Senior Staff Officer

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent or temporary vacancies for the position of Senior Staff Officer (Grade VI) in Monaghan County Council shall be filled.

The role

The Senior Staff Officer is a middle management position within Monaghan County Council and is assigned responsibility for managing the performance of a section or department handling an area of the local authority’s activities, including the management and supervision of staff. They are required to be an effective, participative leader of a team with responsibility for the organisation and management of the section under their control. The Senior Staff Officer will generally work under the direction and management of the Administrative Officer, Senior Executive Officer or analogous grade and may from time to time be required to deputise for more senior staff.

The Senior Staff Officer is responsible for ensuring that goals, targets and standards set out in Departmental and Team Plans become operational actions through the planning, allocation and prioritisation of work. The reporting of progress under relevant corporate plans and strategies is also expected.

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 will be expected to use initiative and work to a high standard and will be required to operate the Council’s existing and future IT systems as part of their work, requiring excellent administrative, supervisory, interpersonal, communication and other particular skills and expertise depending on assignment.

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 must be able to demonstrate though their application form and at the interview that they have sufficient experience and a proven track record in the following:

• 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 in the formulation and delivery of key policy objectives.
• 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 and the understanding of the role of the Senior Staff Officer in this context.
• Development and implementation of service improvements and change programmes to deliver quality services.
• Have a career record that demonstrates an ability to manage and supervise staff, enhance employee engagement, and create a culture of innovation and personal responsibility.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Staff Officer shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned in relation to employment and as may be appropriate to any function of the council and shall carry out such instructions as may be given in relation to the performance of their duties.

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

• Responsible for the management and administration of a section or sections within the Council and implementing the strategic and policy decisions of the local authority.
• Management and supervision of staff.
• Support the 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.
• Communicating and liaising effectively with employees, managers in other sections, senior managers, customers, and elected representatives in relation to operational matters for their section.
• 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.
• Research, analyse and communicate information on specific issues and policies as appropriate, including compiling, preparing and presenting reports, presentations, correspondence, etc.
• Represent the local authority on committees and at meetings and to report on progress in his or her respective section or department as required.
• Provide support and administrative assistance in the delivery of projects as required.
• Be involved in the day-to-day financial management of capital and operational expenditure in the department or section including preparing and managing budgets.
• Identify opportunities for improvements in the service delivery within the relevant areas of responsibility.
• Implement and manage change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.
• Manage and supervise employees in supporting roles, including assigning and scheduling duties and workload, providing on-going support and handling day to day issues.
• 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.
• Participate in corporate management activities and responsibilities appropriate to the grade.
• Develop and maintain a productive working relationship with all external agencies, bodies, elected representatives, and committee members, including appropriate information provision and assistance when required.
• Contribute to corporate governance and ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislative requirements, policies and procedures and safe systems of work.
• Deputise for the line manager or equivalent as required.
• Undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required or assigned from time to time.

These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and outline the main functions and responsibilities of the post of the Senior Staff Officer and may be subject to change in the future. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above and to take instruction from and report to an appropriate officer or such designated officer as may be assigned from time to time by Monaghan County Council.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POST

1.      Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2.      Health

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

3.       Citizenship:

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 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.

4.       Education, Training and Experience

(APPLICANTS PANEL B (OPEN)

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

(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 organization and control of staff.

Confined competition (APPLICANTS PANEL A AND PANEL C AS APPROPRIATE)

(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 and

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

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. Oversees qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

Each candidate must include on the application form details of all qualifications obtained by them. The invitation to attend for Interview is not to be regarded as an admission that you possess the prescribed qualifications and/or requirements for this post or are you qualified by law to hold the post. Documentary proof will be required before appointment where you claim credit for particular qualification, experience, etc.

COMPETENCIES FOR THE POST

Key Competencies for the post are outlined in the table below. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form and at interview of competence under each of these headings.

Competency

Management and Change

• Effectively manage the introduction of change and demonstrate flexibility and openness to change
• Establishes, develops and maintains positive and productive professional working relationships
• Embeds good governance
• practices into day-to-day activities, practices and processes
• Can work with multiple stakeholders to implement change.

Delivering Results

• Translate the business/operational Plan objectives into clear actions and prioritise work and resources effectively
• Take responsibility for the delivery of results and for bringing projects and tasks to completion in area of responsibility
• 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.

Performance through People

• Demonstrate the ability to build effective teams and motivate and engage staff and stakeholders to achieve quality results and deliver on operational plans
• Manage effectively the role, performance and contribution of each staff member for which they are responsible,
• Have excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain positive and beneficial relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including citizens, elected members and staff.

Personal Effectiveness

• Take initiative and seek opportunities to exceed goals in service delivery
• Manage time and workload effectively
• Is positive and enthusiastic about the role and is motivated in the face of difficulties and obstacles.
• Develops the expertise necessary to carry out the role to a high standard and share this with others.

Essential Requirements

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of Local Government including service delivery
• Demonstrate the understanding of current local government issues, priorities, and concerns and future direction.
• Understands the role of a Senior Staff Officer
• Understands the key challenges facing the local government sector and Monaghan County Council
• Has relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level
• Has 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.
• Has knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems.

PRINCIPAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The Competition

Monaghan County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which permanent and temporary vacancies for the post of Senior Staff Officer (Grade VI) shall be filled. The post(s) shall be wholetime, temporary/permanent and pensionable

Recruitment arrangements to the post of Senior Staff Officer will be on the following basis: -

Panel A - 50% confined to employees of the sector*

Panel B - 30% open

Panel C - 20% confined to employees of Monaghan County Council

*The sector includes all Local Authorities and the three regional assemblies. Candidates who are not existing employees of these local authorities or regional assemblies are not eligible to apply for competitions confined to the sector or to the local authorities i.e. Monaghan County Council.

Following the selection process, three panels will be formed for the post of Senior Staff Officer of suitably qualified candidates to meet the requirements of the ratio of the posts to be confined to the local authority sector, open and those confined to Monaghan County Council. The order of candidates placed on each of the three panels is determined by where they are 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 Monaghan County Council) will comprise of all successful applicants in order of merit from within the recruiting Local Authority i.e. candidates serving in Monaghan County Council.

The post holder shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an employee of a local authority, to such an extent as to impair the performance of his or her duties as an employee of a local authority or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of the local authority, or which might be inconsistent with the discharge of his/her duties as a local authority employee.

Salary:

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale. Holders of the post 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. An allowance may also be payable in respect of travel expenses and subsistence.

The salary scale for the post is: -

€57,322, - €58,689, - €60,356, - €63,491, - €65,363, - 1st LSI €67,690, - 22nd LSI €70,030,

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. Appointees who are not existing public servants will enter at the minimum point of the scale.

Probation:

Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of a local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply: -

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

(b)                such period shall be twelve months, but the Chief Executive may, at his discretion, extend such period.

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

Hours of Duty:

The successful candidate’s normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. Flexible working arrangements apply. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time. The role requires flexibility in terms of working hours as the duties may involve working outside of normal office hours.

Annual Leave

The annual leave entitlement will be 30 days per annum.

Health

For the purpose of satisfying the requirement as to health it will be necessary for each successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority.

Superannuation:

Membership of the Local Government Superannuation Scheme or the Single Public Service Pension Scheme is compulsory for all employees. Details will be provided to the appointee prior to appointment.

Superannuation contributions

Persons who become pensionable officers of a Local Authority who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children).

Persons who become pensionable officers of a Local Authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.