Information for Technical Staff
Page updated 30th June 2025
This page contains information relating to technical job description templates for posts to be advertised along with a guide to the role of the Technical Staff Committee in reviewing local edits made to job descriptions prior to advertising.
It also shares information on the Development Framework for Technical Staff, the promotion process from Technical Officer to Senior Technical Officer and details in relation to ongoing development courses available.
Technical Job Descriptions
All Technical Staff job description templates are accessible to download here from the Resourcing section webpage. Here you will also find general information on the recruitment process, from advertising to interview and contract stage.
If a unit wishes to adjust a technical job description template with local information and requirements prior to the advertisement of new or vacant roles, a version including tracked changes should be submitted to the Technical Staff Committee for review before advertisement. The Development Framework for Technical Staff is another tool that Line Managers may refer to when preparing a technical job description for advertisements as it identifies a number of dimensions under various categories of technical staff achievement for each level.
For further information on ‘Advertising’ a post, please refer to the ‘Recruitment & Selection Policy’ available here on Resourcing Unit’s webpage.
How do I submit a Job Description to be reviewed by the Technical Staff Committee
- All job descriptions for new or vacant posts with tracked changes should be emailed to (opens in a new window)promotions@ucd.ie in the first instance, if any changes have not been previously approved by the Technical Staff Committee.
- Upon receipt of the job description, this will be made available to the Technical Staff Committee for review and if any queries arise a member of the Promotions & Grading team will be in contact with you as soon as possible.
- Once reviewed by the Technical Staff Committee, a member of the Promotions & Grading team will be in contact to share a copy of the agreed job description. They will also copy in your Resourcing Consultant into the correspondence so you can quickly proceed to the next stage of the process of ‘Advertising Stage’.
Links
Development Framework for Technical Staff
The (opens in a new window)Development Framework for Technical Staff should be used by an individual to reflect both personally and within the context of a development conversation, possibly as part of a (opens in a new window)Performance for Growth (P4G) conversation, on their strengths and opportunities for growth as it identifies a number of dimensions under each of the categories of technical staff achievement as follows:
- Technical Skills – fully understands the requirements, issues and outcomes required in the technical area.
- Health and Safety – takes personal responsibility for ensuring that the University is a leading organisation in providing a safe, healthy and environmentally responsible workplace.
- Management and Planning – manages technical service and/or people in the workplace effectively with understanding and efficiency.
- Interpersonal Skills – are skills we use every day to communicate and interact with other people, both individually and in teams. Being able to work efficiently within a group; drawing from a number of skills such as encouraging others to do better and the ability to compromise and communicate effectively.
- Service requirements – listens and responds to faculty, staff, students and external parties as appropriate to their satisfaction and seeks evaluation using a team approach.
- Innovation/ Flexibility/Adaptability – able to challenge conventional practices using new technology as a potential pathway to ongoing system improvement. Demonstrates enthusiasm for new developments, open to change and takes a solution focus.
Technical staff can assess their current position on the framework across the various dimensions. The indicators as set out in the framework are an indicative, but not exhaustive guide.
Promotion to Senior Technical Officer
In addition to the route of applying for Senior Technical Officer roles as they arise and are advertised, Technical Officers may also apply via the Promotion to Senior Technical Officer pathway which is a personal promotion process.
Candidates at the top of the Technical Officer pay scale, who have at least 5 years experience as a Technical Officer, hold a N.C.E.A. Diploma or equivalent (for individuals who commenced in UCD pre November 2006) OR hold a Masters Degree (for individuals who commenced in UCD post November 2006) may be eligible for to apply promotion to Senior Technical Officer.
Information on the application process, eligibility and promotional criteria for promotion from the grade of Technical Officer to Senior Technical Officer is available to view on the Promotion to Senior Technical Officer webpage (Promotions & Grading section).
Training & Professional Development
The Training Course Catalogue offers a range of courses designed to support employees and teams in their skills and professional development in UCD. Information on these courses are available to view on the ‘UCD People and Organisation Development’ webpage.
Here you can view course descriptions by browsing our Course Catalogue A to Z. Also all available courses can be booked via the Booking Centre on InfoHub. You can also view information on the Performance for Growth (P4G) process and support, including documentation specific to technical staff.
Any queries you may have in relation to booking onto a course, please contact (opens in a new window)peopledevelopment@ucd.ie