Senior Staff Officer

THE JOB

The Senior Staff Officer is a middle management position within Dublin City Council and is assigned responsibility for the day-to-day administration and management of an area of the Council’s activities, including the management and supervision of staff. The Senior Staff Officer is responsible for ensuring that goals set out in the Team Charter are translated into operational actions through the planning, allocation, and prioritisation of work.

The Senior Staff Officer is a key point of contact and liaison with other Sections or Departments in relation to all operational matters for the service delivery section or sections for which they are responsible.

The Senior Staff Officer is expected to carry out their duties with an understanding of the political context of local government and in such a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision-making.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

In the context of key duties and responsibilities for the post of Senior Staff Officer, the ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government, of current local government issues, priorities and concerns and of the key influencers of local government

• An understanding of the role of a Senior Staff Officer

• Relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level

• A career record that demonstrates an ability to manage staff to ensure delivery of complex work programmes

• Experience of managing and supervising staff, including managing performance

• Ensuring strong governance and ethical standards are set and maintained

• The ability to motivate, empower and encourage staff under their control to achieve maximum performance by supporting the current Performance Management and Development System (PMDS)

• An understanding of the changing operating environment in the Council and be capable of leading change in order to deliver quality services to our citizens

• An understanding of the representational role of the elected members and the need to work with them to deliver quality services and implement policy decisions

• Proven management analysis, report writing, and presentation skills

• Effective financial and resource management skills

• Knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems

The ideal candidate will also:

• Be self-motivated with an ability to work on own initiative

• Have strong interpersonal and communications skills

• Be capable of representing the Council in a professional and credible manner with all stakeholders

• Have an ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines in the delivery of key operational objectives

• Have an awareness of relevant legislation and regulations in the area of Health and Safety and in data governance, their implications for the organisation, the employee, and their application in the workplace

QUALIFICATIONS

CHARACTER:

Each candidate shall be of good character.

HEALTH:

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

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, ETC.:

PANEL A (CONFINED TO EMPLOYEES OF THE SECTOR)

PANEL B (OPEN COMPETITION)

PANEL C (CONFINED TO EMPLOYEES OF DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL)

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed applications:

OPEN COMPETITION (PANELS B)

(a) i) have obtained at least a Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or four subjects if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics, and

have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in higher level papers in three subjects in that examination (or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics)

or

ii) have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination (e.g. Level 6 major award)

or

iii) hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard

and

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

CONFINED COMPETITION (PANEL A)

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

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

CONFINED COMPETITION (PANEL C)

(c) be a serving employee in Dublin City Council and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post, and

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

Candidates eligible under Category – Panel B (educational requirements above)

Candidates are required to upload documentation for the qualification they are claiming eligibility under with their online application. The onus is on the candidate to ensure that the correct documentation is uploaded along with their application form.

Non-Irish qualifications must be accompanied by a determination/comparability statement 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.

Candidates who do not submit the required eligibility documentation by closing date/time will be deemed as having an incomplete application and no further consideration will be given to the application.

For details of qualifications please see the National Framework of Qualifications | Quality and Qualifications Ireland

DUTIES

The duties of the post include, but are not limited to, the following:

Leadership and management of employees in supporting roles up to position/grade of Staff Officer, including assigning duties and workload

Supporting management in the implementation of work programmes as required by the Council’s Corporate and Operational Plans

Supporting line manager to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility

Responsibility for the management of a section or function within the Council

Delivery of specific departmental/organisational objectives

Management of conflicting demands within a team environment and to prescribed timelines and deadlines

Provide ongoing leadership, motivation and support to employees in the department/section, including resolving day-to-day problems and identifying training and development requirements as appropriate

Ensure full compliance with all organisational policies and procedures including grievance and disciplinary, performance management and attendance management

Effective communication and liaison with colleagues, managers and customers in relation to operational matters for their section

Compile, prepare and present reports as necessary, including preparation of reports or letters which may be of a sensitive and/or confidential nature

Support implementation of good practices with transparent reporting and communications and to deliver accountable services in the department/section

Carry out duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision-making

Such other duties as may be assigned from time to time

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore 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 designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the City Council.

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority and to:

(a) The local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive is Chief Executive, and

(b) Any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or any of the authorities or bodies referred to in (a), under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or such officers as the Chief Executive may determine, such appropriate computing, technical, management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary services as may be required, and to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated by the Chief Executive from time to time, including servicing committees established by any such authority or body. The holder of the post will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Posts of Senior Staff Officer will be filled from this publicly advertised competition. Selection shall be by means of a competition conducted by or on behalf of Dublin City Council

• Candidates should note that the information provided in their application form and assessment questions will form the basis on which eligibility and shortlisting is conducted

• Dublin City Council reserves the right to undertake eligibility and/or shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate

PANEL FORMATION

Panels may be formed on the basis of interviews to fill vacancies that may arise. Recruitment to Clerical Administrative Grades IV to VII will now be on the following basis:

A. 50% confined to employees of the sector

B. 30% open

C. 20% confined to employees of Dublin City Council

The order of candidates placed on each panel is determined by their position on the overall order of merit.

SHORTLISTING

Dublin City Council reserves the right to shortlist candidates to proceed to interview. Shortlisting will be based on information supplied in the application form in conjunction with assessment questions. It is therefore in the candidate’s own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of qualifications and experience. The shortlisting process will assess applications against predetermined criteria reflecting the skills and experience required for the role.

SALARY

The salary scale for the position of Senior Staff Officer is:

€58,474; €59,869; €61,570; €64,767; €66,677 (Maximum); €69,051 (1st LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the maximum); €71,437 (2nd LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the 1st LSI) (effective 1st June 2026).

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

In accordance with Departmental Circular EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving public service employee on or after 1st January 2011 will enter the scale at the minimum point. Rate of remuneration may be adjusted in line with Government policy.

Under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013, the working hours for newly appointed/promoted staff are 35 hours per week.