Irish Regions European Office is hiring a EU Policy Officer

Who we are

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly was established under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 and has a statutory role in the regional government structure for the 12 Eastern and Midland local authorities. These are the local authorities of Dublin City, South Dublin, Dún-Laoghaire Rathdown, Fingal, Wicklow, Kildare, Meath, Louth, Westmeath, Laois, Longford and Offaly.

• Prepare, adopt and implement the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES)
• Participate in the design and delivery of EU funding programmes, notably the EU Just Transition Fund
• Identify, participate and co-ordinate EU projects
• Support the national delegation to the Committee of the Regions (CoR)
• Oversee and support the Irish Regions European Office (IREO) in Brussels
• Support the work of the National Oversight and Audit Commission

The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly and the IREO now invite applications from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which vacancies for EU Policy Officer will be filled.

The Role

The successful candidate will provide support to the Head of Office and the Irish Delegation to the Committee of the Regions, making substantive contributions on all aspects related to the work of the Committee, and related work for the Irish Regions European Office. The post holder will specifically follow a wide range of EU policy developments, relating and impacting on Irish local authorities and Regional Assemblies. The post holder will also contribute to the objectives of the Irish Regions European Office and ensuring that it achieves its aims in supporting Irish local government engagement in EU affairs and EU funding opportunities.

Duties to include but not limited to:

Irish Delegation to the Committee of the Regions

• Support the Head of Office with coordination of the Irish delegation to the Committee of the Regions
• Preparation of briefing and policy documents for Irish Committee of the Regions members and their alternate members
• Support to members who have been appointed rapporteur
• Attendance at meetings of CoR in Brussels and other meetings across Europe as required
• Promoting the work of the CoR Irish delegation and the Irish members
• Forging and maintaining links with the secretaries of other National CoR delegations
• Establishing feedback mechanisms with the Irish CoR delegation
• Maintaining excellent working relationships with Irish CoR members, the Irish secretariat in Dublin and the administration of the CoR in Brussels

Irish Regions European Office (IREO)

• Monitoring of EU policy and legislative developments having an impact on Irish regional and local government
• Communicate and provide guidance to the three Regional Assemblies and their constituent local authorities regarding EU Policy, legislative developments and funding opportunities
• Develop EU policy position papers, reflecting the views of the three Regional Assemblies
• Act as contact point for the Regional Assemblies and their constituent local authorities
• Liaise with other EU Institutions and regional offices; maintain a positive working relationship with the Irish Members of the European Parliament and with the Irish Permanent Representation to the European Union
• Oversee the management of the Irish Regions European office website and social media accounts
• Manage staff and resources, as appropriate, in the Irish Regions European office
• Undertake any other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Head of Office

Essential Requirements

Character

Each candidate must be of good character.

Health

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

Education, Knowledge and Experience

• Honours Bachelor Degree or higher degree in relevant discipline
• Minimum 5 years’ experience working in a similar high-level role
• Excellent knowledge of EU decision-making process, policies, programmes and institutions
• Excellent knowledge of Irish National Policy and Local Government
• Have satisfactory experience of preparing, consulting and developing EU policy position papers from a range of stakeholders and subsequent liaison with EU policy makers to promote these policy positions

The ideal candidate will have:

• Political awareness and a clear understanding of the political reality and context of local, regional, national and European public institutions, including experience in Irish local government and/or in EU policymaking
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• Experience of developing EU position papers
• Experience in preparing, influencing and/or delivering EU projects and programmes
• Project management skills and experience of managing people
• Experience of managing finance and budgets and ensuring value for money
• Leading, motivating and engaging others to achieve quality results

Key Competencies

Management & Change

• Strategic ability: Incorporates opportunities into the operational planning process and identifies potential obstacles. Analyses, reviews and evaluates the IREO’s capability to meet its objectives. Effectively manages change, fosters a culture of creativity in employees and overcomes resistance to change.
• Influencing and negotiating: Establishes appropriate and productive working relationships both externally and internally. Effectively influences key stakeholders to achieve operational strategy and objectives.

Delivering Results

• Operation Planning: Translates the objectives into clear priorities and actions for their area of operation. Plan and prioritise work and resources effectively.
• Problem solving and decision making: Can pinpoint critical information and can address issues logically. Make timely, informed and effective decisions and show good judgement and balance in making decisions or recommendations.

