Senior Staff Officer

The Senior Staff Officer is a middle management position within the local authority, and is assigned responsibility for the day-to-day administration and management of a section or department with responsibility for an area of the local authority’s activities, including management and supervision of staff. They are responsible for ensuring that goals set out in Departmental and Team Plans become 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.

Appointees will be required to carry out their duties with an understanding of the political context of local government, and in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

Salary: €58,474 - €71,437 with annual increments payable subject to satisfactory overall performance, attendance, etc.

Offers of appointment to persons who are not serving local authority employees will be based on the minimum of this scale. Where the person being appointed is a serving local authority employee, normal starting pay rules will apply.

Annual Leave: 30 days per annum

Hours of Work: While the normal working week will constitute 35 hours, the appointee will be required to work the hours directed by the Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, which will include hours outside of the normal working day associated with the responsibilities and requirements of the post.

A flexible working hours system is in operation.

The key duties and responsibilities of the post of Senior Staff Officer include:-

• to be responsible for the management and administration of a section or sections within the Council, including the management and supervision of staff

• to support their line manager to ensure work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s corporate and operational plans, including planning and prioritising work and allocating resources

• to develop and maintain productive working relationships, including providing information and assistance when required

• to act as a key point of contact and liaison in relation to all operational matters for the service delivery section or sections for which they are responsible

• to research, analyse and communicate information on specific issues and policies as appropriate, including compiling, preparing and presenting reports, presentations, correspondence, etc.

• to represent the local authority on committees and at meetings and to report on progress in his or her respective section or department as required

• to provide support and administrative assistance in the delivery of projects as required

• to be involved in the day to day financial management of capital and operational expenditure in the section or department

• to identify opportunities for improvements in the service delivery within the relevant area of responsibility

• to implement and manage change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility

• to manage and supervise employees in supporting roles, including assigning and scheduling duties and workload, providing on-going support and handling day to day issues

• to ensure compliance with all organisational policies and procedures within their area of responsibility and to provide assistance in the understanding and interpretation of policies and procedures to employees in their area of responsibility and to customers and other stakeholders as appropriate

• to participate in corporate management activities and responsibilities appropriate to the grade

• to be in compliance with Health and Safety legislative requirements, policies and procedures and safe systems of work

• to deputise for the line manager or equivalent as required

• to undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required, or assigned, from time to time

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on panels from which vacancies for Senior Staff Officer may be filled.

Panel A (Confined to the Local Authority Sector)

This panel will comprise of successful candidates from within the Local Authority Sector, i.e. candidates who are serving employees of a Local Authority or Regional Assembly.

Panel B (Open)

This panel will comprise of all successful candidates in order of merit and may include candidates serving in a Local Authority, Regional Assembly and external candidates.

Panel C (Confined to Kerry County Council)

This panel will comprise of successful candidates who are serving employees of Kerry County Council.

Character:

Each candidate must be of good character.

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.

Citizenship:

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a)     a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA), or

The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

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

Education/ experience, etc.:

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

Panel A

(a)    be a serving employee in a local authority, or regional assembly and have at least 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

Panel B

(a)    have obtained at least Grade D (or 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

(b)    have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in Higher Level (or Honours) 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

(c)    have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination, or

(d)    hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard, and

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

Panel C

(a)    be a serving employee of Kerry County Council and have at least two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post

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

Essential Skills

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria set out above, candidates must be able to demonstrate that they possess the following knowledge, experience, skills and competencies. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of competence under each of these.

Please take note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by the candidates.

Management and Change

·   Be effective in translating corporate mission and objectives into operational plans and outputs

·   Develop and maintain positive, productive and beneficial working relationships

·   Effectively manage the introduction of change and demonstrate flexibility and openness to change

Delivering Results

·   Contribute to the development of operational plans and lead the development of team plans

·   Plan and prioritise work and resources effectively

·   Establish high quality service and customer care standards

·   Make timely, informed and effective decisions and show good judgement and balance in making decisions or recommendations

Leading and Motivating, and Managing Performance

·   Lead, motivate and engage employees to achieve quality results and to deliver on operational plans

·   Effectively manage performance

Communicating Effectively

·   Have effective verbal and written communication skills

Personal Effectiveness

·    Take initiative and seek opportunities to exceed goals

·    Manage time and workload effectively

·    Maintain a positive, constructive and enthusiastic attitude to their role

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

·     Knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government

·     Knowledge of current local government issues, priorities, concerns and future direction

·     Understanding of the role of a Senior Staff Officer

·     Relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level

·     Experience of managing and supervising staff, including managing performance

·     Experience of compiling, preparing and presenting reports, presentations, correspondence, etc.

·     Effective financial and resource management skills

·     Knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems