Galway County Council is establishing panels for the position of Staff Officer from which permanent and/or temporary Staff Officer vacancies may be filled.

The Staff Officer is a supervisory position and is assigned functional responsibility for managing the performance of a Section or Function (either service delivery function for example Housing or Roads or support functional area for example Human Resources or Finance) within a Department.

The Staff Officer will work under the direction and management of the Administrative Officer or analogous grade, or other employee designated by the Senior Executive Officer or Director of Services as appropriate. 

The Staff Officer will work as part of a multidisciplinary team within the Council, assisting with the implementation of work programmes to achieve goals, targets and standards set out in Departmental and Team development plans.  The Staff Officer will be expected to use initiative and work to a high standard and will be required to operate the Council’s existing and future IT systems as part of their work. 

The Staff Officer role requires excellent administrative, employee supervisory, interpersonal, communication and other particular skills and expertise depending on assignment.

The successful candidate will be expected to carry out the following non-exhaustive list of duties set out below;

The main duties and responsibilities of the role of Staff Officer (Grade V) are:

• To be responsible for the supervision of a section or function within the Council.

• To support the Administrative Officer or designated Senior Official to ensure the section or department work programmes are implemented to deliver on the Council’s Corporate Plan and Operational plans.

• To support the Administrative Officer or other nominated senior official to communicate, implement and manage all change management initiatives within the relevant area of responsibility. 

• To supervise employees in supporting roles up to the position/grade of Assistant Staff Officer (Grade IV) or analogous grades, including assigning duties and workload.

• To provide on-going support to employees in the department or section, including handling day to day problems and identifying training and development requirements as appropriate.

• To ensure full compliance with all organisational policies and procedures including grievance and disciplinary, performance management and attendance management.

• To communicate and liaise effectively with employees, supervisors and managers in other sections, senior managers and customers in relation to operational matters for their section.

• To compile, prepare and present reports as necessary, including the preparation of reports or letters, which may be sensitive and/or confidential in nature.

• To support the implementation of good practices with transparent reporting and communications to deliver accountable services in the department or section.

• To provide assistance in the understanding and interpretation of the Council’s policies and procedures to employees in their area of responsibility and to customers as appropriate.

• To carry out duties in a manner that enhances public trust and confidence and ensures impartial decision making.

• To organise and facilitate internal and external meetings and participate and engage in discussions as appropriate.

• To support the Council and Municipal District operations.

• To carry out duties in a politically neutral manner, with a clear understanding of the political reality and context of the local authority.

• To provide specialist administrative assistance and support in the delivery of projects as required.

• To support the Administrative Officer or designated Senior Official in the management and implementation of Health and Safety for the section or department.

• To deputise for the Administrative Officer or analogous grade as required.

• To undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required, or assigned, from time to time.

Panel A - Confined to local authority sector.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

1. be a serving employee in a Local Authority or Regional Assembly and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post.

1. Have obtained at least Grade D (or a Pass), in Higher or Ordinary Level, in five (5) subjects (or four (4) 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

2. Have obtained a comparable standard in an equivalent examination,

3. Hold a third level qualification of at least degree standard,

1. be a serving employee in Galway County Council and have not less than two years’ satisfactory experience in a post of Clerical Officer or analogous post.

Further Information is available in the Candidate Information Booklet available on our website.