Technical Officer – Department of Communication Design in Dublin

About the Role

Technical Officer – Department of Communication Design

Job Description

School/Unit: School of Design
Post Title & Subject Area: Technical Officer – Department of Communication Design
Post Duration: Full-Time, Permanent
Grade: Technical Officer
Reports to: Head of Department of Communication Design
Salary: Technical Officer Salary Scale €47,279 - €74,919 per annum

Hours of Attendance: Working hours will be 35 hours per week (net of rest breaks).

Location: This position is ordinarily based at the NCAD Campus, 100 Thomas Street, Dublin 8.

The School of Design within the College comprises of 3 departments:

• Design for Body and Environment (BA Fashion Design, BA Jewellery & Objects, BA Textile & Surface Design and MA Design for Body & Environment).
• Product Design (BA and MA Product Design, BA and MA Interaction Design, MSc Medical Device Design and MA Service Design)
• Communication Design (BA Graphic Design, BA Illustration, BA Moving Image Design and MA Communication Design)

The aim of the School of Design is to create a design culture engaged in ongoing debate on all aspects of design; a culture that thrives on new ideas, new ways of doing things and new areas of exploration. We encourage our students to experiment and take risks in order to carve new aesthetic paths and make technical innovations within, and beyond, their design discipline. We have extensive links with Industry, and students regularly work on live projects within a commercial, social or cultural context. The College seeks to ensure that our design students develop the necessary creative, technical, thinking and interpersonal skills to become highly employable graduates, entrepreneurs and thought leaders.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide technical assistance to workshop users in the techniques and processes involved in the operation of equipment in the letterpress workshop in the Department of Communication Design
• Demonstrate, as required, techniques and processes in the operation of the various equipment and materials in the letterpress workshop in the Department of Communication Design
• Help students overcome specific technical problems that they encounter
• Assist in supervising students in the letterpress workshop
• Co-operate with and provide supportive assistance to staff and students in bringing conceptual ideas to fruition
• Support teaching in the department and provide demonstrating and instruction in a variety of techniques and processes
• Assist in the design and development of practical tuition
• Assist in the development of student process documents
• Maintain and, where appropriate, construct equipment and manage materials
• Order, store and record appropriate materials stock
• Implement and adhere to all Health & Safety regulations, including maintaining accident/safety log as necessary
• Ensure work areas are clean and tidy to facilitate efficient and safe functioning of the workshop
• Engage in appropriate administrative duties particularly regarding Health & Safety, store maintenance and purchasing
• Undertake any other such appropriate duties which may be assigned from time to time

Requirements

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

• Academic qualification or equivalent relevant experience in the subject area of Communication Design.
• An excellent understanding of typographic history and application and a working knowledge of associated software (Adobe Creative Cloud Suite).
• The ability to utilise and maintain a type collection to a professional standard.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• An excellent understanding best practices for ensuring health and safety.
• Good organizational and solution-solving skills.
• Relevant technical qualification or experience in the industry or a third level educational setting
• Experience of working with emerging digital design technologies and in blended learning environments.
• Capacity and enthusiasm for working in an interdisciplinary context within the Department, School and College.
• Commitment to CPD and interest in emerging research, technology, processes and techniques.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong leadership skills.

Desirable:

• Experience of delivering skills training within a professional development context
• Experience in a typography led studio setting
• Experience in artist book-making and publishing

Details

Location: Dublin

Sector: public sector

Salary: €47,279–€74,919 per year

Closing date: 9 Nov 2026

Who We Are

NCAD, changing the world through bold and curious thinking, making and doing.

The National College of Art & Design is Ireland’s leading provider of art and design education. Our campus on Thomas Street in Dublin’s historic city centre is home to a student population of 2,000 full and  part-time students engaged in a wide range of study and research across the disciplines of Art, Design, Education and Visual Culture.

The National College of Art and Design has been the most significant provider of Art & Design education in Ireland for over 250 years. NCAD is ranked 53rd in the world, 16th in Europe and 1st in Ireland for Art & Design, QS  World  University Rankings by Subject, 2026. NCAD is a Recognised College of University College Dublin (UCD).

In 2026, NCAD launched our new strategic plan Create, Challenge, Care, which guides our work across the College. NCAD exists to foster, generate and inspire imaginative, ambitious and positive change through art and design for people, communities and society. And, we are a values led organisation.

We welcome all applicants - even if you feel you might not fit all of our criteria fully. Give it a try!

We honour our obligations under the Employment Equality Acts (1998-2015) and under the Public Sector Equality Duty. Discrimination on account of the protected grounds (Gender, Marital Status, Family Status, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Age, Disability, Race, and Membership of the Traveller Community) is not tolerated in any means.

We actively encourage those who have been underrepresented in Higher Education to apply. This includes but is not limited to: Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Racialised, and/or otherwise Global Majority applicants, disabled applicants, trans applicants, applicants exiting a career break, applicants with caring responsibilities, care-experienced applicants, and LGB+ and queer applicants.

Data provided are confidential. If you wish to speak to somebody with any questions you may have prior to making an application, you can contact the HR Department at [email protected].

How to Apply

Closing date: 9th November 2026