citizenship Requirements Eligible candidates must be: 1. A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or 2. A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or 3. A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or 4. A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 4 permission1 or a Stamp 5 permission 1 Please note that a 50 TEU permission, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent. To qualify candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of noneligibility).

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010) The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years. People who availed of the VER scheme are not eligible to compete in this competition. People who availed of the VRS scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Department of Environment, Community & Local Government The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013 introduced a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for Local Authorities. In accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012 as detailed above, it is a specific condition of that VER Scheme that persons will not be eligible for re-employment in any Public Service body [as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012] for a period of 2 years from their date of departure under this Scheme. These conditions also apply in the case of engagement/employment on a contract for service basis (either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor).

Declaration Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

PRINCIPAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE General The appointment is to a temporary post in the Civil Service and is subject to the Civil Service Regulations Acts 1956 to 2005, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil Service.

Pay The PPC (Personal Pension Contribution) salary) for this position, with effect from 1st March 2025, is as follows: Higher Executive Officer Standard Scale PPC €58,264 - €59,967 - €61,668 - €63,366 - €65,072 - €66,769- €68,472 (NMAX) €70,928 (LSI1) - €73,378 (LSI2)

A PPC pay rate applies when the individual is required to pay a Personal Pension Contribution (otherwise known as a main scheme contribution) in accordance with the rules of their main/personal superannuation scheme. This is different to a contribution in respect of membership of a Spouses’ and Children’s scheme, or the Additional Superannuation Contributions (ASC). This rate will apply where the appointee is an existing civil or public servant appointed on or after 6th April 1995 and is required to make a personal pension contribution. A different rate will apply where the appointee is a civil or public servant recruited before 6th April 1995 who is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution. Long service increments may be payable after 3 (LSI1) and 6 (LSI2) years’ satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale. Important Note Entry will be at the minimum 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. Subject to satisfactory performance increments may be payable in line will current Government Policy. You will agree that any overpayment of salary, allowances, or expenses will be repaid by you in accordance with Circular 07/2018: Recovery of Salary, Allowances, and Expenses Overpayments made to Staff Members/Former Staff Members/Pensioners.

Tenure and Probation The appointment, which is funded under the European Union’s LIFE+ programme, is to a temporary, non-established position in the Civil Service on a fixed purpose contract, which will end on 31/01/2028. The successful applicant will serve a one year probationary period. The appointment is subject to termination at any time by either side in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005. In the case of serious misconduct, the employment may be terminated at any time without notice and without penalty.

The appointment, which is strictly temporary, carries with it no entitlement to permanent status (by way of limited competition or otherwise).

Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977-2015 The Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977-2015 will not apply to the termination of the employment by reason only of the expiry of the fixed-term contract without it being renewed.

Outside Employment The position will be whole time and the appointee may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business, which conflicts in any way with his/her official duties, impairs performance or comprises his/her integrity.

Location The person appointed will be required to operate in an office in Westport, County Mayo, or in an office to be agreed by NPWS. The successful candidate will be required to work in the established office (except when undertaking other project-related work off-site, as required) from date of appointment for the project duration.

Hours of Attendance Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week. Candidates should note that hours of attendance may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government policy. The appointee will be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his/her 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 successful candidates will be 29 working days per annum.

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. Officers who will be paying Class A rate of PRSI will be required to sign a mandate authorising the Department of Social Protection to pay any benefits due under the Social Welfare Acts directly to the employing Department. Payment during illness will be subject to the officer making the necessary claims for social insurance benefit to the Department of Social Protection within the required time limits.