Slintecare Local Development Officer

SDCC is an equal opportunities employer. Canvassing will automatically disqualify. Come to SDCC to do your greatest work. We are forward‑thinking and focused on diversity, inclusion and community. We are opening the doors to new careers, creating flexible ways of working and putting people at the heart of everything we do.

SDCC Careers Slintecare Local Development Officer

Applications will only be accepted through SDCC’s e‑Recruitment system before midnight on Thursday, 19th March 2026.

The Slintecare Local Development Officer is responsible for the management of their respective Slintecare Healthy Communities Area (currently 3 in SDCC). The officer is the primary point of contact and liaison with other sections in relation to all operational matters for the Slintecare Healthy Communities Programme and other assigned duties.

The post holder will work under the direction of the Senior Executive Officer or analogous grade. They will manage day‑to‑day operations, contribute to strategic and policy making decisions, and work closely with elected councillors and senior managers to deliver services to the highest standard.

The officer will coordinate, influence, and lead cross‑sectoral and community initiatives that address health inequalities, promote prevention, and build resilient, inclusive places within their designated Local Authority. They will support the delivery of the emerging outcomes framework for Healthy Ireland in 2026 and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network objectives.

The office is whole‑time, permanent and pensionable. A panel will be formed to fill permanent and temporary vacancies. When funding ceases the postholders will be re‑assigned to an Administrative Officer post. Persons employed will be required to work in any location within the South Dublin administrative area.

€60,611 - €62,095 - €63,826 - €65,563 - €67,300 - €68,852, €70,442 - €71,982 - €73,518 - €76,149 (1st LS1) 78,795 (2nd LSI).

The successful candidates normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. SDCC reserves the right to alter your hours of work from time to time.

Annual leave entitlement for this position is 30 days.

Candidates will be of good character.

Each candidate must be in a state of health such that they can render regular and efficient service.

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• A third‑level degree (NFQ Level 8 or higher) in a relevant field such as community/sports development, youth work, social sciences, public health, social policy, public administration, planning or a related discipline.
  
• A minimum of 2 years relevant experience in any of the following: local government, public sector or similar roles involving strategic planning, project coordination or community engagement; work with disadvantaged communities or target populations to address social exclusion or inequality; cross‑sectoral coordination or partnership development; policy development, research or evaluation related to the determinants of health; operating effectively within political, community and policy‑making environments; project management and delivery, budgeting and performance‑monitoring experience.
  

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• Knowledge and understanding of Slintecare Reform and Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework.
  
• Experience of building, managing and nurturing partnerships and relationships across a wide range of key stakeholders.
  
• An understanding and/or experience of local government structures and the political environment.
  
• Facilitation and group‑work skills.
  
• Understanding of those who experience health inequalities.
  
• Experience of report writing, strategic planning and funding application processes.
  
• Effective communication skills.
  
• Excellent IT & administration skills, including MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint.
  
• Experience in managing budgets and finances and experience with processing payments.
  
• Understanding and/or experience in gathering qualitative and quantitative data, analysis, research and evaluation to policy and practice.
  
• Appreciation of the use of social media and varied communication platforms.
  
• Understanding of multi‑level governance and/or experience of working across local, regional, national and European contexts.
  
• Demonstrates understanding of the role of Healthy Ireland programmes and WHO European Healthy Cities Network in the context of wider local authority service delivery.
  
• Demonstrates awareness of Community Development Principles and a strong understanding of the Social Determinants of Health to support delivery of Healthy Ireland priorities with a clear understanding of the roles that housing, transport, planning, environment and social infrastructure play in shaping health and wellbeing.
  
• Demonstrates knowledge & understanding of the structure and functions of local government and in particular working across boundaries and with elected members.
  
• Demonstrates knowledge of current local government issues, future trends and strategic direction of local and national government and at WHO/EU level.
  
• Has relevant administrative experience of compiling, preparing and presenting reports, and budget and financial and resource management skills.
  
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of research methods, data management and innovative approaches to their work.
  

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• Strategic Management and change
  
• Delivering results
  
• Performance through People
  
• Personal effectiveness
  
• Local government knowledge and understanding
  

Candidates are requested to give an example of a situation which highlights the behaviour, skills and attitude that underpin effective performance in these areas and which demonstrates their suitability to meet the challenges of this role. Candidates should ensure the example used clearly demonstrates their ability in this area and that the scale and scope of the example given is appropriate to the post and level of the post.

The Slintecare Local Development Officer will perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time which will involve the facilitation, implementation and promotion of the policies and objectives of SDCC for the advancement of the Slintecare Healthy Communities Programme.

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• Work intensively with identified disadvantaged areas and marginalised groups to co‑design health and wellbeing interventions that reflect local priorities.
  
• Apply principles of empowerment, participation, social justice and equality in all aspects of planning and delivery.
  
• Work with relevant local Slintecare Healthy Communities Programme services to ensure integrated and improved delivery of health and wellbeing initiatives.
  
• Use and gather relevant local datasets to target communities experiencing the greatest health inequities and build an evidence case for resource allocation or intervention.
  
• Develop a 5‑year Slintecare Healthy Communities Work Programme based on local need and priorities, established from innovative and participatory community engagement and needs assessment exercises with Annual Action Plans comprising of seed funding to action local priorities.
  
