Sports Development Officer

The Competition

The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel for the post of Sports Development Officer for Cavan County Council from which fixed-term specific purpose contract posts may be filled.

Cavan County Council

Cavan County Council leads and collaborates with all to drive and shape a better future for our County and it is a progressive, dynamic and innovative local authority in Ireland. Cavan County Council employs over 500 employees across service divisions including housing and building; roads, transport and safety, development management, environmental protection, recreation and amenity, agriculture and education and miscellaneous services. A dynamic and ever evolving place to work with a stimulating and challenging work environment, Cavan County Council offers excellent career opportunities in a wide range of administrative, professional, creative, technical, and general services roles. Supported by continuous learning and development, a highly skilled workforce is central to delivering these objectives. In the heart of the scenic lakelands, Cavan is located less than two hours’ drive from Dublin, Belfast, and Galway and boasts an unrivalled quality of life.

The Position

Sport Ireland established the Local Sports Partnership (LSP) Network as an initiative to create a national structure to co-ordinate and promote the development of sport and participation at local level. LSPs aim to increase participation in sport and physical activity by breaking down barriers and increasing numbers of people participating and ensuring continued participation through all stages of life. The role of the Sports Development Officer which is funded by Sport Ireland is to strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Local Sports Partnership to further develop locally led plans and more long term sustainable physical activity programmes under the National Physical Activity Plan (Action 46) and the ‘Active Cavan, a Local Sports Plan for Cavan 2025-2030’.

Cavan County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered on a panel from which fixed term contract posts for the position of Sports Development Officer will be drawn. The Sports Development Officer will be based in the Cavan Sports Partnership office and report to the Sports Partnership Co-Ordinator or other appropriate line manager in the Department. The duties of the office will involve activities outside normal working hours, including evenings or weekends; in this regard, a system of time off in lieu will apply.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Sports Development Officer (SDO) will foster and encourage a culture of active participation, supporting opportunities for and access to sport and physical activity in local communities. The SDO will address barriers to participation and encourage access and increase opportunities for participation by those who experience disadvantage for any reason. Specific tasks of the SDO will be determined locally having regard to the overall job purpose in line with ‘Active Cavan’ local sports plan and with reference to any particular issues, challenges and priorities identified in this strategy for the area.

The Sports Development Officer will form part of a team within the Cavan Sports Partnership who develop and deliver programmes across the targeted communities of Disability, Older Adults, Youths, Women & girls, disadvantaged & minority communities, and community sports hubs.

The successful candidate will be required to:

• Assist with the implementation of the goals and objectives outlined in the Active Cavan strategy, National Sports Action Plan, National Physical Activity Plan etc.

• Support and contribute to the preparation of annual operational plans for the delivery of the strategic objectives.

• Remote quarterly and annual reviews of the annual operational plan reporting on the effectiveness and impact of work areas.

• Participate in the design, organisation and implementation of CSP projects/events including any of Sport Ireland’s National Programmes as required.

• Develop and implement programmes and initiatives to increase participation of targeted low participation groups of Disability, Older Adults, Youths, Women & girls, disadvantaged & minority communities, and community sports hubs.

• Work with National Governing Bodies of Sport that do not currently have development officers in Cavan to increase opportunities for participation.

• Plan, deliver and evaluate key participation programmes.

• Work with CSP current and potential partners and stakeholders including local community groups and organisations, sports clubs, NGBs, partner agencies to develop and strengthen relationships.

• Support and maintain strong links between schools and community sports clubs.

• Organise and facilitate training and development opportunities including research, administration, planning, organisation and delivery of relevant courses, workshops and seminars with a view to sustainable development of activities, volunteers, clubs etc.

• Manage budget and reporting requirements to the Sports Coordinator/programme manager.

• Adhere to CSP/CCC financial policies and procedures.

• Ensure that CSP & CCC Health & Safety Policies and procedures are fully implemented and that all activities undertaken are in line with codes of practice and legislation.

• Undertake any other relevant and related duties that may be required by CSP.

Qualifications for the Post

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.

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.

Education, Training Experience etc:

Qualifications

• Relevant Degree in Sports Development, Leisure Management, Health Fitness & Leisure Studies, Health Promotion, Community Development or equivalent qualification.

Experience

• One year relevant experience in Sports Development / Health / Fitness specifically in the area of behavioural change or participation development.

• Experience of project management and of piloting, developing and delivering sustainable physical activity based initiatives.

• Experience of the community and voluntary sector and the sports and recreation environment and of motivating those sectors with lower participation characteristics to become involved.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong IT, administrative and organisational skills.

• Ability to consult, communicate and network appropriately and effectively with all sectors of the community.

• Ability to monitor and evaluate work and write reports.

• Ability to produce and access information efficiently and accurately.

• Excellent communications, presentation and facilitation skills.

• Ability to advise, inform, motivate and support individuals and organisations.

• Ability to prepare, monitor and manage budgets and to prepare funding applications.

• Ability to produce good quality publicity material.

Attitude and Motivation

• Awareness of the importance and value of participation in sport / active recreation.

• A constructive, positive and progressive attitude to working as part of the Cavan Sports Partnership team and an ability to develop partnerships with the wider community.

• Be motivated and committed to sports development and increasing opportunities for participation, in particular among hard to reach groups in local communities.

• A commitment to on-going training and development.

• A self-motivated approach to work.

Other Requirements

• Completion of the Garda Vetting process satisfactory to the Sports Partnership’s requirements.

• A full clean driving licence and use of personal transport for work is required.

• Willingness and ability to travel.

• Ability and commitment to work unsociable hours.

Garda Vetting/Child Protection

The successful candidate will be subject to the Garda Vetting Procedures of Cavan County Council.

Probation

The successful candidate shall be required to be on probation for an initial period, as determined by the Council. This period may be extended at the discretion of the Council.

Salary

Remuneration will be at the Assistant Staff Officer Scale of the national wage scales. The present minimum scale is €35,613 increasing to €54,911 per annum (including LSIs) with annual increments subject to satisfactory performance via PMDS. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Annual Leave

The annual leave entitlement for this post will be 30 days per annum. Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangement from public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Working Hours

The post will be based on a 35 hour week, but due to the nature of the role, the holder is expected to be flexible about evening and weekend work for which overtime will not be paid but time-off-in-lieu will be available. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time.

Driver’s Licence

The holder of the post shall hold a full driving licence for Class B vehicles free from endorsement/disqualification.

Pension

The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies.

Acceptance of Offer of Employment

Cavan County Council shall require persons to whom appointments are offered to take up such appointments within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, Cavan County Council shall not appoint them.

Communications

Cavan County Council will contact you when necessary at each stage of the competition by phone, post or email. It is strongly recommended that you do not change your email address or mobile phone number in the course of this recruitment competition, as any email will be sent to the email address originally supplied on your application form. It is important to note that the email address you provide when applying must be one that you can access at all times. The onus is on the applicant to inform the Human Resources Department of any change in postal address throughout the recruitment and selection campaign. This can be done by emailing: jobs@cavancoco.ie

. The onus is also on each applicant to ensure that she/he is in receipt of all communication from the Cavan County Council. Cavan County Council does not accept responsibility for communications not accessed or received by an applicant.