Senior Sports Officer

The Role of the Senior Sports Officer The Senior Sports Officer will work to enable the promotion, development and access to sport and physical activity at local level. The Senior Sports Officer, will also have a key role in supporting the LSP operational plan and focusing on the delivery of one or more of the following Strategic Programme Actions: • Women in Sport. • Outdoor recreation. • Communications. • Innovation Projects. • Coaching Children & Physical Literacy. • Youth Leadership. • European Social Innovation in Sport ‘Sport4Empowerment’ Programme. • Physical Activity for Health. • Community Sports & Physical Activity Hubs. • Volunteer Support. • Training & Education. • Additional Strategic Action Objectives as prioritised by Sport Ireland.

The ideal candidate shall have: • Experience of working within a Sports Development environment. • Knowledge of current Local Sports Partnership issues and structures. • Understanding of the role of Senior Sports Officer Experience in accessing and managing funding applications and their delivery. • Inter-personal skills to involve facilitation among people, sports clubs, NGB’s, schools and communities. • Experience of working with specific target groups in the developing, delivering and evaluating of programmes and initiatives. • Awareness of the barriers to participation in sport for females throughout the lifecycle and current policy /measures in place to address these. • Experience in the development of outdoor sports and infrastructure. • Relevant administrative experience. • Experience of managing a team and working as part of a team. • Experience of preparing reports and correspondence. • Knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems. • Have effective written and verbal communication skills. Post of Senior Sports Officer Louth County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the above competition. Louth County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the post, from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This panel will exist for 12 months and may only be extended at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

Essential Criteria Character Each candidate shall be of good character.

Health Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Training, Experience Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms: • Hold a 3rd level degree qualification (minimum QQI Level 7) in Sports Development, Leisure Management, Adapted Physical Activity, Community Development, Health Promotion or other relevant discipline. • Have a minimum 3 years’ experience working in a similar Sports Development role i.e. working in communities piloting and developing, project management, facilitating, developing and evaluating sport and physical activity programmes.

Driving License Each Candidate must have a clean, current class B driving licence Particulars of Post Duties The duties of the office are to give to the local authority under the direction and supervision of its appropriate officer such services of an executive, supervisory or advisory nature as are required for the exercise and performance of any of its powers and duties and shall include the duty of deputising for other officers of the local authority when required and such duties as may be required in relation to the area of any other local authority.

The duties shall include but are not limited to: • Providing high level administrative support based on a thorough understanding of the overall workings and policy of the Louth Sports Unit. • Supervision of Staff and staff work. • Delivery of Specific Sport Ireland programmes and initiatives throughout Louth. • Representing the Local Sports Partnership at a variety of meetings. • Implementing the objectives of Louth Local Sports Partnership as set out in the current strategy ‘Creating more opportunities to participate in Sport and Physical Activity throughout life 2018 – 2022’ & subsequent LSP strategies and strategic objectives. • Implementation of an effective stakeholder engagement model to enhance LSP’s working relationships with the National Governing Bodies of Sport, sports clubs and organisations operating within the county. • Developing partnership and co-ordination between the relevant local statutory and voluntary bodies and maximising their involvement in the development of sports in the county. • Increasing participation for Women in Sport as per the LSP strategic plan objectives and the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Policy. • Support the development of outdoor activity and infrastructure in Louth in line with the LLSP strategic plan objectives. • Oversight & responsibility for the implementation, reporting & management of programme operational plans for externally funded programmes. • Any other duties assigned to them by the Head of Sports Unit. These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and carried out under general guidance.

Salary The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

The salary scale for the position of the Senior Sports Officer is: €51,210- €61,252 (LSI 2) (Analogous Grade 5) gross per annum. Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 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. Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy. Probation Where a person, who is not already a permanent officer of Louth County Council, is appointed, the following provisions shall apply: • There will be a probationary period of 9 months from date of employment, • The Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend this period, • You shall cease to hold office at end of the period of probation unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that your service is satisfactory.

Location of post Louth County Council reserves the right to assign the post holder to any council premises, now or in the future subject to reasonable notice. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work.

Superannuation A. Officers joining the Public Service after the 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. A Class rate of PRSI contribution will apply. A rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme. OR B. Officers who became pensionable officers of the Public Service prior to 1st January 2013 and who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of the net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC). You will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of your pensionable remuneration to the Spouses & Children’s Pension Scheme. OR C. Officers who become pensionable officers of a Public Service prior to 5th April 1995 and who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. If an option to join a dependent scheme was made you will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% to a Dependents Pension Scheme.

Retirement Retirement is dependent on the superannuation scheme you become a member of and details will be made available to you upon appointment.

Health For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it may be necessary for the successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo at his/her expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.