Staff Officer

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 Staff Officer 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.

Suitably qualified persons are invited to apply for the following panel(s):

• Panel A (Confined to Local Authority Sector) will comprise of successful applicants, in order of merit, from within the Local Authority Sector only, ie., candidates serving in a Local Authority or Regional Assembly (where applicable).

• Panel B (Open Competition) will comprise of all successful applicants, in order of merit, and may include candidates serving in a Local Authority, Regional Assembly and external candidates.

• Panel C (Confined to Clare County Council) will comprise of successful applicants, in order of merit, from within Clare County Council only.

The Staff Officer is a frontline management position within the local authority and is assigned responsibility for managing the performance of a section / department handling an area of the local authority’s activities. The administrative structure ranges from the entry grade of Clerical Officer, through to Assistant Staff Officer, Staff Officer, Senior Staff Officer, and Administrative Officer. A Staff Officer will generally work under the direction and management of a Senior Staff Officer / Administrative Officer or analogous grade.

A Staff Officer’s operational duties may include the day to day running of a section, the supervision and management of staff within the section, the planning, allocation and prioritisation of work and the reporting of progress of work at staff management meetings. Other duties may include representing their Department or the Council on various committees and contributing through the business planning process. The Staff Officer will be expected to use initiative and work to a high standard and will be required to operate the Council’s existing and future IT systems as part of their work.

The Staff Officer role requires excellent administrative, employee management, interpersonal, communication and other particular skills and expertise depending on assignment.

The ideal candidate for the position shall possess the following skills:

• Managing people
• Financial management
• Communicating effectively across different levels within an organisation
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Project management
• Stakeholder networking and engagement
• Administration and report writing
• Operation of ICT systems and standard office software packages
• Customer service
• Working effectively as part of a team
• Planning and prioritisation of workloads
• Dealing effectively with conflicting demands
• Working under pressure to tight deadlines
• Adapting to change
• Acting on own initiative
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Health & Safety Management

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

• To be responsible for the supervision of a section or function within the Council.
• To support the Senior Staff Officer / Administrative Officer to ensure the section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s Corporate Plan and operational plans.
• To support the Senior Staff Officer / Administrative Officer to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.
• To supervise employees in supporting roles up to the position/grade of Assistant Staff Officer (Grade IV) or analogous grades, including assigning duties and workload.
• To provide on-going support to employees in the department or section, including handling day to day problems and identifying training and development requirements as appropriate.
• To ensure full compliance with all organisational policies and procedures including grievance and disciplinary, performance management and attendance management.
• To communicate and liaise effectively with employees, supervisors and managers in other sections, senior managers, and customers in relation to operational matters for their section.
• To prepare budgets and ensure that work programmes are implemented within allocated budgets.
• To identify opportunities for improvements in the service delivery within the relevant area of responsibility and to use key performance indicators or other performance indicators effectively as appropriate.
• To compile, prepare and present reports as necessary, including the preparation of reports or letters which may be sensitive and/or confidential in nature.
• To support the implementation of good practices with transparent reporting and communications to deliver accountable services in the department or section.
• To provide assistance in the understanding and interpretation of the Council’s policies and procedures to employees in their area of responsibility and to customers as appropriate.
• To carry out duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.
• To organise and facilitate internal and external meetings and participate and engage in discussions as appropriate.
• To support the Council and Municipal District operations.
• To carry out duties in a politically neutral manner, with a clear understanding of the political reality and context of the local authority.
• To provide specialist administrative assistance and support in the delivery of projects as required.
• To support the Senior Staff Officer / Administrative Officer in the management and implementation of Health and Safety for the section or department.
• Deputise for line manager when required.
• To comply with all requirements of PMDS operated in Clare County Council.
• Undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibilities as may be required from time to time.

OPEN COMPETITION (PANEL B)

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

1. Character Candidates shall be of good character.

2. HealthEach candidate must 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 obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or four if Irish is included) from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education Established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme including Irish and/or English and one of the following: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics,

AND

(b) have obtained at least Grade C (or Honours) in Higher Level (or Honours) papers in three subjects in that examination (or two subjects if Irish and/or one of the following is included: Mathematics, Accounting, Business Organisation or Economics),

OR

(c) have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination,

OR

(d) hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard,

AND

(e) have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, including adequate practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of staff.

Failure to upload proof of essential educational qualifications in your application form will deem you ineligible for this competition

*Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document. 

Identifying problems and contributing to solutions.

Competency 2 Performance Through People 

• Leading and directing.
• Performance management.
• Managing conflict.
• Communicating effectively.

Competency 3 Personal Effectiveness 

• Takes initiative, is motivated and seeks opportunities to exceed goals.
• Maintains a positive, constructive, and enthusiastic attitude to their role.
• Skills, Qualifications, Knowledge, and Experience.
• Resilience and Personal Well-Being.
• Commitment to integrity & good public service values.
• Demonstrates good level of verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates flexibility and openness to change.

Competency 4 Understanding purpose and change 

• Knowing Council purpose and its priorities.
• Understanding the role of the Elected Council and the representational role of the Elected Members.
• Understanding and adhering to the code of conduct for all employees.
• Maintaining a positive image of the Council.
• Implementing change.
• Safety, Health and Welfare at work.

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): €51,722, €53,266, €54,844, €56,454, €58,076, €59,967, €61,865

The current annual leave entitlement is 30 days per annum. Clare County Council’s holiday year runs from 1st January to 31st December. 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, 1977 (as amended). The working hours effective from 1st July 2022, provide for a five day, 35 hour working week. The post may require flexibility in working outside of normal hours, including evenings and/or weekends, as necessary.

The provisions of Clare County Council’s Leave Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time.