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 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, increasing numbers of people participating, and ensuring continued participation through all stages of life.

The role of the Sports Development Officer, funded by Sport Ireland, is to strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Local Sports Partnership to further develop locally led plans and longer-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’.

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 increased 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 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 strategic objectives.

• Monitor, review and evaluate quarterly and annual operational plan outputs, reporting on the effectiveness and impact of work areas.

• Participate in the design, organisation, and implementation of CSP projects/events, including Sport Ireland national programmes as required.

• Develop and implement programmes and initiatives to increase participation among targeted low-participation groups: 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 participation opportunities.

• Plan, deliver, and evaluate key participation programmes.

• Work with CSP partners and stakeholders including community groups, sports clubs, NGBs, and 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 courses, workshops, and seminars to support sustainable development of activities, volunteers, and clubs.

• Manage budget and reporting requirements to the Sports Coordinator / Programme Manager.

• Adhere to CSP/CCC financial policies and procedures.

• Ensure CSP & CCC Health & Safety policies and procedures are fully implemented and that all activities comply with relevant codes of practice and legislation.

• Undertake any other relevant and related duties as 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 communication, presentation and facilitation skills

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

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

• Ability to produce good quality publicity material

Salary

Remuneration will be at the Assistant Staff Officer Scale of the national wage scales. The present minimum scale is €36,474 increasing to €56,015 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 arrangements for 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.