Retail Assistant (Clerical Officer)

The National Museum of Ireland (NMI) is seeking applications from suitable candidates to fill the position of Retail Assistant (Clerical Officer Level) in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin Sites: Collins Barracks, Dublin 7; Kildare Street, Dublin 2; and Merrion Street, Dublin 2 (on reopening).

This is a Part-Time Permanent position. This position will be filled by open competitive interviews.

Job Title

Retail Assistant (Clerical Officer Level)

Location

The post-holder will be based in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin Sites: Collins Barracks, Dublin 7; Kildare Street, Dublin 2; and Merrion Street, Dublin 2 (on re-opening), and any other National Museum of Ireland site as may be designated from time to time by the Director for the performance of duties. The Retail Assistant may be required to travel to any of the Museum’s sites.

Reporting to

The successful candidate will report to the Retail Manager.

Job Purpose

The person appointed to the position will provide excellent retail and customer service in the Museum shops, enhance the visitor experience, and present the National Museum of Ireland in a positive manner at all times, while increasing revenue.

Duties and Responsibilities

• To provide outstanding service to customers and visitors alike: to always be helpful, friendly, and polite

• To increase turnover through service, excellent product knowledge, and proactive selling

• To merchandise shop products in a manner that appeals to our customers and enhances sales

• To show flexibility and initiative to assist the retail department in accommodating our customers and meeting the business needs

• To have the ability to use EPOS/Till systems, with a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office

• To work as part of a team and communicate effectively with colleagues and managers

• To assist with stock processing and pricing

• To report any issues or discrepancies from shop floor or EPOS to the Senior Sales Assistant

• To be accurate in cash handling

• To be punctual and neatly presented

• To be sensitive while handling customer complaints and bringing about satisfactory resolution

• To maintain both Retail and Museum standards and policies

• To keep up to date with Museum exhibitions

Person SpecificationEssential Requirements

• 2 Years Minimum Previous Retail Experience to include Visual Merchandising Experience

• Strong Merchandising Skills

• Excellent Customer Service Skills

• Excellent Communication Skills

• Ability to work as part of a team and on your own initiative

• Good organisational skills and ability to multitask

• Good IT Skills including Microsoft Office and Till/EPOS systems

• Ability to adapt and provide a flexible approach

Desirable (but not essential)

• Knowledge of the museum collections

• Experience of working in a cultural institution, visitor attraction, or within a tourism related environment

Persons seeking appointment to this post will be required to demonstrate the following competencies associated with the post of Retail Assistant (Clerical Officer Level). The semi-structured interviews will be underpinned by these competencies:

• Teamwork

• Information Management/Processing

• Delivery of Results

• Customer Service and Communication Skills

• Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development

• Drive and Commitment to Public Service Values

Selection Process

In the event that the number of applications received significantly exceeds that required to fill existing and anticipated future vacancies over the lifetime of the panel, the National Museum of Ireland may implement a shortlisting process to select a number of candidates to be invited to interview on the basis of the information contained in their application. This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable, or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that, on this occasion, there are some candidates who are, on the basis of the information provided, better qualified and/or have more relevant experience.

The National Museum of Ireland does not reimburse the cost of travel to interview.

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; or (b) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or (c) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or (d) 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 (e) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

To qualify, candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

Note in respect of UK citizens: The recently concluded EU/UK Brexit negotiations have confirmed that the longstanding Common Travel Area Agreement between the UK and Ireland remains unchanged post-Brexit. Accordingly, UK citizens remain eligible to work and reside in Ireland without restriction and, as such, to make an application to compete for this competition where they meet all other qualifying eligibility criteria. Further information regarding the Common Travel Area is available here.

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 the Scheme are debarred from applying 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 funds. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years, after which time any re-employment will require the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. People who availed of either of these schemes are not eligible to compete in this competition.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28 June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1 June 2012, a Collective Agreement 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 to 2011, for a period of 2 years from termination of employment. Thereafter, the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be required prior to re-employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility, including expiry of the period of non-eligibility, and the Minister’s consent will have to be secured prior to employment by any public service body.

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.

Pay

The salary scale for this position is as follows: Clerical Officer PPC Scale (Public Service Agreement 2024–2026 – 1% Increase – 1st August 2025):

€596.11 – €928.12

Starting Salary

Entry will be at the minimum of the scale: €596.11 per week (pro-rated to part-time hours), the first point on the Clerical Officer PPC Scale (Public Service Agreement 2024–2026 – 1% Increase – 1st August 2025). The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Tenure

The appointment will be in a probationary capacity for a period of one year. Subject to successful completion of the probation period, a contract of indefinite duration will be offered. The appointment may be terminated at any time by either side in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 and 1991.

Annual Leave

Annual leave will be 22 working days per year (pro-rated to part-time hours), rising to:

• 23 days after 5 years’ service

• 24 days after 10 years’ service

• 25 days after 12 years’ service

• 26 days after 14 years’ service

This leave is based on a five-day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time in line with central agreements but will amount to not less than 21.62 gross hours per week (17.5 net hours per week). Attendance is rostered on a five-day over seven-day basis. Sunday overtime is an essential part of the terms and conditions of this employment and will be allocated on a rostered basis. Where extra attendance is necessary, overtime payments or time off in lieu will be allowed in accordance with the Civil Service overtime regulations.

You will agree to co-operate in assisting NMI to maintain accurate records of your working hours for the purpose of Section 25 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Duties

You will be required to perform any duties which may be assigned to you from time to time as appropriate to the position. The position will be part-time, and you will not be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties. You 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.

General

The appointment is subject to the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 to 1996, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil Service. The appointee will be subject to the National Museum’s policies in respect of Code of Standards and Behaviour.

Superannuation and Retirement

The successful candidate will be offered the appropriate superannuation terms and conditions as prevailing in the National Museum of Ireland at the time of being offered an appointment. In general, and except for candidates who have worked in a pensionable (non-Single Scheme terms) public service job in the 26 weeks prior to appointment, this means being offered appointment based on membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme.

Key provisions attaching to membership of the Single Scheme include:

Pensionable Age The minimum age at which pension is payable is 66, rising to 67 and 68 in line with State Pension age changes.

Retirement Age Scheme members must retire at the age of 70.

Pension Abatement

• If the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service and is in receipt of a pension, normal abatement rules will apply.

• If the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service and awarded a pension under voluntary early retirement arrangements, other than the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) or the Department of Health Circular 7/2010 VER/VRS, the entitlement to that pension will cease with effect from the date of reappointment. Special arrangements will be made for the reckoning of previous service for the purpose of any future superannuation award.

• The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 provides for abatement of pension for all Civil and Public Servants who are re-employed where a Public Service pension is in payment, effective from 1 November 2012.

• Department of Education and Skills Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers Circular 102/2007 applies as set out in the relevant circular documentation.

• Ill-Health Retirement: where an individual has retired from a Civil or Public Service body on the grounds of ill-health, pension payments may be subject to review in accordance with the rules of the pension scheme.