Watch Officer

The Role

The Watch Officer (WO) on shift duty at Marine Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs) in the Irish Coast Guard, is responsible for watch-keeping on the emergency frequencies and is required to act as Marine Alert, Notification and/or SAR Mission Coordination (SMC) Officer. SMC duties include planning and coordination of response to emergencies at sea, on the coast, cliffs, inland waters and terrain of Ireland. The WO is required to process marine communication traffic.

Duties include: responding to ship casualty and pollution incidents, vessel traffic monitoring, monitoring of Volunteer Coast Guard Unit activities, coordinating Coast Guard aviation operations (Helicopter and Fixed Wing), tasking and coordination of SAR Units, coordination of service delivery to other State organisations including Principal Response Agencies, and stakeholder liaison.

Main Duties and Responsibilities of the Role

The main duties and responsibilities include:

• Marine Emergency Service Coordinator;

• The provision of communications services necessary in marine emergency operations in the areas around Ireland;

• The provision of safety and other maritime communications services for vessels at sea and on inland waterways, rivers and lakes;

• The provision of communication services for international shipping;

• The broadcasting, at specified times, of information concerning navigation hazards, weather alerts and general weather information;

• Operation of a marine communications services system and general Coast Radio Station procedures;

• Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Information Services.

The above is a general guide to the key duties and responsibilities of the role and is not an exhaustive description. Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role may be assigned from time to time.

Please be advised: This is a uniformed position, and Watch Officers are required to wear their uniform in a presentable manner and maintain a smart and neat appearance, as determined by Coast Guard Management.

Training

Successful candidates will begin with an induction week at the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Dublin, Leeson Lane, Dublin 2, where they will be introduced to Irish Coast Guard procedures and operations. Following this, each candidate will be assigned to one of the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centres (Dublin, Malin, or Valentia) for the duration of their training period. As part of their development, newly inducted officers will receive on-the-job training at Dublin, Malin and Valentia centres.

During this training phase, travel expenses and subsistence allowances will be provided for activities conducted away from their designated Rescue Coordination Centre, in accordance with Civil Service Regulations. Further training may be conducted at designated facilities such as the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Cork. Upon successful completion of the New Entrant SMC and basic training, candidates will be awarded a Level 7 Special Purpose Award, administered by NMCI, a constituent college of Munster Technological University.

Important Note: Depending on the number of successful candidates, there may be two group intakes for successful candidates with training commencing in April & May 2026.

Location of Posts/Vacancies

Positions will be filled in the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin, Marine Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) Valentia, Co. Kerry and MRSC Malin Head, Co. Donegal. Upon completion of basic training, new entrants will then be invited to specify their preferred location and will be assigned to one of the three RCCs. Assignments are based on prioritisation of vacancies and appointees who are not successful in being initially appointed to their first preferred location are placed on a transfer list for assignment to their preferred location, as vacancies arise.

Candidates who are successful in this competition will be placed on a panel, in an order of merit, to fill current and any future vacancies which may arise. It is not expected that appointments will be made from this panel after November 2026.

Benefits

As well as a meaningful, varied, challenging and interesting career, some of the benefits of working as a Watch Officer in the Irish Coast Guard are:

• Competitive salary starting at €38,250* (see further information below in the key information field) with yearly increments for satisfactory performance;

• Grade allowance of €4,509.82;

• Shift allowance;

• Public Sector pension;

• 27 days of annual leave per year rising to 29 days after 5 years satisfactory service;

Subject to business needs and a satisfactory probationary period:

o Flexible working with a commitment to work-life balance and a family-friendly workplace (including work-sharing arrangements and a wide variety of special leave options);

o Access to Shorter Working Year Scheme;

o Facility to apply for career breaks;

o Learning and development opportunities;

• Cycle to work scheme;

• Access to Public Service Credit Union;

• Tax saver public transport pass;

• Opportunities for promotion through inter-departmental & open competitions.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Essential

Candidates must have on or before 25th September 2025:

(a) A current Deck Officer / Watch keeping Certificate as per the categories outlined in Table 1 Appendix 1-page 8;

or

(b) A current Watch-Keeping Certificate outlined in Table 2 Appendix 1-page 8;

or

(c) A minimum of five years relevant professional experience in maritime communications and operations, onboard ship, SAR Aircraft (pilot or aircrew) or ashore (including MRCC SAR Coordination or Coast Radio Station experience).

