Executive Officer

Education Authority (Northern Ireland); Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Education Authority (Northern Ireland) invites applications for an Executive Officer to support the School Principal and manage the school office. You will oversee up to five staff and coordinate administrative, clerical and secretarial tasks.

The role requires robust planning, organisational skills, and a customer‑focused approach, with emphasis on financial administration, purchasing, and records management within school operations.

Qualifications

• NVQ 3 or BTEC National in Business/ Administration or Finance with minimum two years’ admin experience.
• Or a minimum of five years’ experience in an administrative role.
• One year’s demonstrable experience in management and supervision of staff.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Supervise appropriate staff including the management and allocation of duties and provide on‑the‑job training.
• Provide administrative, clerical and secretarial support for school staff and Board of Governors.
• Develop, maintain and operate manual and computerised information systems related to pupils, staff, budgets, meals, maintenance, examinations, care and transport.
• Oversee purchasing and supplies administration, including requisitioning and stock control.
• Receive, receipt and account for cash, bank monies and assist with financial procedures.
• Provide reception/secretarial support and maintain diaries/minutes for staff and school functions.
• Perform other duties as required and support school activities.

Skills

Computer literacy

Planning skills

Organisational skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

NVQ 3 or BTEC National in Business/Administration or Finance

Five years’ admin experience

One year staff supervision experience

Tools

C2K SIMS

Job description

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS

• You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
• You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise.
• The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below.
• Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.
• Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role.
• In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet any desirable criteria.

SECTION 1 - ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

FactorEssential CriteriaMethod Of AssessmentQualifications/ Experience

• NVQ 3 or BTEC National (or an equivalent or higher level qualification) in Business/ Administration or Finance PLUS a minimum of two years’ demonstrable experience of working in an administrative role in an office environment.

OR

• Have a minimum of five years’ experience of working in an administrative role in an office environment.

Have a minimum of one year’s demonstrable experience in the management and supervision of staff.

Demonstrable experience of purchasing and supplies administration.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Skills / Abilities

Evidence of proficiency in the use of computer packages, to include use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Shortlisting by Application Form

Section 2 - Essential Criteria

The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage.

FactorEssential CriteriaMethod Of AssessmentKnowledgeEvidence Of Knowledge Of

• The requirements of an Executive Officer.
• General office administrative processes and records.

Interview Skills / Abilities

Proven effective planning and organisational skills and an ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines

Evidence of a customer focused approach to work

Demonstrable people management and team skills to successfully motivate and manage others

Evidence of sound interpersonal and communication skills

Interview Values Orientation

Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect the school’s values/ethos. You will find information about the school’s values/ethos on our school website

Section 3 - DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

FactorDesirable CriteriaMethod Of AssessmentQualifications / Experience

• Have a minimum of one year’s experience of working in an administrative role within a school environment
• Demonstrable experience of operating schools-based computer applications/systems within a school setting (eg C2K SIMS)
• Demonstrable experience of the administration of finances within a school office environment

Shortlisting by Application Form

DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.

APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES

The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Executive Officer REPORTS TO: School Principal RESPONSIBLE FOR: Up to a maximum of 5 staff JOB PURPOSE

• To be responsible for the organisation and management of the school office and staff and
• provide administrative, clerical and secretarial support to the Principal, school staff and
• Board of Governors.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervision

• Supervise appropriate staff including the management and allocation of duties. (Supervision is defined as having full permanent accountability for planning and co-ordinating the quantity and quality of work as well as managing issues relating to discipline and welfare.)
• Identify and provide on the job training to appropriate staff.

General Administrative Processes and Records

• Provide administrative, clerical and secretarial support for school staff and Board of Governors.
• Develop, maintain and operate manual and/or computerised information systems in connection with pupils, staff, budgets, meals, maintenance, examinations, care, medical services, recruitment, transport, etc.
• Complete and submit all returns/records as required.
• Contact with relevant personnel to receive and provide information.

Purchasing and Supplies Administration

Operate/oversee requisitioning procedures, including the ordering, purchasing, receiving, checking, storage and distribution of resources. Stock control of resources. Arrange for the maintenance of equipment in association with other school and Board staff.

Finance

Receive, receipt and account for all cash. Bank monies and maintain banking records. Communicate with relevant personnel and provide assistance in relation to financial procedures.

Reception, Secretarial and Secretariat

Operate the telephone/switchboard, receive visitors and provide hospitality as required. Provide word processing/typing, filing, duplication and photocopying word processing in support of administrative processes, including the use of E-mail, intranet and internet facilities, where appropriate. Sort, screen and distribute all mail. Ensure the secure storage of valuable items and confidential documentation. Draft correspondence, obtain and update lists of guests, issue invitations, prepare tickets and programmes as required for school functions. Maintain diaries, arrange appointments, meetings and provide a secretarial service for all staff within the school. Communicate on a regular basis with professional staff from outside agencies in order to receive/provide information e.g. medical personnel, social services agency personnel etc. Keep staff, pupils and parents informed of matters relating to school activities. Service meetings and draft minutes as required.

Other Duties

Assist work placement students with practical tasks and assignments within the school office (where appropriate). Such other duties as may be assigned within the level of the job. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.