Staff Officer

The Role

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of Staff Officer.

The Staff Officer is a junior management position within the Regional Assembly. A Staff Officer will generally work under the direction and management of a Senior Staff Officer, Administrative Officer or analogous grade and may from time to time be required to deputise for more senior staff.

In the first instance, the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly is recruiting for a Staff Officer to be appointed to the Corporate/Finance/HR/IT Section to coordinate the administrative functions of the Assembly. The successful candidate will be based in the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly offices in Ballymun, Dublin 9.

The Staff Officer will assist with the implementation of work programmes to achieve goals, targets and standards set out in Departmental Circulars and Common Provision regulations and ensure that the Assembly is compliant in its roles and functions in financial management. The Staff Officer will be expected to use initiative and work to a high standard and will be required to operate EMRA’s existing and future IT systems as part of their work.

The Staff Officer role requires excellent administrative, interpersonal, communication and other particular skills and expertise depending on assignment. The successful candidate will be expected to carry out their duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

General Duties Include, but Are Not Limited To

• Support the Senior Staff Officer, Administrative Officer or designated Senior Official to ensure the section work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Assembly’s Corporate Plan and Operational Plans.

• Support the Senior Staff Officer, Administrative Officer or another nominated senior official to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.

• Take a lead role in financial administration of the Assembly, such as oversight of payroll and financial management.

• Support the preparation of timely financial reports and payment applications in relation to EU programmes and projects delivered by the Assembly.

• Carry out verifications that the projects delivered under any of the Assembly’s funding programmes comply with the relevant legislation.

• Keep up to date with changes in relevant legislation, departmental memos and circulars and apply the necessary changes in procedures and processes.

• Ensure full compliance with all organisational policies, procedures and processes in place.

• Support the implementation of good practices with transparent reporting and communications to deliver accountable services in the organisation.

• Communicate and liaise effectively with employees, supervisors and managers in other sections, senior managers and stakeholders in relation to operational matters for their section.

• Work with colleagues to prepare and present reports as necessary, including the preparation of reports or letters which may be sensitive and/or confidential in nature.

Essential RequirementsCharacter

Each candidate must be of good character.

Health

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

Education, Training and Experience

On the latest date for receipt of completed application forms, candidates shall have:

(i)

(a) Have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five subjects (or four subjects 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 • 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 • Economics

or

(ii) Have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination.

or

(iii) Hold a third-level qualification of at least degree standard.

Confined

(i) Be a serving employee in either the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly or Dublin City Council and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or an analogous post.

or

(ii) Be a serving employee in a local authority or a regional assembly and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or an analogous post.

The Ideal Candidate Will Demonstrate the Following Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experience in the use of a Financial Management System and a good understanding of financial procedures and processes.

• A clear understanding of Regional Assembly and local government services in order to achieve effective service delivery.

• Knowledge of current local government issues and key policies guiding the local government sector.

• A clear understanding of the role of Staff Officer.

• Relevant administrative experience.

• Ability to supervise and motivate a team effectively and maintain productive working relationships within the organisation and with stakeholders.

• Experience of planning/prioritising to meet targets and delegating work appropriately.

• Experience of managing resources and budgets, in particular monitoring, assessing, evaluating and adhering to them.

• Openness and a willingness to adopt new ways of working and involve others in change.

The Ideal Candidate Will Also Demonstrate

• Experience in the operation of Financial Management Systems and standard office software packages.

• Understanding of financial processes and day-to-day operations of a busy office.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience in managing and motivating staff.

It is desirable that holders of the post should hold a full driving licence for Class B vehicles.

Key CompetenciesManagement and Change

• Display ability to co-ordinate a variety of different projects at the same time.

• Develop and maintain positive, productive and beneficial working relationships.

• Effectively manage the introduction of change and demonstrate flexibility and openness to change.

Delivering Results

• Plan and prioritise work and resources to effectively deliver results.

• Ability to think and act strategically to ensure that their functional responsibility is properly aligned with the purpose, mission and vision of the Assembly.

