Job Description

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 recruiting creative, capable, and knowledgeable people to create a panel for permanent Industrial Officer appointments.

Overview of the Role

As an Industrial Officer, you work in close collaboration with colleagues, workplace representatives, lay leaders, and members to organise, recruit, and support workers within your assigned workplaces.

You work under the guidance of the Assistant General Secretary for your assigned area, focused on a specific group of employments in that area. In some instances, you may work directly to the National Secretary.

You are a visible and recognisable presence in the workplace and at branch meetings, developing an in-depth understanding of members and the issues that matter to them.

You develop, coach, and mentor workplace reps to represent members in cases involving grievances, disciplinary action, harassment and bullying, or provide representation at the direction of the Assistant General Secretary or National Secretary for your area.

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 modelling 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 11 point grade 7 public service scale: €60,011 | €61,480  | €63,194 | €64,914 | €66,634 | €68,170 | €69,745 | €71,269 | €72,790; and two Long Service Increments:  €75,395 | €78,015. 

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 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 for your assigned area, or, depending on your assignment, to the Head of Division; all staff are accountable to the General Secretary
• Depending on your assigned area, you may work closely with other Industrial Officers, Assistant Industrial Officers, and Administrators

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Organising and Member Support

• Build and maintain strong workplace union structures by contributing to and carrying organising strategies under the direction of the Assistant General Secretary and/or National Secretary for your area
• Be a visible, recognisable presence for members in workplaces and at branch meetings and events
• Carry out mapping of workplaces
• Ensure that member data for your assigned area is complete, accurate, and up-to-date
• Engage with workers to identify organic leaders and advise the AGS on the best approaches to activating them
• Identify and develop workplace representatives
• Assist with training members both through one-to-one guidance and mentoring and contributing to Fórsa Skills Academy programming where appropriate
• Advise, inform, and support branches and other organisational groups on matters relevant to members and workers
• Participate in and contribute to engaging communications activities, such as sharing under the guidance of your divisional team and Member Communications

Industrial Relations

• Negotiate on behalf of the union under the guidance of the Assistant General Secretary for your assigned area
• Keep the Assistant General Secretary and Head of Division for your area informed of industrial relations developments affecting members in your area
• Support members and workplace representatives in cases involving grievances, disciplinary action, harassment and bullying, both where there is statutory and non-statutory redress
• Establish effective working relationships with employer representatives in your assigned workplaces
• Prepare and present submissions to third party fora (such as the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court, Adjudication Officers) in relation to industrial relations and employment law matters, under the direction of the relevant Assistant General Secretary

Management and Projects

• Provide regular formal and informal updates and recommendations to the Assistant General Secretary and National Secretary 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

Regular travel within Ireland is an expected part of the role. Most assignments require the use of a car; you will, ideally, have access to a car and a full driving license. Travel and Subsistence payments are made within the Civil Service rates and conditions.

Hours

This is a full-time, permanent position. You are expected to be available during normal office hours. Due to the nature of trade union work, work outside of normal office hours and over weekends will arise. Overtime and formal time off in lieu do not apply – you and your team leader have the discretion to manage your working hours and commitments to ensure that they remain within legal, normal, and healthy boundaries.

Location

Fórsa has offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Sligo. Most positions are based in Dublin, but openings in other areas may emerge over the duration of the panel.

About You

• You have experience organising workers, community, or civic groups
• You have experience in negotiating and in representing groups and individuals where collective and individual rights have potential conflicts
• You have a demonstrated interest and knowledge of employment law, employment relations, human resources, or related areas
• You are empathetic, establish rapport with people from a variety of backgrounds, and can work with people who are experiencing challenging situations
• You write and speak effectively and persuasively
• You are an even better listener
• You are interested in the economic and social issues affecting working people in Ireland, and most likely have demonstrated this through engaging in your community
• You demonstrate initiative and motivation and the organisational, time management, and IT skills to help you accomplish your ambitious goals
• You have a track record of progressively increasing your professional responsibility
• You have permission to live and work in Ireland

It would be nice, but not necessary, if you

• Have knowledge of the operations and structures of public sector bodies: for example, the civil service, local authorities, the health sector, state companies and/or voluntary bodies and their role in delivering services to the public
• Understand government financial and funding arrangements for the public and voluntary sectors
• Have a relevant third level qualification