Senior Enterprise Development Officer

The Position Limerick City and County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which temporary and permanent vacancies for Senior Enterprise Development Officer Executive may be filled throughout the lifetime of the panel. The Local Enterprise Office within Limerick City and County Council delivers a diverse range of business and enterprise development supports as required under the Service Level Agreement between Limerick City and County Council and Enterprise Ireland. The Senior Enterprise Development officer working closely with the Head of Enterprise, will be a key executive staff member of the Local Enterprise Office and will help drive the delivery of an integrated range of actions and programmes to promote entrepreneurship, enterprise and economic development within the county and increase the number of micro businesses with ambition and development potential within the city and county. Senior Enterprise Development Officer Executive will be expected to carry out the following non-exhaustive list of duties:

• Proactive engagement with businesses particularly in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors to support them in their growth.
• Deliver as part of a team our annual targets of job creation and supports to local businesses and start-ups.
• Evaluation and assessment of project proposals for financial assistance and other supports, including carrying out due diligence to qualify the funding requests.
• Developing innovative strategies to add maximum value to our client base.
• Presenting, networking and representing Limerick City and County Council at key enterprise events and business sectoral events
• Design and delivery of relevant business development initiatives for ownermanagers of SMEs, to include the organising and overseeing of enterprise training courses, seminars and the LEO’s mentoring and Specialist Support programmes, Enterprise Week and other events as they occur.
• Facilitate the delivery, as part of the team of all commitments between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authority and any Protocols with other Government Departments and State Agencies
• Make a significant contribution, as part of the team towards the targets set in the Local Enterprise Development Plan, the economic elements of the Local Economic and Community Plan and the Mid-West Action Plan for Jobs at local level in line with national government policy objectives and commitments on enterprise and entrepreneurship
• Input into promotional activities including the preparation of promotional material (e.g. press releases, ezines, brochures etc.)
• Preparation and presentation of reports to the Head of Enterprise, Evaluation & Approvals Committee, Strategic Policy Committee, County Council, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation as required
• Support the function of financial management and budgeting in the office.
• Deputise for and carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the Head of Enterprise from time to time.
• Establishing and maintaining strategic alliances and close exchanges with other business support agencies and institutions
• Supervision of the operational management of assigned staff of the LEO office
• Co-ordinating as part of a team the procurement and monitoring external contracts placed by the LEO

The Person 1. Character Candidates shall be of good character 2. Health Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. 3. Education, Experience, etc Candidates shall on the latest date for receipt of applications; a) Hold a Level 7 qualification (or higher) in Business or a related discipline. b) Have at least five (5) years satisfactory experience of working in or working with small and micro businesses and be familiar with the broad range of supports and agencies available to support local businesses; c) Have the experience and skills to be able to critically evaluate business proposals and make recommendations on their implementation – to both their promoters and to the Local Enterprise Evaluation Committee; d) Have the skills and experience to be able to actively engage with small and micro business promoters and to advise them on the implementation of their plans and strategies; e) Have experience and skills in relation to marketing and publicity f) Be computer literate, be familiar with the use of digital marketing platforms and have good verbal and written communication skills and be comfortable speaking in public;

* Non Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document. It is desirable that candidates will demonstrate through their application form and at the interview the following:

• Have demonstrated experience in advising companies around grants, business supports and growth strategies.
• Possess excellent knowledge and understanding of economic development and the evolving economic development landscape both nationally and locally.
• Have success in securing or administrating grants and raising finance.
• Have direct experience of business development with SME’s.
• Have good knowledge of the start-up and SME supports available in Ireland.
• Be able to provide examples of 1 to 4 above.
• Have experience in the use of financial management systems both from an administrative and reporting perspective.
• Demonstrate the ability to work in partnership with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Have experience in data analytics to include the collection, interpretation, application and presentation of data from a wide variety of sources.
• Have experience in developing, promoting, and delivering relevant strategic and sustainable programs.
• Demonstrate a very strong competence in the management of staff and working and leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Be highly organised with an ability to prioritise tasks and work in a dynamic environment.
• Have very strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrate a very good understanding of financial systems and procedures, identifying funding streams and grant sources.
• Hold a full driving licence, Category “B”, free from endorsement and provide their own motor vehicle for use in carrying out their duties and their motor insurance policy must indemnify the Council.

Terms and Conditions 1. The Post: Subject to the availability of suitably qualified candidates a panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel may be used by Limerick City and County Council to fill permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. 2. Annual Leave The successful candidate will have 30 days annual leave. 3. Salary: Salary scale: €55,847 - €72,602 per annum, inclusive of LSIs. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance. 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 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 (currently €55,847). 4. Location: Limerick City and County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidate to any department or premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to travel to and from work at their own expense. 5. Hours of Work The working hours at present provide for a five day, thirty five hours working week, hours may vary from time to time The working hours may be reviewed at any time by the Council. The post may require flexibility in working outside of normal hours, including at weekends, as necessary. No additional remunertation will be paid in respect of such activities. The provisions of Limerick City and County Council’s Time and Attendance Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time. 6. Sick Leave: The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail. 7. Superannuation: The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies. 8. Travel: Holders of the post should hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall be required drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and Local Authority Travel and Subsistence Policy. Limerick City and County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately. 9. Residence: The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. 10. Safety and Welfare: The holder of the post shall co-operate with the terms of Limerick City and County Council’s Safety Statement and Major Emergency Plan. The successful candidate shall make themselves aware of the safety rules and procedures and make proper use of all safety, clothing and equipment. 11. Training: It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post. 12. Taking Up Appointment: The local authority shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of four weeks 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. 13. Garda Vetting : The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 came into effect on 29th April 2016. The Act places a statutory obligation on Limerick City and County Council to ensure that ‘any work or activity which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of a person having access to or contact with children or vulnerable persons will be subject of Garda Vetting’. 14. Probation: Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of a local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply: (a) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such person shall hold such post on probation. (b) Such period shall be set by the Chief Executive and this period may be extended at their discretion. (c) Such person shall cease to hold the post at the end of the period of probation, unless during such period, the Manager has certified that the service of such person is satisfactory. 15. Citizenship: Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be: (a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or (b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or (c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or (d) 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 (e) 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 (f) 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 the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa 16. References: Applicants are required to advise the names of two responsible persons to whom they are well known but not related (at least one of the referees should be an existing or former employer). In advance of any offer of employment, Limerick City and County Council reserves the right to seek references from current and previous employers, educational institutions or any other organisations with which the candidate has been associated. The Council reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness and relevance of such references and referees.