• Make decisions in a timely and well-informed manner.

Performance Through People

• Establish appropriate and productive working relationships at local, regional, national and European level.

• Demonstrate strong internal and external communication skills and experience of delivering presentations tailored to the nature and needs of diverse audiences.

• Lead and influence others to assume ownership of objectives.

• Motivate and engage others towards achieving quality results.

• Empower people to achieve or exceed organisational goals by delegating sufficient authority, responsibility and accountability.

• Manage performance.

Personal Effectiveness

• Operate effectively in an environment with significant complexity and pace.

• Take initiative and seek opportunities to exceed goals.

• Manage time and workload effectively.

• Maintain a positive, constructive and enthusiastic attitude to the role.

The Competition

Recruitment arrangements to this grade will now be on the following basis:

A. 50% confined to employees of the sector. B. 30% open. C. 20% confined to employees of EMRA and Dublin City Council.

The Regional Assembly will form three separate panels of suitably qualified candidates to meet the requirements agreed nationally of the ratio of posts to be confined to the Local Government sector, Open/External, and those confined to the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly and Dublin City Council staff.

The order of candidates placed on each of the three panels is determined by where they were placed on the overall Order of Merit List.

Panel A (Confined to Local Authority Sector)

Will comprise successful applicants in order of merit from within the Local Authority Sector only, i.e. candidates serving in a Local Authority or Regional Assembly (where applicable).

Panel B (Open)

Will comprise all successful applicants in order of merit and may include candidates serving in a local authority, regional assembly and external applicants.

Panel C (Confined to EMRA and Dublin City Council)

Will comprise all successful applicants in order of merit from within this pool only.

Terms and Conditions1. The Post

The post is permanent and is based in the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly offices in Ballymun, Dublin 9.

2. Probation

There will be a six-month probation period which may be extended at the discretion of the Director.

3. Superannuation

If you are pensionable under the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 and are liable to pay Class A PRSI contributions, you will be required in respect of superannuation to make contributions at the rate of:

• 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration, plus • 1.5% of full pensionable remuneration.

You are required in respect of spouses’ and children’s pension benefit to contribute at the rate of 1.5% of full pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of schemes made under the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998.

Maximum retirement age: 65

If the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 applies to your employment, 65 is the minimum age at which your pension may be paid. As a new entrant to the public service, under the terms of this legislation you will not be required to retire on grounds of age.

Persons who become pensionable officers of a regional assembly who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. You may also be required to pay Spouses and Children/Widows and Orphans contributions at the rate of 1.5% of gross pay.

Maximum retirement age: 65

If you are pensionable under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, you are required to pay contributions as follows:

• 3% of gross remuneration • 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration

The minimum age at which you may retire is aligned with the State Contributory Pension age (currently 66).

Maximum retirement age: 70

4. Salary

Salary shall be at Local Government Staff Officer (Grade 5):

€52,761 – €54,337 – €55,946 – €57,589 – €59,244 – €61,173 (LSI 1) – €63,109 (LSI 2)

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Persons who are not serving local authority employees on or after 1 January 2011 will be placed on the minimum of the scale.

5. Hours of Work

35 hours per week.

The successful applicant will be expected to work outside normal office hours, including weekends if necessary, without additional remuneration and to travel within Europe.

Flexi Leave arrangements may apply.

The Assembly reserves the right to alter your hours of work from time to time.

6. Annual Leave

Annual leave entitlement for the position will be 30 days per year, pro rata.

7. Retirement

There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.

Anyone who is not a new entrant to the public service, as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, is subject to a compulsory retirement age of 65 years.

The maximum retirement age for new entrants as defined by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 is 70 years.

8. Residence

Post holders shall reside within a reasonable commuting distance of Ballymun, Co. Dublin.

The Director of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly reserves the right to assign the post holder to any premises, now or in the future, subject to reasonable notice.

9. Start Date

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly shall require the successful candidate to take up their appointment within a reasonable period.

Should they fail to take up the appointment within an agreed period, the Assembly, at its discretion, may not appoint them.