Senior Staff Officer

The Competition

The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel for Kildare County Council from which permanent and temporary posts may be filled at Senior Staff Officer Grade as vacancies arise.

The Candidate

It is desirable that candidates demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that they have:

● Leading, motivating and managing diverse teams.

● Excellent communication, interpersonal and decision-making skills.

● Can plan and prioritise work effectively, to work under pressure to tight deadlines and to adopt a strategic approach.

● Be highly motivated with the ability to work on their own initiative.

● Possess relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level, including the operation of ICT systems and applications.

● Have experience of budget preparation and management.

● Have knowledge of the structure and functions of local government, of current local government issues and future trends.

● Development and implementation of service improvements and change programmes to deliver quality services.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties of the post include the following:

● Managing one or more sections or departments within the Council and implementing the strategic and policy making decisions of the local authority.

● Providing high level administrative support based on a thorough understanding of the overall workings and policy of a section.

● Attending inter-departmental meetings on behalf of the section to which they are assigned.

● Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with external agencies as appropriate to the activities of the section.

● Continuously monitoring existing procedures to ensure they comply with best practice and the development of new/improved procedures.

● Working on inter-departmental teams concerned with introducing organisational change.

● Attending court as a witness for the Council as required.

● Policy formation including contributing to the development of longer-term strategy and policy to guide the work of the Council and development of the County.

● Ensuring that section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s strategies and objectives.

● Identifying opportunities for improvements in service delivery and encouraging a culture of innovation.

● Initiating, developing and delivering relevant projects and work and evaluating their success relevant to various strategies and plans.

● Preparation and management of budgets.

● Managing and supervising employees in supporting roles up to the position/grade of Staff Officer (Grade V) or analogous grades.

● Providing on-going support to employees in the department or section, including handling day to day problems and identifying training and development requirements as appropriate.

● Ensuring full compliance with all organisational policies and procedures including grievance and disciplinary, performance management and attendance management.

● Communicating and liaising effectively with employees, managers in other sections, senior managers, customers, and elected representatives in relation to operational matters for their section.

● Representing the local authority on committees and at meetings, including Council, Municipal District and Strategic Policy Committee meetings and reporting on progress in his or her respective section or department.

● Organising and facilitating internal and external meetings and participating and engaging in discussions as appropriate.

● Developing and maintaining a productive working relationship with all external agencies, bodies, elected representatives, and committee members, including appropriate information provision and assistance when required.

● Contributing to corporate governance and ensuring compliance with legislative and regulatory provisions including relevant health and safety provisions.

And any other such duty as may be assigned from time to time.

Panel Formation

Recruitment arrangements to this grade will now be on the following basis:

A. 50% confined to employees of the sector

B. 30% open

C. 20% confined to employees of Kildare County Council

The Council will form three separate panels of suitably qualified candidates to meet the requirements agreed nationally of the ratio of posts to be confined to the local government sector, open, and those confined to Kildare County Council staff. The order of candidates placed on each of the three panels is determined by where they were placed on the overall Order of Merit List.

Panel A (Confined to Local Authority Sector) will comprise of successful applicants in order of merit from within the Local Authority Sector only i.e. candidates serving in a local authority or Regional Assembly (where applicable).

Panel B (Open) will comprise of all successful applicants in order of merit and may include candidates serving in a local authority, regional assembly and external applicants.

Panel C (Confined to Kildare County Council) will comprise of all successful applicants in order of merit from within the recruiting Local Authority i.e., candidates serving in Kildare County Council.

For the purposes of the above, the sector Panel A is comprehended to include all Local Authorities and the three Regional Assemblies only. Staff who are not existing employees of local authorities or regional assemblies are not eligible to apply for competitions confined to the sector (Panel A) or to the local authority (Panel C).

Qualifications

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.

Education, Training and Experience etc.:

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

Applicants to Panel B (Open)

(i) (a) have obtained at least 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

(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

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

Or

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

And

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

Please note that 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.

Confined Competition (Panel A)

(v) (a) be a serving employee of 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.

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

Confined Competition (Panel C)

(v) (a) be a serving employee of Kildare County Council and have not less than 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 organization and control of staff.

Particulars of Employment

The Post

The post is wholetime (i.e., 35 hours per week) and appointment may be permanent or temporary.

Location

Kildare County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidates to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own means of transport and at their own expense.

Commencement

Kildare County Council shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period, or such other longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, Kildare County Council shall not appoint them.

Working Hours

The current working hours are 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Kildare County Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time in line with Government Circulars. All hours worked are subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations, 2001. Kildare County Council requires employees to record their hours using a Clocking system.

Reporting Arrangements

Senior Staff Officers report directly to the appropriate supervisor in the Section or to any other employee of Kildare County Council as the Director of Services or other appropriate employee may designate for this purpose.

A system of regular appraisal will be operated during employment, which will involve discussions between the employee and the line manager regarding performance and conduct.

Probationary Period of Employment

Where a person is permanently appointed to Kildare County Council, the following provisions shall apply –

a) there shall be a period after appointment takes effect, during which such a person shall hold the position on probation;

b) such period shall be twelve months, but the Chief Executive may, at their discretion, extend such period;

c) such a person shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation, unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that the service is satisfactory;

d) the period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one weeks’ notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts;

e) there will be assessments during the probationary period.

Remuneration

€57,322 per annum to €65,363 per annum (maximum)

€67,690 per annum (LSI 1) (after 3 years satisfactory service at maximum)

€70,030 per annum (LSI 2) (after 6 years satisfactory service at maximum)

On appointment successful candidates will be placed on the first point of the salary scale. Appointment to a higher point of the salary scale may apply to candidates employed elsewhere in the public service, subject to verification of service history. Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employees nominated bank account. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment. Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g., P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I.

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.

Superannuation & Retirement

A person who becomes a pensionable employee of the County Council will be required in respect of their Superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the appropriate rate. The terms of the Local Government Superannuation (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 as amended or the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 or the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme & Other Provisions) Act 2012 will apply as appropriate on appointment.

Retirement age for employees is dependent on their relevant contract of employment, with due consideration being given to the rules of the Superannuation Scheme to which they belong.

● For appointees who are deemed not to be “new entrants” as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, retirement is compulsory on reaching 65 years of age.

● The minimum retirement age for “new entrants” to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 is 65. There is no mandatory retirement age.

● Effective from 1st January 2013, The Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first-time new entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks:

Retirement age is set, initially, at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in the State Pension Contributory (SPC) age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028.

Compulsory retirement age will be 70.

Annual Leave

Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the nationally agreed annual leave scheme for the sector. The annual leave year runs from 1st January to 31st December. The current leave entitlement for this post is 30 days.

The Chief Executive of Kildare County Council retains autonomy regarding office closures (e.g., Christmas Office Closure), any days arising from such closure will be reserved from the employee’s annual leave entitlement. Proposed office closure days will be reviewed and advised to all employees each year.

Residence

The person holding the office must reside in, or at an address convenient to the Local Authority, as approved by the Chief Executive.

Outside Employment

The position is whole-time, and the officer may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties.

Code Of Conduct/Organisation Policies

Employees are required to adhere to all current and future Kildare County Council codes of practice including Code of Conduct of Employees and all current and future organisational policies including, but not limited to Health and Safety, Communications, Data Protection, Equality, Staff Mobility, Attendance Management and Use of Electronic Equipment.