COLÁISTE NA hOLLSCOILE CORCAIGH
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK
Head of Visitors’ Centre
Office of Marketing & Communications
Summary of Post:
The Visitors’ Centre was established in 2005 to act as a focal point for visitors to University and to promote
market and deliver information about the University to the wider community. Its essential function is as a
visitor centre to promote and market the University to members of the public. The Centre manages the
visitor tour program, sells UCC merchandise and provides & develops audience specific information about
the University etc. The Centre has developed an e-commerce merchandising web site.
The post carries responsibility and accountability for leading, managing and developing all systems,
procedures and actions to ensure excellence in UCC visitor experiences and servicing of the newly
developed Visitor Centre. The post-holder has a core management function involving responsibility for a
wide range of key duties for achieving short-term and long-term goals, overall control of all financial and
other resources and extensive contact with Senior UCC Management, academic staff, students, other
University Offices/Units/Departments
Key Responsibilities:
Management:
 To autonomously manage the operation, activities, income and resources of UCC’s new Visitor Centre.
 To manage the staff in the Centre. To schedule and supervise the work of the Centre and support staff.
 To ensure that staff are continuously re-trained so as to optimise the UCC visitor experience.
 To provide an effective management framework to support the ongoing development of the Visitor
Centre functions. To have overall responsibility for leading, managing and developing all systems.
 To liaise with the Director of Office of Marketing & Communications to derive maximum benefit for the
university from the UCC Visitor Centre initiative. To participate in college committees with regard to the
development of services and marketing of the Visitor Centre.
 To be the customer interface for all visitors to UCC Visitor Centre e.g. school tours
 To develop manage and implement short and medium term operational strategies for the efficient
development of the Visitor Centre. To actively generate incomes and to seek/secure funding sources for
new services and activities.
 To manage the UCC visitor tour program. To source, train and manage tour guides (c. 6) for the
provision of University tours. To provide special tours as required to visiting dignitaries, politicians and
other visitors to UCC.
 To be responsible for the development and planning of the Visitor Centre Budget and Income (c. 40K) &
Expenditure and to manage the allocated budget for the Visitor Centre yearly.
 To identify cost saving, income generating and fundraising opportunities for the Visitor Centre. To
identify strategic and operational priorities and to exercise full discretion for achieving the effective
and value-for-money allocation of Visitor Centre budgets and other resources.
 To research, identify and actively pursue potential sources of funding / income generating
opportunities for the Visitor Centre. To prepare and submit proposals as required.
 To assess and prioritise the expenditure based on objective assessment of the ongoing needs of
the Visitor Centre.
 To administer the financial, budgetary and purchasing functions of the Centre. To be responsible for
the management of Centre accounts. To include ordering, purchasing of equipment/consumables,
authorisation & payment of invoices etc.
 To process payment of Part Time staff
 To establish a system, in conjunction with the Finance Office, for dealing with cash and fees.
 To continually develop Visitor Centre services to the point of self funding.
 To establish and maintain an accurate inventory of all the Centre assets and put in place control systems
to protect the assets for the future.
 To advise Senior Management on future policies and procedures and to advise on the feasibility,
practicality and consequence of their deliberations and decision making.
Promotion / Marketing / Merchandising
 To provide the “public face” of the university in the Visitor Centre. To deal with visitors to the University
by providing on campus tours, merchandise and information on UCC and its activities. To act as the first
point of contact for all visitors to UCC.
 To promote and develop the services and activities of the Visitor Centre both internally and externally
e.g. provision of conference packs.
 To source, promote and sell merchandise that reflects well on the University. To liaise with suppliers
from original product design, through selection and to final production.
 To make the merchandise available to visitors, staff, graduates and the public through the Visitor Centre
store and on line via the internet. To promote UCC merchandise campus wide, in a structured format.
 To manage the merchandising e-commerce web-site, making decisions on design, content, and text as
appropriate. To liaise with technical staff, designers and the Computer Centre as required. To ensure
that the e-commerce facilities are constantly updated to reflect the service level of the Visitor Centre. To
research new e-commerce applications for the benefit of UCC.
 To initiate and maintain many contacts with suppliers of information, other academic and higher
education institutions, professional bodies, academic and administrative departments within the
University, employers, students etc.
 To organise exhibitions/displays in conjunction with college offices and departments.
Administration
 To have responsibility for the operation of security arrangements and safety procedures.
 To be involved in the installation and maintaining of the Centre’s computer systems, in conjunction with
the Computer Centre. To ensure the daily back-up of the computers in the Centre is carried out.
 To project manage the introduction of larger projects e.g. the web-site with e-commerce merchandising
facilities.
 To create and maintain a record system of Centre activity. To implement a tracking mechanism to
ensure that all queries and issues are addressed with appropriate speed.
 To represent UCC as appropriate in conducting the business of the Centre with the general public. To
represent the Centre on appropriate fora within and outside college.
