Job Description
Job Title: Information and Support Administrator
Reports to: Finance and Administration Manager
Location: 12 Parliament Street, Dublin 2/hybrid option available.
Type of contract: Part-time, fixed term to 31/12/23
As the Irish Association of Development Workers and Volunteers, and a membership-based organisation, Comhlámh has over 45 years’ experience of solidarity-based engagement that addresses the most pressing issues of our time. We support people and organisations to mobilise for global justice, including through values-based volunteering, humanitarian responses, and active citizenship. All Comhlámh’s work is underpinned by a commitment to Global Citizenship Education (GCE), which deepens understanding of the structural causes of inequality, unsustainability, as well as the connections between local and global challenges. Overall, Comhlámh provides a unique and vital space to work in solidarity with others towards a shared goal of a world beyond injustice.
We are seeking to recruit an Information and Support Administrator. The ideal candidate will have a background in international or community development, excellent communication skills, and direct experience of administrative functions. The candidate will have good insights into the support needs of people before and after an overseas placement, as well as the ability to work with a range of stakeholders.
This is a 1-day a week role. It is offered on a contract basis ending 31/12/23, at the Senior Administration scale ranging from €28,000 up to €40,500
pro-rata.
Job Location:
Hybrid: Based in Comhlámh’s office at 12 Parliament Street, Dublin 2. A hybrid option is available, incorporating essential site visits at least every two weeks to process paperwork.
The induction process will also require on-site engagement to become familiar with the schemes and access the relevant archives.
Flexibility will be required around on-site work – this will be agreed in discussion with the manager and may change from time to time, depending on the volume of queries and requests received.
Application Procedure
Please apply with a cover letter (max one page) outlining how you meet the criteria and a CV to recruitment@comhlamh.org, entering Administrator – Information and Support in the subject line.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday, April 19th at 17:00 GMT. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 25th April.
Description
The Priority activity will involve the administration of the Public Service Pension Scheme (PSPS) and the Volunteer Development Worker Scheme (VDWS).
The PSPS came into effect on 01/01/1995 for public and civil servants who take an agreed career break from the public service to volunteer on an international placement. It secures their time away volunteering will count towards their occupational pension when they eventually retire. It covers a maximum of two years in their lifetime.
The criteria for the scheme are:
- The service took place on or after 01/01/1995.
- The volunteer was a public servant, on an agreed career break, agreed before the
- placement took place.
- It was agreed with Irish Aid before the service took place.
- The placement was for a minimum of 6 months.
The VDWS came into effect on 06/04/1983 and unlike the PSPS can be applied for retrospectively. The scheme allows a person’s PRSI accrued while they were a volunteer development worker on an international placement to be credited onto their file. Anyone on a recognised international placement can apply for up to 5 years’ worth of credit: the application is submitted to Comhlámh and then forwarded to the Department of Social Protection. Online volunteering does not count for the VDW scheme.
Specifically, the responsibilities will include the following:
- Preparing, administering, and filing of all documents relating to PSPS and VDWS, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding with the key donor (including confidentiality requirements).
- Supporting the programme team to provide information re the schemes and related topics to volunteers and sending agencies.
- Liaising with the Department of Social Protection and other government departments to process documentation, discuss the functioning of the schemes and keep abreast of potential legislative changes.
- Communicating on a regular basis with the key donor to inform them of relevant issues regarding the schemes.
- Liaising with the Communications Officer to promote uptake of the scheme through Comhlámh’s network of sending agencies and directly with volunteers.
- Liaising with the Communications Officer to ensure the updating the Comhlámh website with relevant information regarding the schemes.
- Maintaining records on database on a regular basis, including confidential records.
Induction
The process will involve you being supported to complete the following steps:
The candidate will familiarise themselves with the overall historic context of
Comhlámh’s work in relation to PSPS and VDWS.
- The candidate will familiarise themselves and review the current status of all active PSPS and VDWS files.
- The candidate will familiarise themselves with the PSPS application process, and the process for liaising with relevant stakeholders for closing applications.
- The candidate will familiarise themselves with all internal processes for managing financial payments.
- Comhlámh has an Equal Opportunities policy, and all employees are expected to develop an understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities.
Personal Specification
The person hired to undertake this role should possess the following:
Qualifications
- A recognised qualification in administration (or equivalent acquired learning).
Proven experience in
- An administrative function dealing with the public and processing financial and personal data and information.
Skills and competencies
- Strong writing and communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and professional skills in dealing with stakeholders.
- IT literate with understanding of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)
- The ability to respond calmly, and to make impartial and well-considered judgments in complex situations as and when required.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of pension administration or similar administration roles.
- Experience of liaising with civil servants across a range of departments.
- Experience of working in the international volunteering sectors