The Child and Family Agency was established on 1st January 2014 and is responsible for a range of statutory functions including provision of child protection, alternative care, specified regulatory services and a range of family support services.  The Agency has commenced a major improvement programme with significant focus on Practice, Culture and Structure.

 

The Agency currently has responsibility for a budget of circa €1.2billion and delivers its services through over 5,500 people in 259 locations across the Country.

 

The Child and Family Agency has responsibility for the following range of services:

• Child Protection and Welfare
• Parenting, Family Support and Early Help Services
• Alternative Care
• Birth Information & Tracing and Adoption
• Tusla Education Support Services (TESS)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

 

Further information is available on www.tusla.ie

 

Tusla Estates develops and manages Tusla’s national building stock (currently approximately 350  buildings) in order to create and sustain a physical environment that enhances wellbeing in  clients and which enables and empowers staff.

 

The Estates function provides a range of professional, technical, project management, property and related services in respect of the procurement, development and operation of Tusla’s physical infrastructure – including buildings, plant and equipment.

 

These services include design, specification, project management, supervision and procurement associated with major and minor capital building and refurbishment works, risk and asset management, property services, fire, health and safety etc.  

 

The post will provide a range of estates management services in line with national policies and will play a key role for advancing Estates policies and strategies.

 

The following strategic objectives outline the key areas of focus for the delivery of the Tusla Estates Strategy 2026–2030:

 

1. Provide Residential Capacity for Alternative Care – expand and enhance Tusla’s statutory and step-down residential provision to meet national and regional demand, reduce reliance on private placements, and deliver high-quality, trauma-informed care.
2. Provide Appropriate Accommodation for All Service Users and Staff – modernise and consolidate Tusla’s offices, centres, and service locations to create safe, inclusive, and fit-for-purpose environments for both service users and staff.
3. Develop a Sustainable, Low Carbon Estate – implement energy-efficiency measures, sustainable design standards, and green technologies to reduce the Agency’s environmental impact and achieve national decarbonisation targets.
4. Strengthen Tusla’s Estates Function and Governance – build the systems, capacity, and governance structures required to manage Tusla’s estate strategically, ensuring transparency, accountability, and long-term value for money.

 

Together, these objectives define the structure of Tusla’s Capital Plan 2026–2030 and provide the framework for how the Strategy will be implemented.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Under the general direction and control of the Estates Manager, the Technical Services Officer, Senior Asst. will be responsible for such premises and locations as may be assigned to him/her.

 

The Technical Services Officer, Senior Asst. will:

Plan and supervise the execution of major & minor capital works throughout the area of responsibility this is in addition to managing specific Minor & Major projects within the program:

• Assist in the preparation of comprehensive brief for the proposed major and minor capital projects in consultation with services and estates personnel and advisor
• Prepare budgets for the carrying out of the proposed Minor & Major Capital work programmes and ensuring that projects are within agreed budgets.
• Be responsible for Minor Works lists, selection of contractors for bid purposes and recommendation of tenders for acceptance for all projects.
• Be responsible for the entire procurement process of multi disciplined works, including compilation of tender documentation (specification, scope of works..etc), tendering to market, tender review and tender reporting.
• Ensure compliance with EU Public procurement and Tusla financial regulations.
• Supervise staff and contractors regarding implementation of the agreed works programme.
• Create and maintain a project tracker for all minor & major capital works, service projects and maintenance works programmes for the department.
• Provide a technical support role to service personnel and other estates personnel as required.
• Assist in the preparation of budgetary requirements and tender documents for any proposed major and minor capital projects in consultation with service and estates personnel.

The Technical Services Officer, Senior Asst. will:

Prepare in consultation with appropriate officers and advisers, programmes for the maintenance of buildings, services, and equipment (under their control):

• Defining in accordance with overall guidelines, maintenance requirements of all buildings, services, equipment, major & minor capital works, fire precautions and risk management schemes and proposing priorities in the allocation of resources.
• Preparing budgets for the carrying out of the proposed programmes
• Defining the staff or contract resources necessary to discharge agreed programmes and preparing action plans for carrying out same.

 

The Technical Services Officer, Senior Asst. will:

Draw up, or in appropriate circumstances, to arrange for the development of plans and contract arrangements for the implementation of approved maintenance programmes:

• Assisting in defining requirements for all equipment and building, especially in seeking ease of maintenance and operation
• Recommending awards of maintenance contracts to outside contractors where for economical or practical considerations such is considered desirable

 

The Technical Services Officer, Senior Asst. will:

Work with and support the activities of the Tusla Property Manager to ensure compliance with Tusla Property Transaction Protocols and other relevant property related task when assigned such as:

• Work with the Property Manager to develop and implement a property management strategy and local property plans in collaboration with other key personnel and advisors
• Work with the property manager to ensure that all property transactions conform to statutory requirements
• Assess the physical infrastructure of the Tusla property portfolio including purpose, state of upkeep, capacity, suitability, space utilization and security

 

The Technical Services Officer, Senior Asst. will:

Ensure that adequate fire prevention and safety measures and standards are devised and applied in association with Tusla Fire & Safety Officer:

• Evaluate environmental infrastructural risk issues & develop procedures to manage risks.

 

The Technical Services Officer, Senior Asst. will:

Provide advice on the efficient use of energy and work with service personnel and other estates personnel and advisors on the efficient use of energy in Tusla premises by:

• Monitoring and reporting on the energy consumption in healthcare premises.
• Assessing the energy efficiency standards in premises in accordance with current standards and regulations.
• Assisting in the preparation and implementation of agreed investment proposals on energy saving projects.
• Assist on energy efficient /low carbon alternative solutions where maintenance upgrades/works are taking place.

 

Health & Safety

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the service for example National Standards for Child Protection and Care and comply with associated Tusla – Child and Family Agency protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

 

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. 

 

 

Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:

 

Hold a Level 8 (or higher) Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI) major academic award in Architecture, Engineering or Surveying accredited by the relevant Professional Institute (Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Engineers Ireland, Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland)

 

OR

 

Have Membership of the relevant professional association:

• Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Engineers Ireland
• Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland

 

OR

 

Be eligible for registration under the Building Control Act 2007, without requiring further assessment as it applies to your qualified discipline.

 

OR

 

Hold a qualification at least equivalent to i), ii) or iii)

 

AND

 

Have had at least five years’ satisfactory experience in architecture, engineering or surveying work, including adequate experience in the construction or maintenance of buildings or in the installation or maintenance of the mechanical, electrical and heating services of such buildings

 

AND

 

Possess a high standard of technical training and experience

 

AND

 

Possess the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and of administrative capacity) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

 

Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

 

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.