Staff Officer

JOB INFORMATION/REQUIREMENTS

PLEASE NOTE:

• FAILURE TO UPLOAD ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS I.E. QUALIFICATIONS, I.D. ETC., AT SUBMISSION STAGE WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESULT IN AN INVALID APPLICATION.

• APPLICANTS SHOULD SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT THEIR EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION.

• APPLICANTS WITH NON-IRISH QUALIFICATIONS CAN AVAIL OF THE ON-LINE RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDED BY QUALITY AND QUALIFICATIONS IRELAND (QQI) AND MUST SUBMIT PROOF OF SAME WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS.

• FAILURE TO FULLY COMPLETE EACH QUESTION ON THE APPLICATION FORM MAY DEEM YOUR APPLICATION INVALID (ANSWERS WHICH REDIRECT TO OTHER RESPONSES ARE NOT PERMITTED).

PANEL INFORMATION & ELIGIBILITY

Panel Formation

Recruitment to Clerical Administrative Grades IV to Grade VII are allocated on the following basis:

Panel A. 50% Confined to employees of the Local Authority Sector Panel B. 30% Open Panel C. 20% Confined to employees of Kilkenny County Council

Panel A: (Confined to the Local Authority Sector) will comprise of 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). See eligibility requirements below.

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. See eligibility requirements below.

Panel C: (Confined to Kilkenny County Council) will comprise of successful applicants, in order of merit, from within Kilkenny County Council only. See eligibility requirements below.

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS – PANEL A

Character Each candidate shall 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, Experience etc. Be a serving employee in a local authority or a regional assembly and have at least two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post.

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS – PANEL B

Character Each candidate shall 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, Experience etc.

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

(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 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

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

or

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

Please note in relation to point (ii) above, an example of a comparable standard in an equivalent examination refers to the national state exams of another country, for example the A levels in the UK.

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS – PANEL C

Character Each candidate shall 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, Experience etc. Be a serving employee of Kilkenny City Council and have at least two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Kilkenny County Council can for any position they advertise, include Desirable Requirements. Desirable Requirements are those that would be beneficial to optimising job performance. Desirable Requirements can be used if necessary to reduce numbers called for interview.

It is desirable that each candidate shall have:

• Knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government. • Knowledge of current local government issues. • Understanding of the role of a Staff Officer. • Relevant administrative experience. • Experience of supervising staff. • Experience of working as part of a team. • Experience of preparing reports and correspondence. • Strong resource management skills. • Knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems.

Applicants should satisfy themselves they are eligible under the required qualifications. Kilkenny County Council may not be in a position to investigate the eligibility of all candidates in advance of the interview/examination, and hence persons who are ineligible but nevertheless enter, may put themselves to unnecessary expense.

JOB DESCRIPTION

ROLE

Kilkenny County Council invites applications from suitably qualified persons, who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel, from which relevant vacancies for the post of Staff Officer may be filled.

The Staff Officer is a supervisory position within the Council and is assigned responsibility for the administration and management of a work area, section or team.

The Staff Officer works as part of a team, assisting with the implementation of work programmes to achieve goals and standards set out in Departmental and Team Plans.

The post holder has a supervisory role in the day-to-day operations of a work area or as a team leader.

The Staff Officer is expected to carry out their duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

DUTIES OF THE ROLE SHALL INCLUDE:

The duties may include but are not limited to the following and the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

• To be responsible for the supervision of a work area or section within the Council, including supervision of a team.

• To support the line manager to ensure section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s operational plan, including supervising the work of the team.

• To develop and maintain productive working relationships.

• To provide information and assistance relating to their area of work as required.

• To compile, prepare and present reports, presentations and correspondence as necessary.

• To represent their section or department on committees or at meetings and give progress reports as required.

• To provide support and assistance in the delivery of projects as required.

• To be involved in the day-to-day management of resources within their section or team.

• To identify opportunities for improvements in service delivery within their section or team.

• To support and implement change management initiatives within their section or team.

• To supervise employees in supporting roles, including assigning tasks and duties, scheduling and prioritising work and monitoring and reporting on progress.

• To provide support to team members and employees, handling day-to-day issues, ensuring compliance with all council policies and procedures.

• To participate in corporate activities and responsibilities appropriate to the grade.

• To be in compliance with Health and Safety legislative requirements, policies and procedures and safe systems of work.

• To deputise for the line manager or equivalent as required.

• To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required, or assigned, from time to time.

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE

SALARY

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the office shall pay to Kilkenny County Council any fees or other monies (other than inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

In accordance with EL02/2011 persons who are not serving Local Authority employees must be placed on the minimum of the scale. Where a person being appointed is a serving Local Authority employee normal starting pay rules will apply.

The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with government policy.

The current salary scale for the position is €52,239 minimum of the scale to €62,484 Maximum of the scale inclusive of LSI’s.

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.