Visitor and Security Officer

The National Museum of Ireland (NMI) is seeking applications from suitable candidates to fill the post of Visitor and Security Officer (Clerical Officer Level) in National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Co Mayo. This is a Full-Time Permanent position. This position will be filled by open competitive interviews.

Job Title

Visitor and Security Officer (VSO) (Clerical Officer Level).

Location

The post-holder will be based in the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Co Mayo or any other National Museum of Ireland site as may be designated from time to time by the Director for the performance of duties. The Visitor and Security Officer may be required to travel to any of the Museum’s sites.

Reporting to

The successful candidate will report to the Facilities Officer (Front of House).

Job Purpose

To provide the day-to-day service to visitors and to provide health and safety and security services at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Co Mayo.

Duties and Responsibilities

General

The post holder will work as part of the Visitor and Security Officer team. The Visitor and Security Officer team work cooperatively with the Cleaning, Security, Retail, Education, Commercial and Collections teams in NMI when delivering Visitor Experience, Security and Health and Safety Services.

Visitor Services

As a member of the VSO team and in cooperation with other front of house teams, the role holder will provide the following services:

• Providing the visitor with information and assistance so as to enrich the visitor experience at NMI sites.

• Distribute floor plans, education and other information materials to visitors.

• In cooperation with the cleaning team prepare gallery spaces for the visiting public e.g. ensure lights, IT equipment are operating.

• In cooperation with the Curatorial, Marketing, Education and Commercial teams ensure the smooth running of events.

• Report any maintenance/cleaning issues to the Facilities Officer.

• Any other duties appropriate to the role.

Security Services

As a member of the VSO team, the role holder will provide the following services:

• Operating NMI security procedures and practices e.g. dealing with security incidents.

• Operate security equipment and carry out equipment checks. This will include working in NMI security rooms and operating CCTV and alarm systems.

• Supervision of contractors and service providers.

• Record and report incidents.

• Record and report system/equipment faults to the Facilities Officer.

• Any other duties appropriate to the role.

Health and Safety Services

As a member of the VSO team, the role holder will provide the following services:

• Operate health and safety procedures and practices.

• Participate in practice fire evacuations.

• Be gallery fire marshals.

• Carry out and record safety and equipment checks.

• Be first aiders.

• Report incidents and issues to the Facilities Officer.

• Be part of the Museum’s emergency response as appropriate.

• Any other duties appropriate to the role.

Operations

As a member of the VSO team, the role holder will:

• Adhere to rosters/schedules.

• Provide cover and support to members of the Visitor Services team at other NMI sites as required.

Contribute to developing NMI and information exchange

The role holder will input and contribute to the development of NMI strategy, policies, procedures and practices by:

• Attending staff meetings.

• Attending NMI development events.

• Cooperate with the introduction of new technologies, systems and procedures.

Training and Development

• Attend and participate in training courses for example, First Aid, Defibrillators, visitor/customer service, ICT and other training as deemed appropriate to the role and the personal development of the role holder.

Person Specification

Essential Requirements

• Experience in delivering excellent customer services working with a diverse range of customers with varied needs. Ability to anticipate customer needs and resolve customer requirements.

• Experience in delivering security services and health and safety services either as a principal duty of a role or as an element of a role.

• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both spoken and written and an ability to work as a member of a team.

• A commitment to personal development; a willingness to undertake training and acquire new skills.

• Flexible approach to work.

• Be suitable on the grounds of character. Candidates are required to provide details of at least two referees.

• Be fully competent and available to undertake the duties attached to the position.

• Hold ECDL certificate or equivalent.

Desirable (but not essential)

• Experience in using security and safety or other ICT based systems.

• Experience in delivering visitor services in the cultural sector.

• Proficiency in the Irish Language.

