Regional Lead

THE POSITION:

Waterford City and County Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Regional Lead – Homeless Services – South East Region (Grade 7).

INTRODUCTION TO ROLE:

Waterford City and County Council serves as the Lead Authority for homeless services within the Southeast Region. Under Chapter 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the administration of homeless services across Ireland is organised into distinct administrative regions.

The South East Region spans four distinct local authorities:

• Waterford City & County Council (The hosting and leading body)

• Wexford County Council

• Carlow County Council

• Kilkenny County Council

·                 Tipperary County Council

As the Lead Authority, Waterford City and County Council hosts the regional office. It holds responsibility for managing pooled exchequer funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The Council ensures strategic deployment of resources, drives collaborative responses via initiatives like Waterford Integrated Homeless Services (WIHS), and acts as the central reporting anchor to national government entities.

The Regional Homeless Lead for the South East is a high-level management role responsible for leading, strategic planning, and financial management of homeless services across Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary. Hosted by Waterford City and County Council as the regional lead authority, the Regional Lead drives the creation and rollout of the Regional Homeless Action Plan while managing the regional budget in line with national policies. A major part of the position involves building strong partnerships between local councils, the Health Service Executive, and non-profit organisations to improve service quality and safety. Ultimately, the Regional Lead uses data tracking and strategic leadership to help vulnerable people exit emergency accommodation and secure stable, permanent housing solutions.

Qualifications

The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has declared that the qualifications for the position of Administrative Officer shall be as set out hereunder.

1.     Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2.     Health

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

3.     Education, Training, Experience, etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms;

(i) have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organization and control of staff, and

(ii) be a serving employee in a local authority, or regional assembly and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post.

4. Age

Each candidate must be under 65 years of age on the latest date for receipt of completed Application Forms for the office if they are deemed not to be new entrants to the Public Service as defined by the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.

However, the age restriction of 65 years does not apply to "new entrants" to the Public Service as defined by the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Candidates must demonstrate a high level of professional readiness. The following attributes are desirable;

·       Hold a recognized third-level qualification (Minimum Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in Social Policy, Public Administration, Housing Studies, Business Management, or a highly relevant social science discipline.

·       Possess a minimum of 3 to 5 years of post-qualification experience in a management or administrative leadership role. This experience should ideally be within local government, an Approved Housing Body (AHB), a state agency, or a major non-profit organisation handling complex social services.

·       Demonstrate clear, firsthand experience managing large-scale budgets. This includes tracking capital and operational funding streams, ensuring compliance with strict public procurement policies, and financial reporting.

·       Display a comprehensive understanding of Irish housing and homelessness legislation, with emphasis on the Housing Acts and the national Housing for All strategic framework.

·       Show a clear grasp of how local government functions in Ireland, including its funding models and its intersection with voluntary and statutory healthcare bodies.

·       Proven history of managing complex, multi-agency partnerships where conflicting priorities must be balanced through negotiation, consensus-building, and diplomatic leadership.

·       Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to write formal policy documents, deliver executive-level presentations, and translate complex data points into plain, actionable insights for public and private committees.

·      Must hold a full, clean Category B driving licence and have access to a personal vehicle. This is necessary to facilitate regular travel between the local authorities and across the South East region.

Duties

Role and Responsibilities of Regional Homeless Lead (Southeast)

·     Oversee and co-ordinate the South east regional budgeting process. Financial controls to include monitoring, analysis, interpreting and regular reporting on management accounts for relevant stakeholders. Review homeless service provision and funding in the Region with a view to improving the quality and efficiency of service provision where required.

·     Ensure adherence to delegated functions as required and outlined in the Section 10 (Housing Act 1988 )Protocols including the coordination and compilation of all financial and performance reports and timely submission of same to the Department of Housing; the control of the distribution of recoupments received from the Department on a regional basis.

·     Lead out on and drive National Homelessness policies, objectives and regional priorities and actions as adopted in the Regional Strategic Action Plan and Annual Plans

·     Facilitate and Co-ordinate meetings of the Strategic Management Committee and The Consultative Forums on Homelessness in terms of statutory and non-statutory homeless structures and operations across the Region to also include local HAT teams and Local Authority homeless team structures

·     The development and ongoing improvement of regional Service Level agreements to include adherence to National Quality Standards Framework, setting of accountable and relevant Key Performance Indicators, Lead on mid and year end Service Reviews and conducting of section 10 project and site / verification visits.

·     Lead on the co-ordination of the tendering and procurement of national and regional programme tenders and ensuring necessary governance and compliance is in place.

·     Develop partnerships and proactive engagement with relevant statutory bodies involved in the provision of homeless services to build a more collaborative approach to managing and addressing homelessness between all stakeholders – to include the HSE as joint consultative partner to include.

a)   Lead on Joint work on regional Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs for Housing First)- regionally and nationally.

b)   Lead out on Joint Business cases for service expansion in the southeast with the HSE.

c)   Lead out and feed into the National Housing First implementation committee with the Department of Housing and Department of Health

d)   Lead out and develop a ‘complex case committee’ in each county to address problematic housing issues jointly with the HSE.

e)   Represent the Region on the Lead Authority Network and other national networks as nominated through national /regional policy

Salary

:

Current Salary Scale: €61,217 - €79,583 (2nd LSI)

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The employee shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to or received by him/her by virtue of his/her employment or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 04/2026, 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 (currently €61,217).

Remuneration is paid fortnightly directly to the employee’s nominated bank account. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g. P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I. Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

Under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013, the working hours for newly appointed/promoted staff are 37 hours per week. All posts will be offered on the basis of the candidate working whole time

Probation

:

Where a person who is not already a permanent officer of Waterford City & County Council is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:-

(a)             there shall be a period after such appointment takes effect, during which such person shall hold office on probation;

(b)             such period shall be one year but the Chief Executive may, at his or her discretion extend such a period;

(c)              such a person shall cease to hold office at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such person is satisfactory

Superannuation

:

The relevant Superannuation Scheme will apply. The provisions of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 may apply.

Persons who become pensionable officers who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation contribution, to contribute to the local authority as follows:

1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (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 dependent or qualified children).

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

The provisions of the Spouses and Children’s/Widows and Orphans Contributory Pension Scheme will continue to apply.

New entrants will be admitted to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme with effect from the date of appointment. The scheme is contributory and provides pension, retirement gratuity, death gratuity and survivors benefits. To qualify for a pension the successful candidate must have served a minimum of two years employment in a Local Authority.

Retirement Age

There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. Anyone who is not a new entrant to the public service, as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, is subject to a compulsory retirement age of 70 years or as determined in accordance with Department Circulars and in line with Government Policy.

The maximum retirement age for new entrants as defined by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012 is 70 years. The Council may refer staff to a medical advisor at any time to determine fitness for carrying out the duties to which they have been assigned.