Leading and Motivating and Managing Performance

• Leading and Motivating: Leads and influences others to assume ownership of the objectives. Motivates and engages others towards achieving quality results.
• Managing Performance: Empowers people to achieve or exceed organisational goals by delegating sufficient authority, responsibility and accountability.

Personal effectiveness

• Resilience and personal well being: Takes initiative and seeks opportunities to exceed goals. Operates effectively in an environment with significant complexity and pace. Is self-motivated and enthusiastic about the role.
• Communicating effectively: Has highly effective verbal and written communication skills. Can write high-level and complex reports. Has excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence key stakeholders.

The Competition

Terms and Conditions

• The Post: The post is whole-time and permanent and based in Brussels.
• Probation: There will be a 6-month probation period which may be extended at the discretion of the Director in agreement with the Head of the IREO.
• Superannuation: If you are pensionable under the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 and are liable to pay Class A PRSI contributions, you would be required in respect of superannuation to make contributions at the rate of 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration plus 1.5% of full pensionable remuneration. You are required in respect of spouses’ and children’s pension benefit to contribute at the rate of 1.5% of full pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of schemes made under the Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998. Maximum retirement age is 65. If the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 applies to your employment, 65 is the minimum age at which your pension may be paid. As a new entrant to the public service, under the terms of this legislation you will not be required to retire on grounds of age. Persons who become pensionable officers of a regional assembly who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. You may also be required to pay Spouses and Children/ Widows and Orphans contributions at the rate of 1.5% of gross pay. Maximum retirement age is 65. If you are pensionable under the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other provisions) Act 2012, you are required to pay contributions as follows: 3% of gross remuneration and 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration. The minimum age at which you may retire is allied with the State Contributory Pension age (currently 66, rising to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028). The maximum retirement age is 70.
• Salary: Salary shall be at Local Government Administrative Officer Grade 7 – €60,011 – €61,480 – €63,194 – €64,914 – €66,634 – €68,170 – €69,745 – €71,269 – €72,790 – €75,395 (LSI1) – €78,015 (LSI2). Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Persons who are not serving local authority employees on or after 1st January 2011 will be based on the minimum of the scale.
• Hours of work: 35 hours per week. The successful applicant may on occasion be requested to work outside of normal office hours, if necessary, without additional remuneration. Flexi Leave arrangements may apply. The Assembly reserves the right to alter your hours of work from time to time.
• Annual leave: Annual leave entitlement for the position will 30 days per year pro-rata.
• Retirement: There is no mandatory retirement age for new entrants to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. Anyone who is not a new entrant to the public service, as defined in the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, is subject to a compulsory retirement age of 65 years. The maximum retirement age for new entrants as defined by the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012 is 70 years.
• Residence: Post holders shall reside within a reasonable commutable distance of the IREO offices in Brussels, Belgium. The Director of the Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly reserves the right to assign the post holder to any premises, now or in the future subject to reasonable notice.
• Start date: The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such longer period as the Assembly in its absolute discretion may determine, the Assembly shall not appoint them.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
The above represents the principal conditions of service and is not intended to be the comprehensive list of all terms and conditions of employment which will be set out in the employment contract to be agreed with the successful candidate.

How to apply

Application forms are available for download on www.emra.ie. Only applications received by email and on the official application form will be accepted. No additional documentation such as CVs will be considered. Emails should be addressed to [email protected] only and must be received no later than 5.00pm on Friday the 24th of October 2025. Note this is Irish Standard Time. Application forms received after the closing date will not be accepted.

The Assembly reserves its right to shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate. Shortlisting will be on the basis of information supplied on the application form. The Assembly may at their discretion require candidates to attend a preliminary interview in which case admission to the competitive interview would be conditional on candidates reaching such a standard as the Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly considered appropriate in the preliminary interview.

Selection will be by means of a competition based on a competency-based interview conducted by the Assembly. The Assembly reserves its right to shortlist candidates in the manner it deems most appropriate which may include shortlisting on the basis of essential requirements and level of experience. Shortlisting will be on the basis of information supplied on the application form.

Applicants should hold themselves in readiness for interview provisionally in November 2025.

Special Needs

Candidates who indicate on their application that they have special needs will be required to submit a psychologists/medical report to the Assembly. A determination, if any, will be made by the Assembly on appropriate accommodations to be made for individual candidates, during the selection process.