Staff Officer

THE COMPETITION

Laois County Council is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Staff Officer (Grade V). Recruitment arrangements to this grade will now be on the following basis:

The Council will form three (3) separate panels of suitably qualified candidates to meet the requirements for posts confined to the local authority sector, open and those confined to Laois County Council staff, which includes MyPay a specialist department of Laois County Council delivering Payroll and Superannuation Shared Services for the Local Government Sector in Ireland, from which future relevant vacancies may be filled.

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 i.e. candidates serving in a local authority or Regional Assembly (where applicable).
• Panel B (Open) will comprise of 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 the recruiting local Authority) will comprise of all successful applicants in order of merit from within the recruiting local authority i.e. candidates serving in Laois County Council.

For the purposes of the above, the sector Panel A is comprehended to include all local authorities and the three (3) Regional Assemblies only. Staff who are not existing employees of local authorities or regional assemblies are not eligible to apply for the competition confined to the sector (Panel A) or to the local authority (Panel C).

Eligibility criteria for all three panels are set out under Qualifications below.

 

THE ROLE

The Staff Officer is a supervisory position and is assigned functional responsibility for the administration and management of a work area, section or team. The Staff Officer will work under the direction and management of the Administrative Officer or analogous grade, or other employee designated by the Senior Executive Officer or Director of Services as appropriate.

The Staff Officer will work as part of a multidisciplinary team within the Council, assisting with the implementation of work programmes to achieve goals, targets and standards set out in Departmental and Team development plans. 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 supervisory, 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.

THE QUALIFICATIONS

1.       CHARACTER:

Candidates shall 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 an efficient service. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical examination carried out by the Council’s Occupational Medical advisor prior to appointment. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

3.       EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ETC:

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

Applicants to Panel B (Open)

(i)               (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

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

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

Applicants for Panel A - Confined Competition

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

(i) be a serving employee in a local authority or a regional assembly and have at least two

years satisfactory experience

(ii) have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, and including adequate

practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of

staff

Applicants for Panel C - Confined Competition

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

(i) be a serving employee in Laois County Council and have at least two years

satisfactory experience in Laois County Council

(ii) have satisfactory experience in administrative procedures, and including adequate

practical experience in work of an executive nature, office organisation and control of

staff

The Ideal Candidate Shall:

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

•     A clear understanding of local government services in order to achieve effective service delivery

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

•     A clear understanding of the role of Staff Officer

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

•     Effective budget management skills

•     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

•     Experience of problem solving/ decision making

•     Experience of ability to retrieve and evaluate information effectively in the decision-making process

•     Excellent comprehensive experience at a sufficiently high level

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

Key Duties:

The main duties and responsibilities of the role of Staff Officer (Grade V) include, but are not limited to the following:

·     To be responsible for the supervision of a section or function within the Council.

·     To support the Administrative Officer or designated Senior Official to ensure the section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s Corporate Plan and Operational plans.

·     To support the Administrative Officer or other nominated senior official 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 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.

 

Competencies for the Post:

Key Competencies for the post include the following and candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of competence under each of these. Please take particular note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by candidates:

Management and Change

·       Understand the need for change and get this across persuasively to others.

·       Make a positive case for change and elicit commitment from others.

·        Implement change in an orderly and determined manner

Delivering Results

·       Translate the business/team plan objectives into clear priorities and actions for their area of operation.

·       Help establish high quality service and customer care standards.

·       Convert operational objectives into specific work plans, programme activities and schedules, taking into account the broader operation plan when setting priorities.

·       Allocate resources (staff and equipment) across jobs to ensure that priorities are met and that work is executed in the most efficient manner possible to deliver quality work and services.

 

Performance

Through People

 

·       Lead the team/service area in a manner that provides clarity of purpose and a focus on delivery.

·       Show visible commitment to the purpose, mission and vision of the organisation.

·       Provide a positive sense of purpose for the team in terms of its contribution to the organisation’s objectives.

·       Develop the team and its members to achieve corporate objectives through the effective management of performance.

·        Have effective written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.

