Assistant Industrial Officer (multiple appointments)

Fórsa is a membership led union: we empower workers to change their lives at work. We build worker power by engaging every worker in the jobs and workplaces that we organise.

We are currently looking for energetic, motivated, and empathetic people with organising and campaigning skills to join our team as Assistant Industrial Officers.

Overview of the Role

As an Assistant Industrial Officer, you build Fórsa’s power and membership density by working with workplace representatives, lay leaders, and members to identify the issues that matter to workers in your assigned area.

You will work under the guidance of the Assistant General Secretary or Industrial Officer for your assigned area. You will also be part of a broader Divisional team comprising other Assistant Industrial Officers, Industrial Officers, Assistant General Secretaries, and Administrators, all led by the National Secretary/Head of Division.

You actively contribute to Fórsa’s positive and healthy workplace culture through supportive collaborative teamworking.

Working for Fórsa

As an employer, Fórsa is committed to modeling the values of our union: we provide excellent benefits including a career average pension scheme, competitive annual leave, hybrid work and other flexible work arrangements, and a range of financial and practical supports for professional development. 

The initial salary for this position will be on the first point of the grade 5 public service scale:

€52,761 | €54,337 | €55,946 | €57,589 | €59,244; and two Long Service Increments €61,173 LSI1 | €63,109 LSI2. Entry above the first point is possible in certain circumstances.

Fórsa welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds, including diverse professional experience. You may have developed skills in the trade union, public, private, or non-profit sectors. A demonstrated commitment to the values of trade unionism, social justice, a strong public service, and workers’ empowerment is essential.

Fórsa does not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital or family status, age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or membership in the Traveller community.

About Your Team

• You report to the Assistant General Secretary or Industrial Officer for your assigned area. All employees within a division are accountable to their Head of Division as well as the General Secretary of the union


• You will work closely with other Assistant Industrial Officers, administrative staff, as well as colleagues from other teams such as Membership and Communications

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Recruitment & Organising

• Strengthen membership density and contribute to the union’s growth strategy by recruiting new members


•  Assist branch leadership with developing, implementing, and evaluating the outcomes of organising strategies and recruitment campaigns


• Identify leaders and support them with organising activities such as issue-based organising


• Support branch activists and workplace leaders and representatives with workplace mapping and mapping exercises of the relevant employment(s)/sector(s)


• Promote greater membership participation in the affairs of the union


• Assist in the coordination of member engagement activities, such as member meetings, activist training, surveys, events, workplace inductions (to name just a few)


• Assist branch activists and workplace leaders/representatives to ensure members’ data is up-to-date, and members receive regular communication


• Use the membership database system (Solas) for organising and communication, and assist with updating records


• Assist with preparing reports, submissions, and other relevant documentation as required

Negotiation, Representation, & Advocacy

• Provide advice to members (under the guidance or direction of the Industrial Officer or Assistant General Secretary and in liaison with the relevant branch as necessary)


• Conduct straightforward IR meetings, representing members with management through workplace negotiations and advocacy (under the guidance or direction of the IO/AGS and in liaison with the relevant branch as necessary)


• Develop your understanding of collective agreements, legislation, and other rights and conditions relevant to the assignment

Management and Projects

• Provide regular formal and informal updates and recommendations for your assigned area


• Contribute to union projects, campaigns, and initiatives, including Fórsa's five-year strategic plan

Any other reasonable tasks and duties relevant to the role.

Travel

Frequent travel to work locations and Fórsa offices throughout Ireland is an essential part of the role (anticipate 10-20 overnights per year). The majority of assignments require the use of a car. You will need to hold a valid, full driving license and have access to a car while working as an Assistant Industrial Organiser. Travel and Subsistence payments are made within the Civil Service rates and conditions. 

Location

Fórsa has offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo. While most of the Assistant Industrial Officer positions are based in Dublin, there will be a number of appointments arising from this competition, some of which may be based in regional offices.

Assistant Industrial Officers should expect to spend 4-5 days per week meeting with our members at their employments or other locations.

About You

Essential Skills

Communication

• You have well-developed active listening skills


• You write and speak effectively and persuasively


• You are empathetic and can work with and support people experiencing challenging situations


• You are able to establish rapport with people from a variety of backgrounds

Organising

• You have experience organising workers, community, or civic group and working on campaigns


• You are good at identifying, developing, and empowering leaders

Leadership and Team Working

• You have demonstrated initiative and motivation


• You are a teamworker whose flexibility, creativity, and support can be relied on by colleagues

Negotiation and Advocacy

• You have well-developed negotiation and advocacy skills


• You are interested in economic and social issues affecting working people in Ireland, and have demonstrated commitment to trade unionism or social justice through past work or community engagement

Planning and Administration

• You have developed and demonstrated organisational, time management, and IT skills to help you accomplish your ambitious goals

It would be nice, but not necessary, if you

• Have held an official leadership role (either paid or voluntary) in an organising and campaigning organisation


• Have experience and understanding of trade unions or other relevant membership based organisations


• Have an understanding of industrial relations and representation


• Have a relevant third level qualification

To Apply

Submit your cv and a brief cover letter addressed to Kevin Callinan, General Secretary via this form by 12 noon on 28 August.

Applicants who progress to the next stage of the selection process will be invited to a half-day assessment exercise (consisting of both written and group activities) held the week commencing 7 September.

Individual interviews for candidates who progress from the assessment exercise will be held the weeks commencing 14 and 21 September.

Questions?

Email [email protected].

Please note that applications cannot be accepted via email; any cv's or other documents submitted by email will be deleted.

Fórsa offers detailed feedback to candidates who attend assessment centres or interviews. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide feedback to all applicants.