Job Title:
Flood and Coastal Risk Officer Grade III
Employer:
Office of Public Works
County:
Donegal
Closing Date:
3pm, Thursday, 2nd October 2025
Starting Salary:
€39,474
Background:
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the lead agency in co-ordinating flood risk management policy, the flood relief capital programme and the technical assessment of coastal change risks in Ireland. Flood Risk Management Services and Planning and Climate Adaptation Services are the Business Units in the OPW tasked with discharging this responsibility.
The OPW has recently been designated as the national lead co-ordinating body for the assessment of coastal change hazards and risks and the assessment of technical options and constraints for managing these risks. This requires the OPW to collect and analyse relevant data, monitor the coast, assess and map coastal change hazards, identify areas of risk, and identify and appraise appropriate management measures or protection works to address these risks.
The primary functions of the flood risk management programme are to minimise the extent of coastal and river flooding and its social, economic and environmental impacts through the implementation of effective protection and mitigation measures for at-risk areas, the provision of flood risk guidance and advice in the area of sustainable planning and assisting the development of resilient communities. This requires the OPW to develop and deliver appropriate work programmes and measures; to maintain an effective programme of maintenance of river courses drained and flood defence schemes constructed under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995; and to advise the Government on flood risk management and flood risk management policy.
About the Role:
The OPW now requires the assistance of Flood and Coastal Risk Officers at Grade III level to support the flood and coastal change risk management programme. This is a new role in the OPW, and successful candidates will be assigned to a section of OPW's Flood Risk Management or Planning and Climate Adaptation Services Business Units.
The Flood Risk Management Services and Planning and Climate Adaptation Services business units are divided into several sections, and they provide technical analysis, project management and advisory services for the implementation of the national flood and coastal change management policy, and the collection and processing of relevant data.
Flood and Coastal Risk Officers Grade III will typically report to an Engineer Grade II (or other delegated officer at Grade II level) and may work with support staff such as Engineering or GIS Technicians. They may also be required to supervise operational staff in their assigned section.
About You:
1. A qualification at minimum Level 8 (honours bachelor's degree) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications equivalent in Civil Engineering, Geography or Geoscience, or in a similar discipline such as Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Environmental Engineering, Earth and Ocean Science, or Climate Change.
2. Some experience (which may be obtained during and/or as part of your academic qualification i.e. coursework, study, assignments, projects etc.) in one or more of the following areas:
a) Hydrology
b) Hydrometrics
c) Hydraulics/Fluid Dynamics
d) Coastal Processes
e) Flood Risk Assessment and Management
f) Coastal Erosion Assessment and Management
g) Nature-based Measures for Achieving Water-related objectives
h) Computer Science Applications for Water-related Assessment and Management.
Candidates must also be able to demonstrate:
1. The ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
2. The ability to tackle problems of a technical nature with a practical approach.
3. The ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
4. Strong attention to detail with a structured and organised approach to task planning, execution and completion.
5. Good analytical ability and sound judgement.
6. Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to write technical reports.
7. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships both internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
8. The ability to supervise staff.
9. Good Information Technology (IT) skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word and Excel.
10. A commitment to Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
The Closing Date for this competition is Thursday, 2nd of October at 3pm.
We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.