Persons seeking appointment to this post will be required to demonstrate the following competencies associated with the post of Visitor and Security Officer (Clerical Officer Level). The semi-structured interviews will be underpinned by these competencies:

Teamwork

Information Management/Processing

Delivery of Results

Customer Service & Communication Skills

Specialist Knowledge, Expertise & Self Development

Drive & Commitment to Public Service Values

Selection Process

In the event that the number of applications received significantly exceeds that required to fill existing and anticipated future vacancies over the lifetime of the panel, the National Museum of Ireland may implement a shortlisting process to select a number of candidates to be invited to interview on the basis of the information contained in their application. This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that on this occasion there are some candidates who are, on the basis of the information provided, better qualified and/or have more relevant experience. The National Museum of Ireland does not reimburse the cost of travel to interview.

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible Candidates must be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

(b) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(c) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

(d) 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

(e) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of and resident in an EEA member state or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

To qualify candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

Note in respect of UK citizens:

The recently concluded EU/UK Brexit negotiations have confirmed that the longstanding Common Travel Area Agreement between the UK and Ireland remains unchanged post-Brexit. Accordingly, UK citizens remain eligible to work and reside in Ireland without restriction and, as such, to make an application to compete for this competition where they meet all other qualifying eligibility criteria. Further information regarding the Common Travel Area is available here.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER)

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees under the Scheme are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010)

The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public funds. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years, after which time any re-employment will require the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. People who availed of either of these schemes are not eligible to compete in this competition.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the public service by any public service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009–2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. Thereafter the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be required prior to re-employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility) and the Minister’s consent will have to be secured prior to employment by any public service body.

Declaration

Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a public service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a public service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other public service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any public service employment.

Pay

€596.11 - €928.12 per week

Annual Leave

Annual leave will be 24 working days a year rising to 25 working days per year after 5 years completed service and to 26 working days per year after 10 years’ service. This leave is on the basis of a five-day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.

Hours of Attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time in line with central agreements but will amount to not less than 43.25 gross hours per week (35 net hours per week). Attendance is rostered on a five (5) days over seven (7) day basis. You will agree to co-operate in assisting NMI to maintain accurate records of your working hours for the purpose of Section 25 of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Duties

You will be required to perform any duties which may be assigned to you from time to time as appropriate to the position. The position will be whole-time, and you will not be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties. You agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are or may be required to be performed.

Uniform

Visitor & Security Officers (VSO) are required to wear an official uniform, which will be provided.

General

The appointment is subject to the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 1996, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the civil service. The appointee will be subject to the National Museum’s policies in respect of Code of Standards and Behaviour.

Superannuation and Retirement

The successful candidate will be offered the appropriate superannuation terms and conditions as prevailing in the National Museum of Ireland at the time of being offered an appointment. In general, and except for candidates who have worked in a pensionable (non-single scheme terms) public service job in the 26 weeks prior to appointment (see paragraph d below), this means being offered appointment based on membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (“Single Scheme”).

Key provisions attaching to membership of the Single Scheme are as follows:

a. Pensionable Age

The minimum age at which pension is payable is 66 (rising to 67 and 68) in line with State Pension age changes.

b. Retirement Age

Scheme members must retire at the age of 70.

c. Pension Abatement

• If the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service and is in receipt of a pension from the Civil Service, normal abatement rules will apply. However, if the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service and awarded a pension under voluntary early retirement arrangements (other than the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER) or the Department of Health Circular 7/2010 VER/VRS which, as indicated above, renders a person ineligible for the competition) the entitlement to that pension will cease with effect from the date of reappointment. Special arrangements will, however, be made for the reckoning of previous service given by the appointee for the purpose of any future superannuation award for which the appointee may be eligible.

• If the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service or in the Public Service, please note that the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 includes a provision which extends abatement of pension for all Civil and Public Servants who are re-employed where a Public Service pension is in payment. This provision to apply abatement across the wider public service came into effect on 1 November 2012. This may have pension implications for any person appointed to this position who is currently in receipt of a Civil or Public Service pension or has a preserved Civil or Public Service pension which will come into payment during his/her employment in this position.