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NFGWS roles

Graduate Development Officer Positions

Closing date Thursday, 20th March 2025.

The National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) is recruiting for two graduate Development Officer positions in its Tullamore office, Co. Offaly. These roles will be of particular interest to those with a passion for areas such as rural development, engineering, environmental science, food science, social science, and/or community activism.

Our development officer position focuses on supporting and mentoring group water schemes across a number of counties in an assigned region. It is a fulfilling and varied role, in what is a thriving community-owned and community-operated drinking water sector. Group water schemes form an integral part of rural Ireland and, as the sector’s representative body, the NFGWS provides essential assistance in ensuring their continued success. The work of a development officer touches on a wide range of areas, from drinking water source protection right through to GWS member communication.

Development Officer Role

• NFGWS Development Officers provide the vital link between the organisation and its membership. Each Development Officer provides group water schemes within their functional area with vital support and mentoring services in the following areas:
  • The provision of a quality drinking water services in compliance with the Drinking Water Regulations through appropriate:
    • Drinking water source protection
    • Water treatment, storage and distribution
    • Implementation of the NFGWS Water Safety Planning/Quality Assurance system
  • Promotion of effective and ongoing water demand management
  • Promotion of good governance, management and administration practices through training, co-operation and rationalisation/amalgamation, where feasible
  • Support GWSs to develop and modernise their management and operation systems
  • Assisting GWSs to ensure that they meet their obligations under Design Build and Operate (DBO) contracts
  • Assisting the NFGWS to achieve its objectives in relation to climate action and biodiversity enhancement

Summary of Primary Duties

• Providing practical help and support services to group water schemes, encouraging schemes to develop and modernise the operation of their scheme to its full potential
• Where necessary, attending and presenting at group water scheme Annual General Meetings, committee meetings, county federation meetings, rural water monitoring committee meetings, etc., promoting best practice across the sector.
• Providing assistance to group water schemes in their dealings with local authorities or other agencies
• Co-ordination and delivery of appropriate training course(s) in the day-to-day management of a Group Water Scheme such as:
  • NFGWS Management Training Programme
  • NFGWS Quality Assurance System
  • NFGWS Reducing Daily Water Demand
  • Other training courses as required
• Assisting GWSs in areas such as:
  • Developing a more “business-like” approach to group water scheme management, administration and operations, driving greater professionalism and improving efficiencies across the sector
  • Recruitment and appointment of staff
  • Supporting county federation networks, including co-ordinating and organising meetings, workshops, training events, etc.
• Assisting schemes in DBO contracts by:
  • Ensuring adherence to contract performance management systems
  • Liaising and assisting appointed employer’s representatives
  • Assisting NFGWS DBO Validation Officers for assigned DBO Bundles
  • Assisting with the co-ordination and implementation of capital replacement schedules and associated funding applications
• Liaising with Local Authorities, Health Services Executive, Environment Protection Agency, Uisce Éireann, Geological Survey Ireland, An Fóram Uisce, other NGOs etc.
• Encouraging group water schemes to affiliate and support the National Federation of Group Water Schemes
• Preparing and presenting reports on all aspects of work, as required from time to time.
• Providing general support to the senior management team and assisting other members of NFGWS staff as required.
• Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time by the Senior Management Team.

Minimum requirements

• Level 7 degree qualification, preferably in one of the following disciplines:
  • Rural Development
  • Science (Environmental, Agricultural, or another relevant field)
  • Engineering

• Full, clean EU driving licence
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills – confident public speaker with an ability to collate and distil information for presentation, along with competent report writing skills
• Good organisational skills – ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
• High level of competency in office administration and IT
• A willingness to learn and an inquisitive mindset

Desirable attributes

• Knowledge and understanding of group water schemes and the GWS sector
• Knowledge and understanding of environmental engineering

Base

• The positions will be based in our regional office in Tullamore, and the development officers will support group water schemes in a number of surrounding counties (split between the two roles, these are Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford; and Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Meath, Offaly, Wexford & Wicklow)
• Blended home/office working arrangements are available in accordance with NFGWS policies, following successful completion of probationary period.
• This position does require flexibility including working out of hours on occasion.

Benefits

• Competitive graduate salary, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Potential for promotion onto NFGWS Development Officer Salary Scale (higher scale), based on performance.
• PRSA facilitation with 6% Employer’s Contribution.

Applications

• Interested candidates can apply for the position by submitting their CV and cover letter to martha@nfgws.ie on or before 5pm Thursday, 20th March 2025.
• Cover letter must clearly indicate the position the applicant is applying for:
  • Re: Application for the position of NFGWS Graduate Development Officer
• Further information on the work of the NFGWS is available by emailing martha@nfgws.ie

Citizenship requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

• A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or
• A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or
• A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or
• A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or
• A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or
• A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

To qualify, candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer.

 About the National Federation of Group Water Schemes

Group water schemes are community-owned and community-operated drinking water supplies, which provide drinking water to approximately 200,000 people across rural Ireland. The National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) is the representative organisation for the group water scheme sector. While representing the sector at national, regional & local level, the Federation also provides an essential advisory and mentoring service for approximately 380 group water scheme members through its regional offices located in Monaghan, Tuam & Tullamore.

Established in 1998, the NFGWS continues to represent and provide support to the community- owned group water scheme sector today in its delivery of essential drinking water services across rural Ireland. The organisation also works in partnership with the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government and Local Authorities in the delivery of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme.

Group water schemes are independently owned, with high levels of volunteer involvement at board level and an increasingly professional approach to daily operations. GWSs that are affiliated to the NFGWS liaise closely with Federation staff on all aspects of GWS management.