Senior Staff Officer

THE COMPETITION

Laois County Council is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Senior Staff Officer (Grade VI). Recruitment arrangements to this grade will now be on the following basis:

The Council will form three (3) separate panels of suitably qualified candidates to meet the requirements for posts confined to the local authority sector, open and those confined to Laois County Council staff, from which future relevant vacancies may be filled.

Suitably qualified persons are invited to apply for the following panel(s): -

• 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 the recruiting local Authority) will comprise of all successful applicants in order of merit from within the recruiting local authority i.e. candidates serving in Laois County Council.

 

For the purposes of the above, the sector Panel A includes all local authorities and the three (3) Regional Assemblies only. Staff who are not existing employees of Local Authorities or regional assemblies are not eligible to apply for the competition confined to the sector (Panel A) or to the Local Authority (Panel C).

Eligibility criteria for all three panels are set out under Qualifications below.

 

THE ROLE

The Senior Staff Officer is a middle management grade within the Council. A Senior Staff Officer is required to be an effective, participative leader of a team with responsibility for organisation and management of all aspects of a section or sections including the supervision of staff.

The Senior Staff Officer will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team within the Council and is required to ensure that goals set out in Departmental and Team plans become operational actions through effective planning, allocation and prioritization of work. The Senior Staff Officer will represent their Department or the Council on various committees and contribute through the business planning process. The position requires excellent administrative, supervisory, interpersonal, communication and other particular skills and expertise depending on assignment.

 

THE QUALIFICATIONS

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 an efficient service. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical examination carried out by the Council’s Occupational Medical advisor prior to appointment. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

3.       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 (5) subjects (or four (4) 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 (3) subjects in that examination (or two (2) 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

 

Confined Competition (Panels A and C as appropriate)

(iv)            Be a serving employee in a Local Authority or Regional Assembly and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post.

The Ideal Candidate Shall:

The successful candidate will:

·         Have a satisfactory understanding of the Council’s purpose and priorities, and knowledge of the public service organisation in Ireland;

·         Demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation and decision-making skills, and be capable of representing the Council in a professional and credible manner;

·         Be self-motivated with ability to work on their own initiative;

·         Demonstrate relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level, including the operation of ICT systems and standard office software packages;

·         Have a career record that demonstrates an ability to manage and supervise staff;

·         Have experience of budget preparation and management;

·         Demonstrate satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the local government environment including services, policies, legislation and issues;

·         Have an adequate understanding of the charging environment and be capable of implementing change in order to deliver quality services to citizens.

 

Key Duties:

The main duties and responsibilities of the role of Senior Staff Officer (Grade VI) include, but are not limited to the following:

 

·     To be responsible for the supervision of a section or function within the Council.

·     To support the Administrative Officer or designated Senior Official to ensure the section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s Corporate Plan and Operational plans.

·     To support the Administrative Officer or other nominated senior official to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.

·     To supervise employees in supporting roles up to the position/grade of Staff Officer (Grade V) or analogous grades, including assigning duties and workload.

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

·     To ensure full compliance with all organisational policies and procedures including grievance and disciplinary, performance management and attendance management.

·     To communicate and liaise effectively with employees, supervisors and managers in other sections, senior managers and customers in relation to operational matters for their section.

·     To compile, prepare and present reports as necessary, including the preparation of reports or letters, which may be sensitive and/or confidential in nature.

·     To support the implementation of good practices with transparent reporting and communications to deliver accountable services in the department or section.

 

 

Competencies for the Post:

 

Key Competencies for the post include the following and candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of competence under each of these. Please take particular note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by candidates:

 

Strategic Management and Change

·       Ability to translate the corporate policies and strategies into operational plans and outputs

·       Clear understanding of political reality and context of the local authority

·       Embeds good governance practices into day-to-day activities, practices and processes

·       Develops and maintains positive and beneficial relationships with relevant interests

·       Ability to sustain a positive image and profile of the local authority

Delivering Results

·       Ability to effectively manage performance

·       Ability to build and lead a positive, diverse and productive section/unit/team effectively

·       Ability to empower and encourage people to deliver their part of the operational plan

·       Ability to recognize the value of and requirement to communicate effectively

·       Demonstrates good interpersonal skills

·       Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills

Performance Through People

·       Lead the team/service area in a manner that provides clarity of purpose and a focus on delivery.

·       Show visible commitment to the purpose, mission and vision of the organisation.

·       Provide a positive sense of purpose for the team in terms of its contribution to the organisation’s objectives.

·       Develop the team and its members to achieve corporate objectives through the effective management of performance.

·        Have effective written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

Personal Effectiveness

·       Initiative and creativity

·       Enthusiasm and positivity about the role

·       Resilience and Personal well-being

·       Personal motivation

·       Commitment to integrity and good public service values

·       Understanding the structures and environment within which the local authority sector operated and the role of the Senior Staff Officer in this context

• Knowledge of current local government issues and strategic direction of local government

 

THE PRINCIPAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

 

1.        PARTICULARS:

The position is whole time, permanent and pensionable.

The Council reserves the right to, at any time, re-assign an employee to any department now or in the future

2.         PROBATION:

Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of this local authority is appointed, 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 ten months’, but the Chief Executive may, at his/her 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)        There will be ongoing assessments during the probationary period. Employment may be terminated by either party during probation or at the end of the probationary period on one week’s notice.

