Sláintecare Local Development Officer

THE ROLE

The Sláintecare Local Development Officer positions are assigned functional responsibility for the management of their respective Sláintecare Healthy Communities Area. The Sláintecare Local Development Officer is the primary point of contact and liaison with other sections in relation to all operational matters for the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme for which they are responsible and other assigned duties/functions, depending on the organisational arrangements in place.

The post holder will work under the direction and control of the Senior Executive Officer or analogous grade or other officer designated by the Chief Executive or Director of Executive Manager as appropriate.

The Sláintecare Local Development Officer is responsible for management of the day-to-day operations of the relevant programme and is a contributor to the strategic and policy making decisions of the local authority. The post holder will be expected to contribute to the development and implementation of policies and strategies and to work closely with the elected councillors and senior managers in delivering services to the highest standard. The post holder may represent the Local Authority on committees and at meetings, including for example Area Committee Meetings, Strategic Policy Committee meetings and may be asked to report on progress in their respective section or department.

The position requires professionals with the ability to co-ordinate, influence, and lead cross sectoral and community initiatives that:

• Address health inequalities

• Promote prevention and wellbeing

• Build resilient, inclusive communities within Dublin City Council

The role will support the delivery of:

• The emerging outcomes framework for Healthy Ireland in 2026

• The WHO European Healthy Cities Network (Phase VIII) objectives at local and regional levels

The role prioritises actions to improve the wider determinants of health through local government’s statutory and developmental responsibilities, with a strong emphasis on:

• Empowering communities and fostering inclusive participation

• Research, innovation, and evidence-informed decision-making

• Intersectoral collaboration across public, private, and community stakeholders

• Data management, monitoring, and reporting on programme outcomes

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE SHALL HAVE

• Knowledge and understanding of Sláintecare Reform, Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework

• Experience of building, managing and nurturing partnerships and relationships across a wide range of key stakeholders

• An understanding and/or experience of local government structures and political environment

• Facilitation and group-work skills

• An understanding of those who experience health inequalities

• Experience of report writing, strategic planning and funding application processes

• Effective communication skills

• Excellent IT & administration skills, including MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint

• Good character with a friendly, open and outgoing disposition is essential

• The ability to stay focused and resilient under pressure

• The capacity to interact effectively with local elected members and people from a broad range of sectors including local development/community organisations

• The enthusiasm for meeting and working with a variety of people and groups on an ongoing basis

• Experience in managing budgets and finances and experience with processing payments

• An understanding and/or experience in gathering qualitative and quantitative data, analysis, research and evaluation to policy and practice

• An appreciation of use of social media and varied communication platforms

• An understanding of multi-level governance and/or experience of working across local, regional, national and European contexts

QUALIFICATIONS

CHARACTER:

Candidates shall be of good character.

HEALTH:

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

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, ETC.:

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

(a) Hold a third-level degree (NFQ Level 8 or higher) in a relevant field such as community/sports development, youth work, social sciences, public health, social policy, public administration, planning, or related discipline.

A minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience in any of the following:

• Local government, public sector, or similar roles involving strategic planning, project coordination, or community engagement

• Work with disadvantaged communities or target populations to address social exclusion or inequality

• Cross-sectoral co-ordination or partnership development

• Policy development, research, or evaluation related to the determinants of health

• Operating effectively within political, community and policy-making environments, demonstrating ability to work across boundaries of role, sector and geography

• Project management, budgeting and performance-monitoring experience

DUTIES

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

• Work intensively with identified disadvantaged areas and marginalised groups to co-design health and wellbeing interventions that reflect local priorities

• Apply principles of empowerment, participation, social justice, and equality in all aspects of planning and delivery

• Collaborate with local Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme services (e.g., HSE, family support, education providers) to ensure integrated and improved delivery of health and wellbeing initiatives, promotion and support programmes

• Use and gather relevant local datasets to target communities experiencing the greatest health inequities and build an evidence base for resource allocation or interventions

• Develop a 5-year Sláintecare Healthy Communities Work Programme based on local needs and priorities, established through innovative and participatory community engagement and needs assessment exercises, with Annual Action Plans including seed funding to implement local priorities

• Map, align, and leverage local authority activities that influence the wider determinants of health, incorporating them into relevant Healthy Ireland data-gathering exercises

• Advise elected members and senior executives on policies and programmes related to health, equality, and wellbeing

• Facilitate Community Health and Wellbeing Networks and support the development of local wellbeing forums and leadership initiatives within communities

• Co-ordinate, facilitate and deliver Social Inclusion programmes and projects including but not limited to youth programmes, non-fire night and community initiatives

• Collaborate with social inclusion programmes and initiatives with internal and external stakeholders as required

• Work confidently and sensitively with elected representatives, senior executives, and cross-sectoral leaders to address health and wellbeing inequalities