Personal Effectiveness

• Take initiative and be open to taking on new challenges or responsibilities.
• Manage time and workload effectively.
• Maintain a positive and constructive and enthusiastic attitude to their role.
• Understanding the structures and environment within which the local authority sector operates and the role of the Staff Officer in this context
• Knowledge of current local government issues and strategic direction of local government.

 

THE PRINCIPAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

 

1.       PARTICULARS:

The position is wholetime, permanent and pensionable.

The Council reserves the right to, at any time, re-assign an employee to any department now or in the future

2.       PROBATION:

Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of this local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

(a)     There shall be a period after appointment takes effect, during which such a person shall hold the position on probation

(b)     Such period shall be ten months, but the Chief Executive may, at his/her discretion, extend such period

(c)     Such a person shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation, unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that the service is satisfactory

(d)     There will be ongoing assessments during the probationary period. Employment may be terminated by either party during probation or at the end of the probationary period on one week’s notice.

3.       REMUNERATION:

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their office or in respect of services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

The salary scale: €51,722 to €61,865 LSI2. (EL07-2025)

In accordance with EL02/2011 starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale.

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

4.       DUTIES:

The duties shall be such as may be assigned to the employees from time to time by the local authority and shall include the duty of deputizing for other officers of the local authority, when required, and such duties as may be assigned to them in relation to the area of any other local authority.

5.       SELECTION PROCESS:

Candidates will initially be assessed to ensure that they meet the minimum specified eligibility criteria for the position.

a.       Shortlisting

Shortlisting may apply based on the information supplied on application forms and the requirements of the position as set out. It is expected that given the qualifications and experience of prospective

applicants the short-listing requirements may be significantly higher than the minimum qualifications

and experience requirements set out for the post.

b. Competitive Interview

Selection of candidates for appointment shall be by means of a competitive interview, conducted by or on behalf of the local authority. The Council is committed to a process of selection on merit, based on fair and open competition. The criteria for judging suitability and ranking will be related directly to the qualifications, attributes and skills required to undertake the duties and responsibilities to the standard required in the post.

c. Panels

Following completion of interviews, panels may be formed as described on page 2, the duration of which is at the discretion of the Council. While a panel remains in force, offers of temporary or permanent employment may be made subject to confirmation of qualifications and satisfying clauses in relation to health, character, or other requirements of the particular post. Persons to whom an offer of employment is made must take up duty within 1 month from the date of offer, or such extended period as the Council may agree, otherwise, the Council may decide not to appoint them.

d. References/Documentary Evidence

Each candidate may be required to submit as references the names and addresses of two responsible persons to whom is well known to them but not related. Candidates may be required to submit documentary evidence to the local authority in support of their application.

6.   RETIREMENT AGE:

The Single Public Service Pension Scheme (“Single Scheme”) as provided by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 commenced with effect from 1st January 2013. The act introduces new pension and retirement provisions for new entrants to the public service appointed on or after 1st January 2013. Pension age set initially at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in the SPC age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028. With effect from the 26/12/2018, the compulsory retirement age of 70 applies [Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018]. Otherwise, the retirement age of the relevant Scheme applies.

It should be noted that candidates who are in receipt of a Public Service Pension and are re-hired in any paid capacity by a Public Service Body may be liable to have their pension abated.

Prior to appointment successful candidates will be obliged to complete a Declaration in relation to previous Public Pensionable Employment.

7.   RESIDENCE:

The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which his/her duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

8. SUPERANNUATION:

The superannuation contributions of relevant scheme will apply.

9. ANNUAL LEAVE:

The annual leave entitlement for the position ofStaff Officer is 30 days per annum

10.SICK LEAVE:

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

11. Right to Information and Review:

The Council is committed to offering feedback and information to candidates. Any candidate who wishes to do so may request to have a decision or the process reviewed. Any such request must be submitted in writing, stating the grounds of the request and this must be submitted to hr@laoiscoco.ie within five working days of the date of notification of a relevant decision.

12. Confidentiality:

Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, applications will be treated in strict confidence.

13. Other:

Appointments to the Council are subject to satisfactory checks with regard to references, qualifications, medical examinations, and Garda Vetting, as applicable.