Senior Staff Officer

The Position

Meath County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent & fixed-term contract vacancies for the position of Senior Staff Officer shall be drawn.

The Senior Staff Officer role:

The position of Senior Staff Officer is a middle management role within the council.

A Senior Staff Officer is required to be an effective, participative member of a team with responsibility for managing and supervising staff.

The person appointed will be under the direction and control of the Administrative Officer or other officer designated by the Chief Executive.

Meath County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post of Senior Staff Officer from which future vacancies may be filled. 50% of posts filled will be confined to employees of the sector*, 30% will be filled by open recruitment and 20% will be confined to employees of Meath County Council.

*The sector includes all Local Authorities and Regional Assemblies. Applicants who are not existing employees of a local authority or regional assembly are not eligible to apply for competitions confined to the sector (Panel A) or confined to Meath County Council (Panel C). Only serving members of Meath County Council can apply to Panel C.

Purpose, Duties and Responsibilities

The duties of the post of the Senior Staff Officer include, but are not limited to:

• 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.

Qualifications for the Post

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 and Experience

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

Open Competition – Panel B (please see page 13 of this booklet for panel information)

(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

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

Confined Competition – Panel A & C (please see page 13 of this booklet for panel information)

(v) (a) To 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 an analogous post,

and

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

Desirable Experience and knowledge

In the context of the key duties and responsibilities for the post of Senior Staff Officer listed above, the ideal candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge, experience, skills and competencies:

• 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.

Miscellaneous Provisions

Salary

Salary scale: €58,474 - €71,437 per annum (EL 04/26). Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance.

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

Hours of Work

The normal working hours will be 35 hours per week. Duties may require the successful applicant to work outside of normal working hours i.e. attendance at evening/weekend, training duties etc. as part of normal working hours without additional remuneration. All hours worked will be subject to the provision of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 as amended.

You may be required to complete a time-sheet in accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Regulations, 2001.

Start Date

Meath County Council shall require a person to whom an offer of employment is made to take up an appointment within a reasonable period of time, usually two months from date of offer, to meet the organisational requirements of the Council. Meath County Council reserves the right to withdraw its offer in the event that an appointment is not taken up within such a period.

Leave

30 days per annum

Sick Leave

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

Probation

The following provisions will apply:

(a) there shall be a period after such appointments take effect during which such persons shall hold the position on probation,

(b) such period shall be 9 months but the Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend such period,

(c) such persons shall cease to hold the position at end of the period of probation unless during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory.

Travel

It is desirable that holders of the post should hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall be required to drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and Local Authority Travel and Subsistence Policy.

Meath County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately.

Residence

The person holding the office must reside in, or at an address convenient to performing the role/function as approved by the Chief Executive.

Eligibility to Compete

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 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 Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa; or

g) Non-EEA citizens with a valid work permit; or

h) You must hold a valid visa stamp issued by the Department of Justice which clearly allows you to reside in the country and seek employment, for example, stamp 1g.

Safety and Welfare

The holder of the post shall co-operate with the terms of Meath County Council’s Safety Statement and Major Emergency Plan. He/she shall familiarise him/herself with the safety rules and procedures and make proper use of all safety, clothing and equipment.

Training

It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post.

Garda Vetting

Successful candidates may be subject to Garda Vetting in advance of appointment to the position.

Outside Employment

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