 

3.         REMUNERATION:

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their office or in respect of services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

The current annual pay-scale is: €56,875 minimum to €70,730 LSI 2 (as per circular EL 02/2026).

Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department circular.

New entrants will commence on the minimum point of the scale.

4.         DUTIES:

The duties of the office are to give to the local authority and

(a)         Such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts, is Chief Executive, and

(b)        to any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph,

Under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an executive, administrative or management nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers, duties and functions as may be delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive from time to time including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by the local authority and such duties as may be required in relation to the area of any local authority. The holder of the office, will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

5.         SELECTION PROCESS:

Candidates will initially be assessed to ensure that they meet the minimum specified eligibility criteria for the position.

a.   Shortlisting

Shortlisting may apply based on the information supplied on application forms and the requirements of the position as set out. It is expected that given the qualifications and experience of prospective applicants the short-listing requirements may be significantly higher than the minimum qualifications and experience requirements set out for the post.

b. Competitive Interview

Selection of candidates for appointment shall be by means of a competitive interview, conducted by or on behalf of the local authority. The Council is committed to a process of selection on merit, based on fair and open competition. The criteria for judging suitability and ranking will be related directly to the qualifications, attributes and skills required to undertake the duties and responsibilities to the standard required in the post.

c. Panels

Following completion of interviews, panels may be formed as described on page 2, the duration of which is at the discretion of the Council. While a panel remains in force, offers of temporary or permanent employment may be made subject to confirmation of qualifications and satisfying clauses in relation to health, character or other requirements of the particular post. Persons to whom an offer of employment is made must take up duty within 1 month from the date of offer, or such extended period as the Council may agree, otherwise, the Council may decide not to appoint them.

d. References/Documentary Evidence

Each candidate may be required to submit as references the names and addresses of two responsible persons to whom is well known to them but not related. Candidates may be required to submit documentary evidence to the local authority in support of their application

6.     RETIREMENT AGE:

The Single Public Service Pension Scheme (“Single Scheme”) as provided by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 commenced with effect from 1st January 2013. The act introduces new pension and retirement provisions for new entrants to the public service appointed on or after 1st January 2013. The normal retirement age under the Single Pension Scheme is the same as the age at which you can claim the Contributory State Pension from the Department of Social Protection which is currently 66 years of age with a compulsory retirement age of 70.

Otherwise, the retirement age of the relevant pension scheme applies. It should be noted that candidates who are in receipt of a Public Service Pension and are re-hired in any paid capacity by a Public Service Body may be liable to have their pension abated. Prior to appointment successful candidates will be obliged to complete a Declaration in relation to previous Public Pensionable Employment.

7.     RESIDENCE:

The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

8. SUPERANNUATION:

The superannuation contributions of the relevant pension scheme will apply.

9. SICK LEAVE:

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

10. DRIVING LICENCE:

When required to do so, holders of the office shall possess a current full driving licence in respect of Category B vehicles or equivalent in the EU Model Driving Licence and have access to a car.

11. Right to Information and Review:

The Council is committed to offering feedback and information to candidates. Any candidate who wishes to do so may request to have a decision or the process reviewed. Any such request must be submitted in writing, stating the grounds of the request and this must be submitted to hr@laoiscoco.ie within five working days of the date of notification of a relevant decision.

12. Confidentiality:

Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, applications will be treated in strict confidence.

13. Other:

Appointments to the Council are subject to satisfactory checks with regard to references, qualifications, medical examinations, and Garda Vetting, as applicable.

14. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATIONS

Laois County Council is committed to protecting your personal data and we comply with our obligations under the Data Protection Acts, 1988 – 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulations.  

Basis for Processing your Personal Information

The basis for processing your personal data is to process your application for the position you have applied for with Laois County Council under the Terms of the Employment (Information) Act 1994 and Human Resources Department policies and procedures. Personal data sought for the purpose of recruitment will include your name, your contact details including email address and mobile number, particulars of education, details regarding your record of employment, details of referees and confirmation of if you require an employment permit/visa or work authorisation. When your application form is received, we create a computer record in your name, which contains much of the personal information you have supplied.  This personal record is used solely in processing your candidature.  You are entitled to obtain at any time, a copy of information about you, which is kept on computer.

Sharing of Information  

Outside of the relevant recruitment team, the information provided in your application form will only be shared for progressing the competition for which you have applied for, with a designated short listing and/or interview board.   If, following the competition, you are placed on a panel and offered a position, the information provided in your application form will form part of your Personnel File and may be used for deciding the post to which you are assigned. Furthermore, should you be offered a position and subsequently confirm your interest in the position, the information provided on your application form will be used to request service records, employment references and/or character references as required.   

Storage period

Your application will be retained for one year from the date a panel for this position is formed.  In exceptional circumstances panels can be extended for an additional year and your personal data will be kept until the extension has expired (usually a further one year, rarely two years).    You will be notified if the panel has been extended after one year and the new expiry date of the panel.  Applications which are unsuccessful at interview stage will be retained for one year.  Applications that are not progressed to interview stage will be destroyed post competition. If you do not furnish the personal data requested, Laois County Council will not be able to progress your application form for the competition for which you are applying. Laois County Council’s Privacy Statement can be assessed at: https://laois.ie/privacy-statement/