Assistant Principal In Community Engagement

AP - Community Engagement

Civil Service Organisation	Policing Authority
Office Address	Policing Authority HQ
Division/Unit	Communications & Press Office
Position Title	Assistant Principal
Job Category	Assistant Principal Positions
Zone	Zone 46

 

Division/Unit Description:

The Policing Authority is an independent statutory body, established on the 1st January 2016, whose role is to oversee the performance of the Garda Síochána in relation to policing services. We also promote public awareness of policing matters and to promote and support continuous improvements in policing in Ireland. 

The Policing Authority is currently making arrangements and preparations to transition, along with the Garda Inspectorate, to a new agency, the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA). The new Authority will retain many of the functions of the Policing Authority, in addition to the incorporation of the inspection functions currently held by the Garda Inspectorate, the expansion of the Authority’s existing research functions and the creation of new functions in the area of community safety. 

In order to deliver on the ambitious agenda for policing oversight and community safety, as set out in the PSCS Act, a new organisational design has been developed. The Policing and Community Safety Authority will have four high-level organisational functions: Strategy, Research & Insights, Oversight Delivery, Outreach and Engagement, and Business Services. Over a period of three years, the ambition is to invest in the organisation, grow the number of staff that we have and increase our capability across the organisation.

We are looking for people with ambitions to develop themselves both personally and professionally, who want to play an active role in helping to shape this new organisation.

We are seeking an Assistant Principal to work within the area of Community Engagement within the Outreach and Engagement directorate of the new PCSA organisation. 

This senior-management position is an exciting and challenging role for an experienced person who can demonstrate an excellent working knowledge of relevant areas, such as community engagement and relationship and stakeholder management. The candidate has the opportunity to work with a wide range of other agencies and stakeholders in order to inform the oversight work of the Authority. 

As a member of the community engagement team, the successful candidate will play a key role in the Authority by influencing its capacity to perform its functions effectively in a complex environment. This is a growing function and while the AP would initially have three staff reporting to them this is expected to increase. 

Key Role Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Principal Officer, Outreach and Engagement, the Assistant Principal, Community Engagement will have the responsibility for the following:

• Delivering a programme of strategic engagement and outreach that supports oversight delivery and that ensures that those that experience policing and deliver policing within communities are heard through direct engagement, surveys or consultation;
• Developing and managing on going relationships with external voluntary organisations, representative bodies and community groups across Ireland;
• Designing and delivering a programme of actions designed to increase awareness of policing matters and the work of the PCSA across a broad range of demographics and platforms;
• Supporting the PCSA by representing the organisations at Local Community Safety Partnership meetings as well as representing the PCSA's views at these meetings; 
• Undertaking ongoing scanning of the policing environment and of key public concerns relating to policing and, delivering insights that inform the work of the Authority and ensure that oversight is current and responsive to issues of public confidence; 
• Collaborating with senior managers and functions within the Authority to assist with any stakeholder engagement elements of projects and to ensure the wider objectives of the organisation are met; 
• Managing multiple workload demands and working to tight deadlines; 
• Assisting with such other duties and responsibilities as are assigned from time to time by the Head of Outreach and Engagement; 
• Leading, guiding and developing staff within the Community Engagement element of the Outreach and Engagement function.

The successful candidate will have 3 staff reporting to them.

Essential Role Requirements:

• At least three years’ experience in a relevant role and a track record in multiple managing projects and delivering results in a cross functional environment; 
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to write reports, project plans and policies; 
• Excellent oral communications skills combined with the confidence to deal with, present to and influence people at all levels in a clear, concise and effective manner;
• Curious, confident and inquisitive with excellent skills in critical analysis and decision making and has the ability to see strategic linkages within the work; 
• A proven ability to establish, develop and maintain effective relationships with stakeholder groups at statutory, non-statutory and community level; 
• A willingness and capacity to assume the levels of responsibility and accountability required to carry out a range of professional and operational functions;
• Proven managerial and leadership experience and the ability to motivate, lead and develop staff; 
• Ambition to assist in delivering on demanding strategic development targets with strong personal and professional credibility. 
   

Desirable Role Requirements:

• Previous experience in a similar role in a Government Department or similar role is also desirable.
   

 

A completed application form should be forwarded to: recruitment@policingauthority.ie by 5.00pm on the 17th March 2025.
 

The application form can be found in the appendix of the AP mobility terms and conditions at the following link: 
 

AP Application Form
 

Application e-mail contact

RECRUITMENT@POLICINGAUTHORITY.IE

Closing Date - COB

17/03/2025

Eligibility and Application Process

As per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, a staff member should only apply for a Mobility position if they have:

(a)    2 years' service, or more, in their current grade;

(b)    2 years' service, or more, in their current organisation;

(c)    2 years' service, or more, in the current geographical location;

(d)    a PMDS/performance rating of 'Satisfactory' for the previous working year; and

(e)    successfully completed their probation period in a permanent capacity.

 

If eligible, please complete Appendix 2 (unless otherwise stated in the Advertisement) of the Terms and Conditions and submit it to the email contact listed.

 

Please view the Terms and Conditions, which can be found on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website.