Sports Facilities Assistant

Clare County Council/ Comhairle Contae an Chláir is the authority responsible for Local Government in County Clare. The corporate headquarters are located at Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis and there are four Municipal Districts (Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe, and West Clare) which are supported through area offices in Ennis, Scarriff, Shannon, Ennistymon and Kilrush. There are 28 elected members, approximately 990 staff and an annual operating budget of €204 million in 2026.

Clare County Council provides a diverse range of services across a large geographic area. Key services areas include planning, Local Enterprise Office, rural and community development, transportation, motor tax, water, environment, emergency services along with housing activation & delivery, libraries, and sports & amenities, property management, derelict sites, and vacant homes. These operations are supported by internal services which include ICT & Digital Services, Corporate Services & Governance, Finance and People and Culture functions.

There is a diverse demographic across urban and rural communities with tourism bringing seasonal changes in population and activity in the county. The Shannon estuary, Shannon Airport, industrial zones, and geographic location between larger urban areas, coupled with the unique landscape and heritage add to the diversity of activity in the County. Local democracy is strengthened through the Municipal Districts and changes in legislation and regulation have placed greater emphasis on the role of the Local Authority in driving economic activity, ensuring accountability, accessibility and innovation while placing the customer and the community to the fore of service delivery.

Clare County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the above competition. Clare County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post of Sports Facilities Assistant from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Positions will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. This panel will exist for 12 months and may be extended for a further period of 6-12 months at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

The Sports Facilities Assistant will be a member of a team based at the Active Kilrush Sports grounds on the Cooraclare Road in Kilrush, reporting to the Senior General Services Supervisor in the Kilrush area. The team are part of the Municipal District Team that are managed by staff based in the Town Hall in Kilrush. The role involves ensuring the daily operation, maintenance, and safety of the sports grounds and facilities and providing high standards of customer service. The Sports Facilities Assistant will be required to assist the management of the sports facilities, ensuring an appropriate level of service is available to all customers, to market the facilities and to ensure compliance with Clare County Council’s Occupational Health and Safety Management System.

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated adaptable and flexible person capable of acting on their own initiative, with a strong sense of commitment to delivering quality public services. They will be required to be flexible to work evenings, weekends, and event days as required. They will be required to Liaise daily with Central Office at Active Ennis Leisure Complex to get the daily bookings and record details on the daily booking sheet.

Essential Skills

Previous experience in groundskeeping, landscaping, or sports facility maintenance (advantageous).

The duties to be assigned include the following although this list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require.

The duties will include but will not be limited to the following:

• Responsibility for the efficient administration, use and maintenance of the synthetic pitches, changing facilities, conventional pitches, running tracks, and inspections of all the facilities at Cooraclare Road;
• Responsibility for the marking out and watering of pitches as required. Ability to use machinery including tractor, lawnmower, strimmer, etc is essential;
• Set up and tidy away equipment as necessary; 
• Responsibility for the overall security and the opening and closing of facilities and dressing rooms with appropriate security checks including setting of alarm;
• Keeping facilities and grounds clean, tidy and free of litter including entrance road, shrubberies, footpaths/grass margins;
• Supervision of pitches at Cooraclare Road as and when required;
• Liaising with clubs, schools, groups, sundry organizations and individuals using the facilities;
• Report any serious defects/repairs required etc immediately to the Line Manager;
• Responsibility for the carrying out of repairs to equipment, surfaces, painting, furniture and signage as the need arises; 
• Monitor and control usage of electricity, heating, hot water, etc;
• Act as keyholder;
• Liaise daily with Central Office at Active Ennis Leisure Complex to get the daily bookings and record details on the daily booking sheet;
• Complying with all H&S regulations;
• Additional duties as assigned by the Line Manager.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

1. Character 

Each candidate must be of good character.

2. Health

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

3. Education, Training, Experience, etc.

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

(a) have a good standard of general education to include literacy skills.

(b) have a good standard of general computer skills (computer literate –ECDL level)

(c) have previous experience as a General Operative in the Local Authority or horticulture / landscaping sector.

(d) have a current Class B Driving Licence.

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. Where the appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay-scale and will be moving without break to another part of the public sector at an analogous grade, the appointment may be made at the appointee’s current point of scale. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Starting pay for new entrants to the sector will be at the minimum of the scale.

The current salary scale applicable to the post (August 2025): €35,704, €36,448, €38,701, €38,886, €39,062, €39,162, €39,264, €39,365, €39,464, €39,569, €39,673, €39,783, €39,892, €39,892, €39,933

19 Hours over 7 days (Salary will be Pro rata for 19 hours - Salary listed above is for a 39 hour week)

The successful candidate will be required to be flexible to work evenings, weekends, and event days as required.