• Act as a catalyst and connector across directorates and sections (e.g., planning, transport, housing, environment, community) to align activity with health and wellbeing objectives

• Champion whole-system, place-based, preventative approaches to health and wellbeing, collaborating across local authority directorates and with external partners to create enabling environments that foster wellbeing for all

• Explore funding and resource mechanisms across Government Departments and at EU level to address local community priorities

• Leverage research, data, innovation, and WHO/EU collaboration to promote local government leadership in improving health and wellbeing outcomes

• Develop or contribute to funding bids in conjunction with communities to resource local priority initiatives

• Demonstrate capacity to influence, align, and co-ordinate across internal directorates and external stakeholders; manage partnerships effectively (e.g., coordination of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Implementation Team)

• Use local data, research, and evidence to inform decisions and measure programme outcomes

• Represent the Local Authority in regional, national, and international networks, including platforms such as the WHO European Healthy Cities Network

• Drive whole-of-local-government, whole-of-community, and whole-of-place approaches to wellbeing, focusing on the social, economic, environmental, and cultural determinants of health

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the City Council.

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority and to:

(a) The local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive is Chief Executive, and

(b) To any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph

under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate computing, technical, management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary services as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties and to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to them by the Chief Executive from time to time including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The holder of the post will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Posts of Sláintecare Local Development Officer will be filled from this publicly advertised competition. Selection shall be by means of a competition conducted by or on behalf of Dublin City Council

• Candidates should note that the information provided by them in their application form and assessment questions will form the basis on which eligibility and short listing is conducted

• Dublin City Council reserves the right to undertake eligibility and/or shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate

• A panel may be formed on the basis of interviews. A candidate whose name is on a panel and who satisfies the Council that they possess the qualifications declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for appointment may, within the life of the panel, subject to the appropriate Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sanction, be appointed as an appropriate vacancy arises

• The life of the panel shall be for a period of one year from the date of its formation

• Dublin City Council shall require any person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up appointment within such period, or such longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, the Council shall not appoint them

SHORTLISTING

Dublin City Council reserves the right to shortlist candidates to proceed to the interview stage of the competition. Shortlisting of candidates will be on the basis of information supplied on the Application Form, in conjunction with the answers given in the assessment question(s). It is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your qualifications/experience in your application.

The shortlisting process will provide for the assessment of each applicant’s application form against predetermined criteria that reflect the skills and depth of experience considered to be essential for a position at this level.

INTERVIEW

The interview will be competency based and marks will be awarded under the following competencies:

• Management and Change

• Delivering Results

• Performance through People

• Personal Effectiveness

• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Please see page 9 & 10 of the Candidate Information Booklet for more details.

SALARY:

The salary scale for the position of Sláintecare Local Development Officer is:

€60,611; €62,095; €63,826; €65,563; €67,300; €68,852; €70,442; €71,982; €73,518 (Maximum); €76,149 (1st LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the Maximum); €78,795 (2nd LSI) (after 3 years satisfactory service on the 1st LSI)

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving public service employee on or after 1st January 2011 will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

Under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013, the working hours for newly appointed/promoted staff are 35 hours per week.

All applicants must refer to the Additional Candidate Information Booklet which can be found at https://careers.dublincity.ie

for additional relevant information pertaining to the salary scale and the recruitment process.

PARTICULARS OF POSITION

(a) The post is permanent, whole time and pensionable

(b) Dublin City Council reserves the right to, at any time, assign an employee to any Department now or in the future

(c) A period of one year’s probation applies where a person is permanently appointed to Dublin City Council

CITIZENSHIP

Candidates must, by the date of application, 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

Dublin City Council welcomes all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds to join its diverse workforce and hereby reserves the sole discretion to vary the above requirements from time to time subject to the business needs and staffing requirements.

IRISH PROFICIENCY

As part of the ongoing commitment to support the Irish language, leadership on the Gaeilge365 programme and to comply with the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021, information is being gathered on candidates’ capacity to speak Irish.

Under this legislation, public bodies are required to ensure that 20% of new recruits are capable of performing their duties through Irish by 2030. While this position is not an Irish language speaking role, all applicants are asked to indicate their current level of Irish language ability.

This information will be used for workforce planning purposes only and will not form part of the selection process for this competition.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

• The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 came into effect on 29th April 2016. The Act places a statutory obligation on Dublin City Council to ensure that any work or activity which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of a person having access to, or contact with children or vulnerable persons, will be the subject of Garda Vetting

• Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, applications will be treated in strict confidence

• Any attempt by a candidate themselves or by any person(s) acting at the candidate’s instigation, directly or indirectly, by means of written communication or otherwise, to canvass or otherwise influence in the candidate’s favour, any employee of the City Council or person nominated by the City Council to interview or examine applicants, will automatically disqualify the candidate for the position being sought