In addition, all candidates must have the following:

2. (a) A minimum of two years’ experience in a practical seagoing capacity while holding a recognised maritime or other relevant professional qualification;

or

(b) A minimum of two years SAR experience as Boat Coxswain or Aircraft crew as part of a declared SAR resource while holding a recognised maritime or other relevant professional qualification.

3. A current GMDSS Certificate.

4. Knowledge of the Coast Guard, maritime Search and Rescue organisations in Ireland, the framework of maritime legislation, the Irish National SAR Plan and the National Oil Spill & Hazardous Noxious Substance (HNS) Contingency plan.

5. Knowledge of International Aeronautical & Maritime Search & Rescue Manuals (IAMSAR) and maritime communications publications.

6. Good Information Technology (IT) skills including a proficiency in MS Office applications.

7. Knowledge of dangerous or pollutant cargoes.

8. A good knowledge and appreciation of the maritime industry.

9. Good interpersonal skills and strong focus on meeting customer and service needs.

10. Sound judgement, personal discipline, initiative, drive and energy, and decision-making skills.

11. The ability to work under pressure including the ability to be resilient and to cope with the sometimes distressing or difficult environments of marine or inland emergency incidents.

12. Ability to achieve results as part of a team and work effectively with others.

13. Good oral and written communication skills including the ability to speak English clearly without impediment.

14. Experience in leading and managing teams in an operational environment.

15. Adaptability, ability to collaborate with other maritime agencies, ability to motivate and support others in the team.

16. The ability to interact confidently in a multinational, multicultural environment.

Special Essential Personal Attributes required for the performance of the job

• High standard of physical and mental fitness, good eyesight and hearing.

• In a safety sensitive organisation such as the Irish Coast Guard, non-dependence on drugs and alcohol is essential.

The Department reserves the right to seek medical advice in relation to these Essential Personal Attributes.

Desirable

• Have a qualification equivalent to or higher than a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) level 7 (Ordinary Bachelor Degree) in a discipline relevant to the role;

• Knowledge and/or experience in Search and Rescue or other emergency services;

• Knowledge and/or experience in maritime aviation including SAR and/or environmental monitoring;

• Knowledge and/or experience in water safety and of different types of vessels and their operation, including the variety of ship types, and knowledge of small craft in both fishing and recreational sectors;

• Experience in the operation of radio transmitters, receivers and ancillary equipment;

• A full driving licence (Class B) valid in Ireland.

Shortlisting

The number of applications received for a position generally exceeds that required to fill existing and future vacancies. While a candidate may meet the eligibility requirements of the competition, if the numbers applying are such that it would not be practical to interview everyone, publicjobs may decide that a smaller number will be invited to the next stage of the selection process.

publicjobs provides for the employment of a shortlisting process to select a group who, based on an examination of the application forms, appear to be the most suitable for the position. This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job, rather that there are some candidates who, based on their application, appear to be better qualified and/or have more relevant experience.

During shortlisting, an expert board will examine the application forms against agreed shortlisting criteria which are based on the requirements of the position. The standard of content of each application submitted may also be assessed during this process.

Where a competition attracts a large number of eligible candidates, the shortlisting process will apply a scored assessment of the information provided on the application form. A rank order of candidates will then be created, and based on that ranking candidates will be invited to the next stage of the process in groups/batches, with those candidates ranked highest invited initially. Subsequent groups/batches may be invited to the next stage of the selection process over the lifetime of the competition on a demand-led basis, if required.

The shortlisting criteria may include both essential and desirable criteria specified for the position, and it is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your qualifications/experience in your application. The onus is on candidates to complete the application form fully and accurately.

For certain competitions, candidates may be required to undertake online assessment tests and will be shortlisted in accordance with their ranking in these tests. Applicants must successfully compete and be placed highest on the order of merit to be considered for advancement to the next stage of a multi-stage selection process, which may include a shortlisting exercise as described above. The number to be invited forward at each stage will be determined from time to time by publicjobs.

Salary Range: €38,250 to €68,588 plus allowance of €4,509.82 and shift pay, payable to appointees on rostered duty.

The rate of shift pay is 27% of basic salary per annum.

It should be noted that a new appointee on rostered duty might expect to earn €53,087.32 (point 1 of August 2025 pay scale €38,250 plus shift pay @ 27% - €10,327.50 and grade allowance of €4,509.82). This figure does not include any overtime earned for additional attendance.

Starting Annual Leave: 27 days

Hours of attendance: 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week