Senior Executive Technician

The Position

The Council now invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent and fixed term contract posts for the position of Senior Executive Technician across different functions. Assignments for this role may be in Roads, Housing, Capital Projects and Planning. The Senior Executive Technician is a senior technical post and the duties associated with this role require a high level of technical knowledge. The Senior Executive Technician will be required to lead a team and to liaise with external agencies and support service areas within the Local Authority.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide technical services relevant to the area of responsibility to which he/she has been assigned, including site inspection, site surveying, creation of drawings and graphics, report writing and such other duties associated with a drawing office;

• Operating the appropriate technology as required to carry out the work to which he/she has been assigned, e.g. CAD, Graphics, GIS Software such as ESRI/ArcGIS, Autodesk’s AutoCAD and/or MicroStation CAD software, Microsoft Office Suite of Applications, especially Access, Excel and PowerPoint;

• Knowing and understanding regulations and their implications for the organisation and employees and their implication in the workplace;

• Work as part of a dynamic technical team;

• Liaise with other departments, members of the public and external agencies in relation to operational aspects of assigned work;

• Manage a team including: prioritising work as determined by the Head of Department including the allocation of work to ensure effective and efficient delivery of programmes;

• Preparation of public consultation display material and assistance at public consultation;

• Manage work flows and producing regular progress reports on all aspects of area of responsibility;

• Mentor and coach Technicians Grade II and Executive Technicians;

• Contribute to individual staff development, personal development and team development initiatives;

• Carry out site visits and preparing recommendations in relation to planning enforcement including attendance at court cases and the giving of evidence;

• Prepare estimates for future projects and works;

• Site surveying and setting out using GPS, total stations, automatic levels for use in the preparation of preliminary design plans, detail design drawings and setting out files;

• Work with other departments and stakeholders (e.g. District Engineers, Water, Environment), other bodies (e.g. Uisce Éireann, The Office of the Ombudsman), developers, Elected Members and the public;

• Carry out all responsibilities in relation to health and safety including risk assessments.

The post holder may be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate Officer or such duties as designated from time to time.

Qualifications for the Post

Candidates shall be of good character.

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

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

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.

Candidates must have on the latest date of receipt of completed application forms:

(a) have satisfactory experience, in a technician post at Grade I or higher level or in an analogous post under a local authority or health board in the State;

(b) have at least seven years satisfactory relevant experience in a technician post at Grade II or higher level or an analogous post;

(c) have a thorough knowledge of all the technical aspects of local authority work and a deeper knowledge of at least one relevant section of the work and possess such training or experience as would enable them to take charge of such a section of the work;

(d) have adequate experience in dealing with other departments within their own organisations and with other bodies;

(e) have adequate experience in the direction, supervision, and control of staff; and

(f) possess technical training and experience of a high standard and adequate administrative ability.

Non-Irish qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

The onus is on the candidate to ensure that the relevant qualification is listed on their application form and to submit all relevant educational qualifications.

DRIVING LICENCE / TRAVEL

The holder of the office will be required to hold a valid Irish/EU full driving licence for Class B vehicles or a licence acceptable to NDLS for exchange, free from endorsement and disqualification.

They must be a competent driver and shall drive a motor car in the course of his/her duties and, for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the Local Authority. The Local Authority must be indemnified on their insurance.

NDLS Driving Licence Exchange Information

It is desirable that candidates will demonstrate through their application form and at the interview the following:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills and people skills;

• Experience in GIS Software such as ESRI ArcGIS and satisfactory IT skills;

• Relevant experience in AutoCAD, Autoturn, Keylines and Keysigns software;

• Knowledge of the MapRoad Pavement Management System, Prime 2, PSCI rating;

• Have knowledge of the technical aspects of local authority work and in particular the design of transportation projects, taking-in-charge and/or enforcement and possess such training and experience that would enable them to take charge of such projects in the office or on site;

• Be self-motivated with a record of demonstrating initiative and judgement in the role;

• Possess satisfactory knowledge of health and safety and carry out all responsibilities in relation to Health and Safety matters;

• Ability to supervise contractors on site to ensure that all works are undertaken as per specification and in compliance with design and contract requirements;

• Represent Westmeath County Council at meetings when required;

• Have knowledge of the Road Schedule and how to keep it updated;

• Possess excellent knowledge of construction. The candidate should have the ability to survey and monitor developments through the course of construction from a planning and technical compliance perspective.

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 to fill permanent and fixed-term positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. Vacancies may arise on a county-wide basis.

Westmeath County Council reserves the right to assign employees to any work location having regard to funding and/or operational circumstances.

The current salary for the post of Senior Executive Technician is €55,622 – €66,993 per annum (including Long Service Increments) as per Circular EL 02/2026. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance.

Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with the Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

New entrants to the Local Authority Service commence on the first point of the scale in accordance with current Government Policy as set out in Department of the Environment Circular Letter EL 02/2011 of 28 January 2011 and Circular EL 05/2016 dated 5 February 2016.

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

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g. PAYE and PRSI. 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.

You agree that, in the event of an overpayment of salary or other monies to you, the Council reserves the right to deduct monies from your “wages” (for the purposes of the Payment of Wages Act, 1991) for the purpose of reimbursement of the Council of the amount of the overpayment(s), in keeping with the Payment of Wages Act 1991, Section 5(5).