Culture and Recreation, General Services, Professional and Technical, Senior Management, Administrative
The current annual pay‑scale is €59,658 minimum to max LSI2 €82,929 (as per Circular EL 07/2025).
The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Coastal Officer (analogous to the Executive Engineer grade for pay purposes). It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which vacancies both permanent and temporary will be filled during the lifetime of the panel.
Location
The Coastal Officer will be located in the Water & Environment Directorate of Donegal County Council.
Responsibilities
Strategy, Governance & Liaison
Lead operational planning for 12 Blue Flag, 4 Green Flag, and 21 Designated Bathing Areas; ensure compliance with relevant standards and Council policies.
Act as primary liaison with Water Safety Ireland and the local Water Safety Area Committee; represent the Council at meetings; implement national guidance locally.
Prepare the coastal budget; secure contributions; manage spend and financial controls.
Lifeguard Programme Management
Recruit, onboard, schedule, and supervise up to 55 seasonal Beach Lifeguards.
Deliver/coordinate training (rescue, first aid/CPR/AED, safeguarding, incident reporting, conflict management).
Maintain certification records; conduct site audits, drills, debriefs, and performance reviews with the Beach Lifeguard Supervisor.
Water Safety Education & Media
Design and deliver Water Safety workshops county‑wide, tailored for diverse groups, schools, clubs, and community partners.
Lead public information and seasonal media campaigns (advisories, closures, rip current awareness, cold‑water risks, lifejacket use).
Develop outreach programmes and measure outcomes.
Ringbuoys & Rescue Equipment
Provide and maintain ringbuoys at circa 80 coastal locations; manage inspection schedules.
Oversee remote monitoring pilots at 20 locations; triage alerts; coordinate rapid replacement and deterrence measures.
Procure, maintain, and audit lifeguard/instructor/examiner equipment and PPE.
Accessible Beach Infrastructure
In conjunction with the Access Officer, provide and maintain safe beach access/egress at 28+ beaches, including 12 boardwalks.
Plan improvements (surfaces, ramps, wayfinding, rest areas) and schedule maintenance with contractors; engage user groups for feedback.
Public Conveniences & Portable Sanitation
Directly manage 32 Public Conveniences (including 2 Eco Loos) for cleanliness, safety, accessibility, and uptime.
Plan and deploy 42 portaloos to beaches/parks; deliver year‑round service at five locations and seasonal service elsewhere.
Oversee contractor SLAs, compliance, and community collaboration; optimise servicing routes and costs.
Coastal Habitat, Dune & Erosion (Community‑Led)
Work with An Taisce and local groups to implement dune fencing, planting, and erosion controls.
Provide materials (e.g., hazel fencing) and technical guidance; monitor effectiveness (photo points/erosion pins/simple surveys).
Coordinate permits/environmental compliance; document outcomes.
Litter & Marine Carcass Management
Coordinate the removal of marine animal carcasses and litter with communities and Tidy Towns; manage contractors, safety plans, and waste handling.
Record incidents; contribute to prevention and awareness campaigns.
Incident, Risk & Emergency Management
Maintain risk assessments for beaches, equipment, access, public conveniences, and lifeguard operations.
Lead incident reporting/escalation (rescues, near‑misses, anti‑social behaviour, equipment tampering).
Coordinate protocols with Gardaí, Coast Guard, RNLI, Irish Water Safety, and Civil Defence.
Data, Reporting & Performance
Maintain accurate records (inspections, incidents, staffing, training, equipment, servicing, accessibility works).
Produce monthly/seasonal/annual reports with KPIs, insights, and improvement actions.
Technology & Innovation
Administer remote monitoring systems; refine workflows; evaluate pilots and prepare business cases for scaling sensors/digital mapping.
Ensure data protection (GDPR), H&S, for staff/volunteers.
Procurement & Contractor Oversight
Draft specifications; run compliant procurement; manage performance against SLAs.
Track lifecycle costs of equipment and assets; plan replacements and upgrades.
Requirements
• Relevant experience in coastal/rescue operations, water safety, or environmental management.
• Strong leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage budgets and procurement processes.
• Commitment to accessibility and community engagement.
• Knowledge of Irish Water Safety standards and relevant legislation.
EEO Statement
Donegal County Council is an equal opportunities employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration irrespective of gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age or any other protected characteristic.
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