Staff Officer

Duties and Responsibilities

The Staff Officer is a support or supervisory position within the Council and may be assigned responsibility for the day-to-day operation of a work area, section or team. The Staff Officer works as part of a team, supporting managers and colleagues to meet work goals and objectives and to deliver quality services to internal and external customers.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities which may be assigned:

• Be responsible for the supervision of a work area or section/department within the Council, including supervision of a team.
• Take responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the section/department.
• Manage and supervise staff within the section/team, including training and development.
• Assign and monitor the work programme for the section/department.
• Provide administrative support based on a thorough understanding of the overall workings and policies of a section.
• Motivate, empower and encourage staff to achieve maximum performance by supporting the current Performance Management and Development System (PMDS).
• Analyse and report on the workings of the section/department.
• Prepare budgets and ensure work programmes are implemented within allocated budgets.
• Represent the section/department at interdepartmental and external meetings, including providing progress reports and presentations.
• Support senior line managers in ensuring section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council's operational and service delivery plans.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships both internally and externally.
• Provide support and assistance in the delivery of projects as required.
• Identify opportunities for improvements in service delivery within the section or team.
• Support and implement change management initiatives within the section or team.
• Support team members and employees, handling day-to-day issues and ensuring compliance with Council policies, procedures and legislative requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation, policies, procedures and safe systems of work.
• Use all technology, including IT and financial systems, and any equipment assigned.
• Complete all essential training successfully.
• Carry out duties in a politically neutral and impartial manner that enhances public trust and confidence in the local authority decision-making process.
• Act or deputise for more senior personnel when required.
• Undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as required or assigned from time to time.

The post holder may be required to perform duties appropriate to the post other than those detailed above and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate Officer or undertake duties as designated from time to time.

Qualifications for the Post1. Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

2. Health

Each candidate must be in a state of health that indicates a reasonable prospect of being able to render regular and efficient service.

3. Citizenship

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

• A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or
• A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or
• A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or
• A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA, UK or Swiss citizen and holds a Stamp 4 visa; or
• A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or a family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and holding a Stamp 4 visa; or
• A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of and resident in an EEA Member State, the UK or Switzerland and holds a Stamp 4 visa.

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

4. Education, Training and Experience

Candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms, satisfy one of the following:

(i)

(a) Have obtained at least Grade D (or Pass), at 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 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 Competition

(iv) Be a serving employee in a local authority or regional assembly and have at least two years' satisfactory experience in a Clerical Officer post or an analogous post.

5. Panel

Following the selection process, three panels will be formed for the post of Staff Officer from which future permanent and fixed-term contract positions will be filled.

6. Requirements, Skills and Knowledge

Candidates will be expected to demonstrate through their application form and interview:

• Understanding of the role of a Staff Officer.
• Understanding of the Council's purpose, goals and priorities and knowledge of public service organisations in Ireland.
• Understanding of the role of the elected Council and the representational role of elected members.
• Understanding of the changing environment and the ability to adapt to change in order to deliver quality services to citizens.
• Ability to identify problems and contribute to solutions.
• Knowledge and experience of operating a wide range of ICT systems.
• Ability to work effectively and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Strong resource management skills.
• Ability to lead a team in a rapidly changing environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Motivation to achieve maximum performance.
• Excellent supervisory skills in an office-based environment.
• Ability to work on own initiative in an independent environment without constant supervision.

Particulars of Office1. The Post

A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

The panel may be used to fill permanent and fixed-term positions arising during its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit from the panel and may arise on a county-wide basis.

Westmeath County Council reserves the right to assign employees to any work location, having regard to funding and operational requirements.

2. Salary

The current salary scale for the post of Staff Officer is €52,761 - €63,109 per annum (including Long Service Increments), in accordance with Circular EL 04/2026.

Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance.

The entry point on the salary scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

New entrants to the Local Authority Service will commence on the first point of the scale in accordance with current Government policy as set out in Department of the Environment Circular Letter EL 02/2011 dated 28 January 2011 and Circular EL 05/2016 dated 5 February 2016.

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employee's nominated bank account. The current pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, including PAYE and PRSI.

Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct, performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld where performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

In the event of an overpayment of salary or other monies, the Council reserves the right to deduct monies from wages, in accordance with the Payment of Wages Act 1991, Section 5(5), for the purpose of reimbursing the Council for the amount of the overpayment.