Senior Support Officer

Role Description

Applications are invited for the position of Senior Support Officer, Access UCC Engagement & Support. This is a new and exciting role for a highly motivated and experienced person.

Reporting to the Engagement and Support Manager of Access UCC, the post-holder will play a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient and effective day-to-day management of post entry supports for Mature, HEAR and QQI students in Access UCC along with cohorts in the National Access Plan (e.g. Irish Traveller, Care Experienced) and other identified priority groups. The post holder will be required to work closely with and under the guidance of the Engagement & Support Manager - Access UCC.

Access UCC works in partnership with colleagues within and outside of the University to increase equity of access to University College Cork and to ensure student success for our diverse learners. The Access UCC team work across the student lifecycle: from primary school outreach right through to providing employability support. The work is varied, far-reaching, and rewarding.

The Senior Support Officer will play a key role in leading support officers and supporting other staff across the Access UCC – Engagement & Support team. They will help to enable students from Mature, QQI and HEAR backgrounds to maximise their learning outcomes and participate fully in the University experience. The appointed candidate will have substantial experience of supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds in an educational setting. They will apply specialist knowledge in the further development and delivery of a high-quality service for students.

This role will involve engaging with stakeholders from across the University and external partners. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on enhancing accessibility and inclusivity within our university community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and motivate the team, ensuring robust and effective induction, training, and supervision processes are in place across the service.

• Allocate and monitor workloads, ensuring quality and adherence to policies and procedures.

• Provide regular feedback, coaching, and support to team members.

• Develop and execute initiatives to enhance service delivery and support for students.

• Gather, monitor, and analyse statistical information, such as admissions statistics, examination data, and retention rates, to inform resource planning and identify areas for improvement.

• Build and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships with university departments, external organisations, and relevant stakeholders.

• Lead on case management of complex student cases and identified student cohorts.

• Collaborate with other university services and external services to ensure the best outcomes for students.

• Availability to work flexible hours at times of the year.

Health & Safety:

In addition to the statutory safety duties of all employees (as prescribed in safety legislation and the relevant local safety statement) each staff member is responsible for:

• Discharging any safety functions delegated to them by their Head of College\School\Department\Centre\Unit, in relation to the areas/activities under their control.

• Co-operating and assisting the University and the Head of College\School\Department\Centre\Unit in the discharge of their statutory safety responsibilities.

• Ensuring that all work under their control is undertaken safely and without risk.

Note:

As the university continues to expand and evolve, it is likely that flexibility in regard to the allocation of specific duties will be necessary. Accordingly, the list of duties specified above is not intended to be exclusive or restrictive; duties may be added or withdrawn but any such alteration will take place after consultation with the appointee.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential Criteria

Degree level qualification.

A minimum of 5 years’ work experience in widening participation in third level or other education setting.

Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the specific needs of a diverse student population and a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in increasing participation among equity groups in higher education.

Knowledge of national widening participation policy, including the National Access Plan 2022–2028 and other relevant legislation.

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with a proven ability to collaborate and build effective relationships across diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Demonstrated experience of prioritising workload to meet competing deadlines and to manage complex case work.

Proven ability to lead and work effectively within teams, including across multiple teams simultaneously.

Strong record of applying change management principles, techniques and tools and leading teams through transitions.

Desirable Criteria

Experience of planning, policy development, process review and continuous service improvement.

Experience applying Universal Design principles to develop and deliver inclusive and accessible supports for diverse learners.

Knowledge of university policies and procedures.

Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment of these criteria against their own qualifications, skills and abilities to assess whether they should apply for the post.

Please note: Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the criteria as detailed above will not be short listed.

The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process. Competencies relating to administrative grades in the University are available on the website.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Salary: Appointment may be made on the Admin III Salary Scale: €60,260 - €71,946 (Scale B) / €57,375 - €68,462 (Scale A). Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.

As required by public pay policy for the higher education sector, new appointments to a direct entry recruitment grade will generally be at the minimum (1st point) of the relevant scale.

For existing public servants, the restriction to the first point on scale may be varied where a person is appointed to the same or an analogous grade, role or position as their previous public service employment. The rate of remuneration for all appointments may be adjusted from time to time in line with government policy.

The working hours for administrative staff are 35 hours per week with normal hours of duty from 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, with 1 hour for lunch break. Due to the nature and seniority of the post, however, it may be necessary to extend and vary these hours from time to time in order to meet the exigencies of the post.

Annual Leave will be 29 days per annum. This leave is exclusive of public holidays and Good Friday. The leave year commences on 1 July annually and four days annual leave must be held for the Christmas closure period.

Sick Leave: Sick leave will be granted in line with University policy in this regard which may change from time to time. You should familiarise yourself with the University Sick Leave Policy and University Sick Leave Management Policy.