• Map, align and leverage local authority activities that influence the wider determinants of health and include within relevant Healthy Ireland data gathering exercises.
  
• Advise elected members and senior executives on relevant policies and programmes related to health, equality and wellbeing.
  
• Facilitate Community Health and Wellbeing Networks and support the development of local wellbeing forums and wellbeing leadership initiatives within communities.
  
• Work confidently and sensitively with elected representatives, senior executives and cross‑sectoral leaders to address health and wellbeing inequalities.
  
• Act as a catalyst and connector across directorates and sections (e.g. planning, transport, housing, environment, community) to align activity with health and wellbeing objectives.
  
• Champion whole‑system, place‑based, preventative approaches to health and wellbeing, working across SDCC directorates and with external partners to create enabling environments that foster wellbeing for all.
  
• Explore resource mechanisms across all Government Departments and at EU level to address local community priorities.
  
• Leverage research, data, innovation and WHO/EU collaboration to encourage local government leadership in improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
  
• Develop or contribute to funding bids in conjunction with communities to resource local priority initiatives.
  
• Capacity to influence, align and coordinate across internal directorates and external stakeholders and demonstrate partnership management and stakeholder engagement skills (e.g. coordination of Slintecare Healthy Communities Local Implementation Team).
  
• Use local data, research and evidence to shape decisions and measure outcomes.
  
• Represent the SDCC in regional and national networks and international platforms such as the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.
  
• Drive whole‑of‑local‑government, whole‑of‑community and whole‑of‑place approaches to wellbeing, focusing on the social, economic, environmental and cultural determinants of health.
  

These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and are carried out under general guidance.

SDCC is an equal opportunities employer. Canvassing will automatically disqualify.

Selection will be by means of a competition based on an interview conducted by or on behalf of SDCC. Interviews may be face‑to‑face or online via Microsoft Teams. SDCC will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by a candidate attending an interview. Applicants must have a good standard of written and spoken English. Interviews will be scheduled after the closing date. A candidate who does not attend an interview when and where required will have no further claim to consideration.

Only applications received electronically through the Council’s e‑Recruitment system will be accepted. South Dublin County Council applies rolling recruitment to fill some critical posts. The nature of rolling recruitment is that there is no closing date, allowing the Council to capture as many applicants as possible to fill posts on an ongoing basis. Competitions subject to rolling recruitment will close temporarily at short notice once a sufficient number of applications have been received. Shortlisted applicants will be brought forward for interview to fill existing vacancies, and the competition will be reopened to new applications when required.

SDCC reserves its right to shortlist applications. Shortlisting may include desktop shortlisting and/or preliminary interviews based on the information supplied on the application form and the likely number of vacancies to be filled.

A panel may be formed on the basis of such interviews. The life of the panel will be for a period of one year from the date of its formation. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the Council that they possess the qualifications declared for the post and who are otherwise suitable for appointment may, within the life of the panel, be appointed as appropriate vacancies arise.

SDCC will require persons to whom appointments are offered to take up such appointments within a reasonable period as determined by SDCC. If they fail to take up the appointment within such period or a longer period as the Council, in its absolute discretion, may determine, the Council will not appoint them.

Successful candidates must undergo a medical examination and obtain two satisfactory references from responsible persons not related to the candidate. A responsible person should be a person under whom the candidate has served in employment, or in relevant voluntary work a person who has held a supervisory position. At least one reference must be from a current employer. Garda Vetting will be sought prior to appointment in accordance with the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012‑2016.

Candidates must, by the date of submission of the application form, have a Critical Skills Employment Permit (stamp 1G). Candidates should ensure that the post they are applying for is included in the Critical Skills Occupations List.

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• A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA).
  
• A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK).
  
• A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons.
  
• A non‑EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa.
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
  

In the case of relief positions, a person awarded a stamp 2 Visa (student visa) is allowed to work to a maximum of 20 hours per week.

SDCC operates a Blended Working Policy in accordance with the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023. Successful candidates may apply to work remotely up to two days per week, provided the role is suitable. Blended working arrangements cannot commence until six months of continuous employment have been completed to ensure adequate onboarding and integration.

Newly appointed persons will hold the position on probation for a period of one year, though the Chief Executive may extend this period. Assessments will occur during this time, and the position may be terminated with one week’s notice. Officers who have already completed probation with another Local Authority are not obliged to serve it again with SDCC.

Entry points are determined by Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage circulars. Those not serving local authority employees on or after 1st January 2011 will enter at the minimum point of the scale. Remuneration may be adjusted in line with Government Policy.

Employees shall perform duties of executive, administrative, technical, or management nature as required by the Chief Executive. This includes servicing committees and acting for higher‑level officers if required.

Holders of the office must reside in the district of their duties or within a reasonable distance thereof.

Employees may not engage in private practice or outside business that interferes with official duties.

Provisions of the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 apply. Contributions vary based on PRSI class (Class A or Class D) and pensionable remuneration. New entrants are admitted to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which requires a minimum of two years’ service to qualify for a pension.

There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants as defined in the 2004 Act. For others, the compulsory age is 65. The maximum age for those under the Single Scheme is 70 years. xcfaprz

Retirees under ISER are debarred from applying for positions in the same employment or sector.