Assistant Staff Officer

Limerick City and County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the above competition. Limerick City and County Council will, following the interview process, form 3 panels for the post of Assistant Staff Officer (Grade IV) from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Position The Assistant Staff Officer is a support or supervisory position within the Council and is assigned responsibility for the day to day operation of a work area, section or team. The Assistant 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 post holder will be responsible for the implementation of work programmes to achieve goals and targets set out in Departmental and Team Plans. The Assistant Staff Officer is expected to carry out their duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence.

Key Duties: The following is a non-exhaustive list of key duties and responsibilities which may be assigned to an Assistant Staff Officer:

• To support the line manager to ensure the section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s Corporate Plan and operational matters.
• To communicate and liaise effectively with employees, supervisors and line managers in other sections, and customers in relation to operational matters for their section or area of work.
• To prepare reports, correspondence and other documents as necessary.
• To organise and facilitate internal and external meetings and participate and engage in discussions as appropriate.
• To provide assistance and support in the delivery of projects as required.
• To ensure high levels of customer service, responding to queries and requests for information in a professional and courteous and timely manner.
• To support the line manager to communicate, implement, and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility.
• To supervise employees within their team or programmes of work within their area of responsibility, providing support to team members or colleagues as required.
• 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.
• To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required or assigned, from time to time. Notwithstanding the requirements of the post, successful applicants may be assigned to any service area/role within the local authority at an analogous level by the Director

General at any time. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government, of current local government issues, priorities and concerns and of the key influencers of local government
• Understanding the role of Assistant Staff Officer
• Relevant administrative experience at a sufficiently high level
• An ability to supervise a team effectively to achieve a common goal
• Ensuring strong governance and ethical standards are set and maintained
• The ability to motivate, empower and encourage staff under their control to achieve maximum performance by supporting the current Performance Management and Development System (PMDS)
• Understanding of the changing and operating environment in the Council and be capable of leading change in order to deliver quality services to our citizens
• An understanding of the representational role of the elected members and the need to work with them to deliver quality services and implement policy decisions
• An ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines in the delivery of key operational objectives
• Effective financial and resource management skills
• Knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems

These panels will exist for 12 months and may be extended for a further period of 12 months. Suitably qualified persons are invited to apply for the following panel(s): Panel Formation A. 50% confined to employees of the sector B. 30% open C. 20% confined to employees of Limerick City and 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). 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. Panel C (Confined to Limerick City and County Council) will comprise of successful applicants, in order of merit, from within Limerick City and County Council only. The advertising process for filling of posts according to these procedures is on the basis of:

• Advertising one competition and
• Forming three separate panels to meet the requirements of the ratio of posts to be confined to the local government sector, open and confined to the local authority as indicated above.

The Person - Qualifications: Open Panel – Panel B 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 regular and efficient service. 3 Education, Experience, Etc. Candidates shall: (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, *Non Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document. Local Authority Sector/Confined – Panel A & C - be a serving employee of a local authority or a regional assembly and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post, Terms and Conditions 1. The Post: Subject to the availability of suitably qualified candidates three panels will be formed for an initial period of one year and these may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Director General. The panels may be used by Limerick City and County Council to fill permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panels. 2. Annual Leave: The successful candidate will have 30 days annual leave 3. Salary: Salary scale: €34,260 to €53,301 per annum dependent on performance and inclusive of two long service increments. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory service. Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point (currently €31,551). 4. Location: Limerick City and County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidate to any department or premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to travel to and from work at their own expense. 5. Hours of Work The working hours at present provide for a five day, thirty five hours working week, hours may vary from time to time. The working hours may be reviewed at any time by the Council. The post may require flexibility in working outside of normal hours, including at weekends, as necessary. No additional remunertation will be paid in respect of such activities. The provisions of Limerick City and County Council’s Time and Attendance Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time. 6. Sick Leave: The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail. 7. Superannuation: The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies 8. Travel: Holders of the post should hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall be required drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and local authority Travel and Subsistence Policy. Limerick City and County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately. 9. Residence: The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. 10. Safety and Welfare: The holder of the post shall co-operate with the terms of Limerick City and County Council’s Safety Statement and Major Emergency Plan. The successful candidate shall make themselves aware of the safety rules and procedures and make proper use of all safety, clothing and equipment. 11. Training: It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post. 12. Taking Up Appointment: The local authority shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of four weeks and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the local authority shall not appoint them. 13. Garda Vetting : The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to 2016 came into effect on 29th April 2016. The Act places a statutory obligation on Limerick City and County Council to ensure that ‘any work or activity which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of a person having access to or contact with children or vulnerable persons will be subject to Garda Vetting’. 14. Probation: Where a person who is not already a permanent employee of a local authority is appointed, the following provisions shall apply: (a) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such person shall hold such post on probation. (b) Such period shall be set by the Director General and this period may be extended at their discretion. (c) Such person shall cease to hold the post at the end of the period of probation, unless duringsuch period, the Manager has certified that the service of such person is satisfactory. 15. 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 in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa