Senior Staff Officer

THE POSITION

The position of Senior Staff Officer is a middle management grade within the Assembly. A Senior Staff Officer in the Assembly 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 person selected will possess an in-depth knowledge of the functions, duties, and responsibilities of the Assembly. Knowledge of the strategic direction and initiatives of the Assembly will also be required.

The duties of the position shall be such as may be assigned to the Senior Staff Officer from time to time by the Director of the NWRA and may include the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Responsibility for the management and supervision of staff up to the position of Staff Officer or analogous grades and to ensure training and development of such staff.

• To plan, develop and prioritise work programmes for the section/department.

• Responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the section/department.

• To provide administrative support based on a thorough understanding of the overall workings and policy of a section.

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

• To motivate, empower and encourage staff to achieve maximum performance by supporting the current Performance Management and Development System (PMDS).

• To analyse and report on the workings of the section/department, including recommendations to senior management regarding changes/improvements to procedures.

• To prepare budgets and ensure that work programmes are implemented within allocated budgets.

• To implement the systems necessary to support the department/section in the delivery of service.

• To establish and maintain effective working relationships with Public Representatives, external agencies etc., as appropriate to the activities of the section.

• To attend inter-departmental meetings on behalf of the section, including attendance at Assembly meetings.

• To contribute to the strategic and policy-making decisions of the Assembly.

• To comply with Health & Safety legislative requirements, policies and procedures, and safe systems of work.

• To undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be required from time to time.

INITIAL ASSIGNMENT

With initial assignment to the Corporate / Finance / HR Division, the Senior Staff Officer will have the following duties:

➢ Assist and drive the implementation of ongoing monitoring of the Assembly’s PMDS programme, including the Assembly’s Learning and Development Programme.

➢ Preparing Staff Policies for submission to Management and keeping up-to-date with new Circulars and Legislation applicable to the Assembly.

➢ Act as Payroll / Payments Administrator, ensuring staff records are maintained and payments processed in line with procedures.

➢ Assist with the risk management of the NWRA, including identifying risks, testing, and reporting to Senior Management.

➢ Assist with the development / identification of ICT systems to meet the needs of the Assembly.

➢ Assist with management of Assembly Meetings, including acting as Meetings Administrator when required.

➢ Work closely with Corporate / HR / Finance staff and liaising with staff across the Assembly to ensure Corporate goals and objectives are met.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POST OF SENIOR STAFF OFFICER

1. Character:

Candidates shall be of good character.

2. 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. Selected candidates may be required to undergo an initial medical examination, and any further medical examinations required during his/her employment as a Senior Staff Officer by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the Assembly.

3. Education, Training, Experience, Etc.:

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

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

Confined Competition

(v) (a) Be a serving employee in 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 organisation, and control of staff.

PRINCIPAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Type of Post:

Future relevant permanent and temporary posts will be filled from the panel formed. The post(s) will be whole-time, permanent/temporary, and pensionable.

Panel Formation:

A. 50% confined to employees of the sector

B. 30% open

C. 20% confined to employees of Roscommon County Council and the NWRA

Panel A (Confined to the Local Authority Sector) will comprise 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 Competition) will comprise all successful applicants in order of merit and may include candidates serving in a Local Authority, Regional Assembly, and external candidates.

Panel C (Confined to employees of Roscommon County Council and the NWRA) will comprise successful applicants, in order of merit, from within Roscommon County Council and NWRA only.

The advertising process for filling of posts according to these procedures is on the basis of:

• Advertising one competition; and

• Forming three separate panels to meet the requirements of the ratio of posts to be confined to the local government sector, open and confined as indicated above.

REMUNERATION

The pay scale for Senior Staff Officer starts at the minimum point, i.e. €57,322 and rises by way of increments to the maximum point €70,030 including LSIs (Circular EL08-2025 refers).

Entry into the pay scale above the minimum point will only apply to existing public servants in the context of the relevant Government Pay Circulars. Candidates who are not covered by such Circulars will enter the pay scale at the minimum point, i.e. €57,322.

The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. The holder of the office shall pay to the Assembly any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

PROBATION:

(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 12 months but, the Director may at his or her discretion extend such period.

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

HOURS OF DUTY:

The person appointed will be required to work a 35-hour week. The successful candidate will be required to log their hours of work in accordance with the requirements of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 and will be required to co-operate with the use of technologies to record such hours.

ANNUAL LEAVE:

The annual leave entitlement will be 30 days per annum.

DRIVING LICENCE:

It is a requirement of the position that the candidate holds a full valid driving licence. Expenses incurred in work-related travel will be recompensed in line with Departmental circulars.

SUPERANNUATION CONTRIBUTION:

Persons who become pensionable officers of a local authority or a Regional Assembly who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required, in respect of their superannuation, to contribute 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 the State Pension Contributory).

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

Widows & Orphans / Spouses & Children’s Scheme:

All persons who become pensionable officers of the Regional Assembly are required, in respect of the Local Government (Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension) Scheme, 1986, to contribute to the Regional Assembly at the rate of 1.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e., pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of State Pension Contributory) in accordance with the terms of the Scheme.

NEW ENTRANTS FROM 1ST JANUARY 2013 – SINGLE PUBLIC SERVICE PENSION SCHEME

For new entrants recruited on or after 1st January 2013, as well as former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks, the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 applies to your employment.

Members of this Scheme are required, in respect of superannuation, to contribute at the rate of 3% of pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e., pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of State Pension Contributory), and you are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution.

RETIREMENT AGE:

Retirement age will be determined by previous Public Sector Service (if any) and will be advised on appointment.

FORMER PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES:

Eligibility to compete may be affected where applicants were formerly employed by the Irish Public Service and previously availed of an Irish Public Service Scheme including:

• Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER)

• Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010)

• Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

Applicants should ensure that they are not precluded from re-engagement in the Irish Public Service under the terms of such Schemes. This is a non-exhaustive list and any queries should be directed to the applicant’s former Irish Public Service Employer in the first instance.