Tenure of the Post: The tenure of the post is Fixed Term Whole Time, based on the following provisions: a) A probationary period of twelve months shall apply from commencement of employment in the post during which the contract of employment may be terminated by either party in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2005. b) Except in circumstances of gross misconduct justifying immediate dismissal, the appointee will receive one month's notice of termination of employment, or, if greater, such notice as is provided for in a minimum notice in terms of Employment Act, 1973. c) The appointee is required to give one month's notice of termination of employment.

Pension: The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 established the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. In general, anyone taking up pensionable public service employment on or after 1 January 2013 is a member of the Single Scheme.

The Act provides that most members of the Single Scheme have a minimum pension age consistent with the age of eligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) and a compulsory retirement age of 70. A member of this group is generally referred to as a “Single Scheme member”.

However, applicants who have previously worked in a pensionable post (non-Single Scheme terms) in the Irish Civil/Public service may be offered membership of the UCC Pension Scheme. The normal retirement date in this scheme is age 65. A compulsory retirement date of 70 may apply depending on date of first employment in the Irish Civil/Public service.

The relevant pension scheme will be confirmed to the successful applicant on completion of the Pensions Declaration form prior to taking up employment.

Applicants that have previously availed of an Irish Public Service Scheme of Incentivised early retirement or enhanced redundancy payment should ensure that they are not precluded from re-engagement in the Irish Public Service under the terms of such Schemes. Queries should be directed to an applicant’s former Civil/Public Service Employer in the first instance. Applicants who are in receipt of an ill-health pension from an Irish Civil/Public Service body are required to declare that they are in receipt of such a pension.

Pension Abatement: If an appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and that appointee is entitled to or in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service, or where a Civil/Public Service pension comes into payment during the appointee’s re-employment, that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

Please note: In applying for this position, you are acknowledging that you understand that the abatement provisions, where relevant, will apply. It is not envisaged that the employing Department/Office/Body will support an application or an abatement waiver in respect of appointments to this position.

Additional dependants’ benefits can be provided by membership of the Supplementary Life Assurance Scheme. You will be automatically included as a member of the scheme on commencement of your employment but you may elect to opt out of the scheme at any stage. The current membership rate is 0.26% of your salary.

Membership of the Group Personal Accident Scheme shall apply to all employees, subject to individual acceptance by the Insurance Company. The salary quoted is subject to a deduction from salary at the rate of .06%.

The UCC Income Continuance Plan (ICP) provides a source of income in the event of long or short-term temporary disability. As part of your contract of employment you will be automatically included in the ICP with effect from the same date provided you have not previously opted out of the plan or you have been declined for cover under previous contracts of employment with UCC.

An additional benefit is membership to Specified Illness Cover (SIC) which pays a once-off lump sum benefit in the event of a member being diagnosed with a specified illness. The cost of membership of both plans will be deducted from your salary. The current combined membership rate is 1.05% of your salary.

The Pay Related Social Insurance Class A1 rate of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) applies to the post.

Voluntary Health Insurance: VHI, Laya Healthcare, and Irish Life Healthcare offer group schemes. Premiums must be paid via the UCC payroll. The Laya Group No is 32805 and VHI Group No is 137.

Additional Benefits: We offer progressive employment and training policies including opportunities for further studies. Staff can avail of membership of a variety of clubs and societies and a wide range of facilities on campus, including a leisure centre.

As an equal opportunities employer, we offer a comprehensive suite of Work Life Balance Policies. A list of such initiatives is available on our webpage.

UCC welcomes applications from non-EEA citizens. However, regulations regarding employment permits are set by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and must be strictly adhered to. An offer of appointment to Non-EEA candidates is subject to the granting of a Work Permit by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment.

Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment against their own eligibility as to whether they should apply for this post.

Certificates and Testimonials: These documents should not be sent with the application. Candidates who are selected for interview will be requested to submit the necessary documentation.

References: Following completion of the interview process and the identification of the preferred candidate, any offer of appointment will be subject to receipt of satisfactory references. For internal candidates, the People & Culture Department will seek a reference from a candidate’s line manager once the preferred candidate has accepted a conditional offer of employment. Additional references may be sought on the request of the hiring manager.

Shortlisted candidates for posts shall be required to appear before a Board of Assessors. Interviews will be conducted either online via Microsoft Teams or in person in the first instance. Candidates may also be required to attend an interview in person if the interview takes place online. Candidates will be notified as appropriate.

A successful candidate will be required to submit a birth certificate, documentary evidence confirming academic qualifications, and to undergo a medical examination. Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance may also be required. Candidates may be required to produce documentary evidence to support any statements made by them on their application form or any supporting documentation.

Note: Candidates should note that any inaccurate information will invalidate their application.