Senior Staff Officer

DESCRIPTION OF THE POST

The Senior Staff Officer is a middle management position within Wexford County Council and is assigned responsibility for managing the performance of a section/department or handling an area of the local authority’s activities. The administrative structure ranges from the entry grade of Clerical Officer, through to Assistant Staff Officer, Staff Officer, Senior Staff Officer and Administrative Officer.

The Senior Staff Officer will work under the direction and management of the Administrative Officer or analogous grade or other employee designated by the Senior Executive Officer or Director of Services as appropriate.

A Senior Staff Officer’s operational duties may include the day to day running of a section, the supervision and management of staff within that section, the planning, allocation and prioritisation of work in order to achieve relevant goals, targets and standards as per Team and Departmental plans. Reporting of progress under relevant corporate plans and strategies is also expected. Other duties may include representing their Department or the Council on various committees and contributing through the business planning process.

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, employee management, interpersonal, communication and other particular skills and expertise depending on assignment.

The successful candidate will be expected to carry out their duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POST

CHARACTER:

Candidates shall 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, EXPERIENCE, ETC.:

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed Application Forms:

Applicants for Panel B (Open)

(i) (a) have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or four 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 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.

Confined Competition (Panels A and 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 that post or in a post at a level not lower than that 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.

Panel Formation

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

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 authority sector, open and those confined to Wexford 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 the 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 employees of Wexford County Council) will comprise of all successful applicants in order of merit from within Wexford County Council.

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.

THE PERSON

Knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government, of local government issues and priorities and key concerns of local government;

Understand the role of a Senior Staff Officer;

Relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level;

Experience of managing and supervising staff;

The ability to motivate, empower and encourage staff to achieve maximum performance;

Understand the changing operating environment of local government and be capable of leading change in order to deliver quality services to our citizens;

An understanding of the representational role of elected members;

Effective financial and resource management skills;

Proven management analysis, report writing and presentation skills;

Knowledge and experience of operating various I.T. systems;

Be capable of working under pressure to tight deadlines in the delivery of key operational objectives.

DUTIES OF THE POST

The duties of the post shall be to give to the local authority under the direction and supervision of its appropriate employee, such services of an executive, supervisory and advisory nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers and duties and shall include the duty of deputising for other employees of the local authority, when required, and such duties as may be required in relation to the area of any other local authority but may include the following:

Leadership and management of employees in supporting roles up to position/grade of Staff Officer including assignment of duties and workloads;

Supporting management in the implementation of work programmes as required;

Supporting line manager to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives;

Responsibility for the management of a section or function of the Council;

Delivery of a specific department/organisational goals;

Management of conflicting demands within a team environment and to prescribed timelines and deadlines;

Provide leadership, motivation and support to employees, including resolving day to day problems and identifying training and development requirements as appropriate;

Ensure full compliance with all organizational policies and procedures including grievance and disciplinary, performance management and attendance management;

Compile, prepare and present reports as necessary, including preparation of reports and letters, which may be of a sensitive nature and/or confidential in nature;

Support implementation of good practices with transparent reporting and communications and to deliver accountable services in the department;

Other such duties as may be assigned from time to time.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Tenure:

The post is whole-time, permanent and pensionable.

Probation:

Where a person who is not already a permanent officer of Wexford County Council is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) There shall be a period after such appointment takes effect during which such person shall hold office on probation;

(b) Such period shall be 6 months, but the Chief Executive may, at his discretion, extend such period;

(c) Such person shall cease to hold 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.

Salary:

SALARY: €57,322 - €70,030 (LSI 2) (as at 1st August 2025).

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

Health:

Successful candidates must undergo a medical examination by a qualified practitioner (refunded on appointment).

Retirement/Superannuation:

Single Public Service Pension Scheme applies to first-time new entrants to the public service on or after 1 January 2013.

Minimum pension age: 66 (rising to 67 and 68 in line with State Pension age changes).

Maximum retirement age: 70 years.

New entrants after 1st April 2004: No compulsory retirement age, earliest retirement benefits at 65.

In all other cases: Minimum retirement age 60, maximum 65.

Residence:

Holders of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.