Note: As the university continues to expand and evolve, and in the light of the new university legislation, it
is likely that flexibility in regard to the allocation of specific duties will be necessary. Accordingly, the list of
duties specified above is not intended to be exclusive or restrictive; duties may be added or withdrawn but
any such alteration will take place only within the remit of the Head of Department, as outlined, and after
consultation with the appointee.
Person Specification/Selection Criteria
Decisions at shortlisting and interview will be made based on the following criteria-:
The ideal candidate will: be a degree holder with management experience in a similar service/area. S/he
shall demonstrate strong Customer Service, Interpersonal and Communication skills. A high level of selfmotivation together with a proven track record in team leadership and in dealing with end users at all levels
is essential. Strong IT, promotion, marketing and merchandising skills are also requirements of the post.
Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment of these criteria against their own qualifications,
skills and abilities to assess whether they should apply for the post
CONDITIONS OF THE POST
Salary within the scale: €38,299 - €47,596 (new entrants), depending on qualifications and experience
Annual leave is 26 working days per annum, with additional leave at prescribed times, total 34 days per
annum
Normal hours of duty are Monday to Friday, 9.15 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with 70 minutes for lunch. Due to the
nature and seniority of the post, however, it may be necessary to extend and vary these hours from time to
time in order to meet the exigencies of the post.
Sick Leave: Subject to certain conditions staff may be allowed up to 130 working days, (6 months) sick
leave at full pay and a further 130 working days at half pay in any 12-month period. This is subject to the
staff member not exceeding 260 working days, (1 year) sick leave, at either full or half pay, in any period of
4 years.
The tenure of the post is based on the following provisions:
(a) A probationary period of one year shall apply from commencement of employment in the post during
which the contract of employment may be terminated by either party in accordance with the Minimum Notice
and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2001. The probationary period may be extended at the discretion of
the University.
(b) Except in circumstances of gross misconduct justifying immediate dismissal, the appointee will receive
one month's notice of termination of employment, or, if greater, such notice as is provided for in a minimum
notice in terms of Employment Act, 1973.
(c) The appointee is required to give one month's notice of termination of employment.
(d) Under the Public Service Superannuation Act 2004, for all new entrants to the Public Sector on or after
April 2004, the normal retirement age is 65. It is no longer possible therefore to retire before age 65.
Pension: There is an excellent pension scheme in operation, which provides personal retirement benefits
as well as benefits for spouses and children. The overall contribution rate approximates to 6½% of salary
(3% of pensionable remuneration and 3½% of net pensionable remuneration). Tax relief is accrued on these
payments.
The maximum pension, based on 40 years reckonable service, comprises an occupational pension from
UCC with an entitlement to a contributory state pension. Together both pensions provide a maximum of
50% of final salary and the UCC scheme provides a lump sum of 1½ times final salary (currently tax free).
The University operates schemes for the transfer of service or pension benefits from other schemes and a
purchase scheme to allow members to increase their pensionable service. In addition, additional
dependants’ benefits can be provided by membership of the Voluntary Life Assurance Scheme.
Membership of the Income Continuance Plan is mandatory. This provides additional payment where
salary is reduced or ceased because of long-term illness or injury. Contributions, which are tax-allowable
currently, amount to 1.25% (gross) of salary.
Membership of the Group Personal Accident Scheme shall apply to all employees, subject to individual
acceptance by the Insurance Company. The salary quoted is subject to a deduction from salary at the rate
of .001%
The Pay Related Social Insurance Class A1 rate of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) applies to the
posts which is currently 6% with an earnings ceiling of €46,600, 2% is payable on the balance.
Voluntary Health Insurance: A VHI/BUPA/HAS/VIVAS Health group scheme is in operation and
contribution may be deducted from salary on request.
Additional benefits: We offer progressive employment and training policies including opportunities for
further studies. Staff can avail of membership of a variety of clubs and societies and a wide range of
facilities on campus, including a leisure centre.
Certificates and Testimonials: These documents should not be sent with the application. Candidates
who are selected for interview will be requested to submit the necessary documentation.
Please note that if you are considering applying for this post you must be able to supply proof of the right to
work in Ireland. If you do not have the right to work in Ireland you would need to obtain a work permit. We
are obliged by European law to appoint people who are citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA)
where possible. Where there is no skills shortage for a particular post, it is highly unlikely that a work permit
would be granted.
Each candidate must complete an application form for the post. Please indicate clearly on the application
form, which post is being applied for.
Note: Candidates may be required to produce documentary evidence to support any statements made by
them on their application form or any supporting documentation. Candidates should note that any
inaccurate information will invalidate their application.
Completed application forms should be returned to
Department of Human Resources,
University College Cork
No 2-4 Elderwood
College Road
Cork
Tel: 021 4903690 / Fax 021 4276995
Email: recruitment@per.ucc.ie
Closing Date for Receipt of Applications: Wednesday 20 December 2006
UCC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER