All-Year-Round Guide/Information Officer

The Office of Public Works (OPW) invites applications from eligible candidates for the position of Permanent Full-Time All-Year-Round Guide/Information Officer at Kilmainham Gaol, Museum & Courthouse, Dublin 8. This competition is open to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

Kilmainham Gaol, Museum and Courthouse

Kilmainham Gaol stands as a monument to Ireland’s turbulent political and social past. There is perhaps no other building that encompasses as many aspects of Irish history, as the Gaol was at the centre of the main historical events in 19th and early 20th century Ireland. Kilmainham Gaol is closely associated with the Irish struggle for independence, reflected in the large number of leading revolutionary figures and political activists who were imprisoned within its walls. The prison’s stonebreaker’s yard offers a poignant reminder that this was the site of execution for the leaders of the1916 Easter Rising. Today Kilmainham Gaol is one of more than 700 National Monuments managed and protected by the Office of Public Works. To mark the centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016, the renovated Courthouse, adjacent to the Gaol, opened as the Kilmainham Gaol Museum Visitor Centre. Kilmainham Gaol Museum and Courthouse welcomes visitors from all over the world, as it has done for more than 50 years, and it remains an integral part of the local community in Dublin 8.

OPW Areas of Responsibility The Office of Public Works is a State body with responsibility for the protection of Ireland’s built heritage. This is achieved through the conservation, presentation and management of National Monuments, historical properties and Government buildings. Our diverse portfolio consists of 750 sites from all periods of our history encompassing sites from prehistoric to the late medieval periods of our history. This is an Open OPW recruitment competition to which applicants with the minimum eligibility requirements may apply. Persons who wish to be considered for appointment to the Permanent Full-time all-year-round Guide/Information Officer position, and who meet the essential eligibility requirements, should submit a completed and signed application form. The selection process may include a short-listing process, based on the information supplied on the application form, which will determine those to be invited to competitive interview. The competitive interview process, will be used by OPW to select the candidate that is deemed suitable for appointment to fill the position and a reserve panel, effective for a limited period, may be formed, and may be used to fill certain sanctioned permanent Guide/Information Officer posts that arise at Kilmainham Gaol, Museum and Courthourse, Dublin. Only those considered most suitable for placement on the panel by the Interview Board at the competitive interview, will be positioned in the order of merit as determined by the Interview Board. Placement on the panel does not guarantee nor imply that an appointment offer will be made to those placed on same. In the event that an offer of an appointment is made, it will be made in the order of merit of those on the panel. Appointments to approved positions will be made from the panel as and when considered appropriate by OPW management.

The position will be a permanent Non-Established State Industrial post based on a 39-hour week. The successful candidate will be required to work in accordance with a rostered working arrangement on 5 over 7 days (including weekends and public holidays) and flexibility in attendance will be required to ensure adequate staffing at all times. The successful candidate will be subject to a seven month probation period which may be extended to 10 months under certain circumstances. Continuation in employment in the position, following the end of the Probation Period, will be dependent upon the appointee fully meeting the requirements of the position during the Probation Period. The actual hours of attendance are determined by local management requirements Appointments to approved positions of employment are made as and when considered appropriate by OPW management and will be subject to the candidate meeting the health and Garda requirements for the position.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements Candidates must at the closing date for receipt of applications, possess the following:

• Have at least one year proven experience in a tour guiding and/or visitor presentation role;

Desirable Qualifications and Skills  Hold a qualification at level 5 – 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications in an appropriate subject, preferably but not limited to: Cultural & Heritage Studies, Travel & Tourism, National Tour Guiding, History, Art History.

The ideal candidate must:  Be well organised and careful with practical tasks;  Have excellent communications skills and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team;  Have ability to deal well with the public.

The ideal candidate should have the ability to:  Solve problems and use their own initiative;  Work independently and as part of a team;  Show a committed and flexible attitude to tasks and projects;  Demonstrate good work practices including time keeping, tidiness, responsibility, quality awareness and safety awareness.

Candidates should note that the admission to a competition does not imply that the Office of Public Works is satisfied that they fulfil the essential entry requirements. Therefore, the onus is on candidates to ensure that they meet these requirements prior to submitting their applications.

Role The following list of duties and skills is not exhaustive but indicative of the role of a Guide. You will be expected to perform any duties assigned to you by your Supervisor/Manager, including by any person to whom authority has been delegated, which are considered appropriate to your position. Main Purpose: The protection of the property and the interpretation of the site for visitors Principal Responsibilities and Duties:

• Protection of the site
• Supervising and controlling visitors so as to maintain order and prevent interference with the site;
• Ensuring that any rules for visitors are observed;
• Being responsible for security and safety at the site;
• Assist in the development and implementation of educational activities;
• Assist in running events on site when required;
• Assist in the development of exhibitions if required.
• Visitor reception and related duties
• Welcoming visitors to the site;
• Introducing visitors to the site and its facilities;
• Assisting in the operation of the online booking management system for both individual and business (Tour Operator) visitors;
• Administering admission tickets and receipts;
• Counting money and reconciling receipts;
• Collation and production of statistics on visitor numbers;
• Selling literature, postcards and posters;
• Counting stock;
• Keeping reception area and other facilities clean and tidy;
• Operating audio-visual or other appropriate equipment;
• Dealing with enquiries about the area and its visitor facilities;
• Dealing with phone enquiries;
• Handling bookings for the site.
• Promotion, Interpretation and guided tours of the site
• Familiarising yourself with all aspects of the importance and story of the site;
• Developing own tour commentary in conjunction with supervisor and other guides;
• Giving guided tours;
• Adapting a guided tour to suit a particular group;
• Where applicable, conducting guided tours through Irish or other languages;
• Dealing with enquiries in relation to particular features of the site;
• Assist with the research & preparation of site brochures, exhibitions and event programmes etc.;
• Develop & familiarise themselves with relevant educational material appropriate to the interpretation of the site;
• Development and implementation of education materials and activities in conjunction with the Supervisor;
• Update website and social media platforms including generating content, marketing and monitoring;
• Development of relations with local community to facilitate appropriate events and community usage.
• Special conditions apply
• Guides are required to work on a roster (five days over seven days per week including weekends and public holidays). Flexibility in attendance is required, including evening attendance as and when required;
• Work, in inclement weather, on uneven ground, at heights and in confined spaces;
• Sometimes working without supervision and/or alone;
• A neat appearance is essential. Guide badges to be worn at all times while on duty. Guides are required to wear a specified uniform or adhere to a specific dress code.

The ideal candidate is required to:

• Demonstrate flexibility and mobility, consistent with the needs of the service;
• Carry out all work in a safe manner both to colleagues and to the public through understanding, observance and application of Health and Safety requirements;
• Be physically capable of meeting the requirements of the positions;
• To carry out other duties/works deemed by management as appropriate to the grade and to the position;
• Co-operate with the introduction of new work practices and technology.
• contribute to and maintain a good team spirit and an effective team-working environment;
• remain calm while working under pressure when effectively dealing with incidents;
• make sound judgements in emergency situations;
• work on own initiative in accordance with manager/supervisor instructions whilst being an effective part of a larger team;
• apply excellent and effective interpersonal and communication skills coupled with a professional, polite and courteous manner when dealing with colleagues, management and the public.

Contacts with:

• Staff of the Office of Public Works;
• Members of the Public;
• External Contractors and Suppliers.

Reporting Relationship: (a) The Service/Administration Manager; (b) The Supervisor Guide; (c) The Head Guide; (d) Any person to whom authority has been delegated.

This job description is intended as a general guide to the range of duties and it is neither definitive nor restrictive.

Citizenship Requirements Eligible candidates must be: (a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or (b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or (c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or (d) A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 41 or a Stamp 5 visa;

1 Please note that a 50 TEU visa, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent. To qualify candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer. Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010) The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years. People who availed of the VER scheme are not eligible to compete in this competition. People who availed of the VRS scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility). Department of Environment, Community & Local Government (Circular Letter LG (P) 06/2013) The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government Circular Letter LG (P) 06/2013 introduced a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for Local Authorities. In accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012 as detailed above, it is a specific condition of that VER Scheme that persons will not be eligible for re-employment in any Public Service body [as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012] for a period of 2 years from their date of departure under this Scheme. These conditions also apply in the case of engagement/employment on a contract for service basis (either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor).

Age On the closing date for receipt of applications for this position, the following are the eligibility requirements with regard to age: - the minimum age requirement for potential applicants is 18; - the appointee will be a member of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, as defined in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. Under the Scheme, retirement is compulsory on reaching 70 years of age.

Outside Employment The position is whole-time and the appointee may not at any time engage in, or be connected with, any outside business or activity which would in any way conflict with the interests of the OPW, or be inconsistent with their official positions, or tend to impair their ability to carry out their duties. For this reason, an appointee who intends to be engaged in or connected with any outside business or employment should inform the OPW HR Management (Operational) Section of such an intention.

Ill-Health Retirement For an individual who has retired from a Civil/Public service body on the grounds of ill-health his/her pension from that employment may be subject to review in accordance with the rules of ill-health retirement within the pension scheme of that employment.

Health Before being accepted as suitable for appointment, the appointee must satisfy certain criteria including suitability in respect of health. The onus is on the appointee to declare their suitability, to the best of their knowledge and belief, regarding their health status, and in this regard, the appointee will be asked to complete a health self-declaration statement. Please note that any misstatements, incomplete statements and/or false declarations are liable to disqualify the appointee from the competition and/or result in the summary termination of their appointment to/employment in the position.

Garda Vetting Garda vetting may be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for certain appointment(s). The proposed appointee may be required to complete and return a Garda Vetting form that will be forwarded to An Garda Síochána for security checks to be undertaken. Enquiries may also be made with the police force of any country in which the proposed appointee resided. The person selected for appointment under this competition may receive an offer of appointment, the commencement and continuation of which would be subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting of the proposed appointee. Pay €566.00 - €918.93 per week The successful candidate will be paid at the appropriate point of the pay scale and in accordance with public service pay agreements.

Declaration: Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

Confidentiality Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 applications will be treated in strict confidence. All aspects of the application and assessment process are treated as strictly confidential and are not disclosed to anyone, outside of those persons directly involved in an aspect of the assessment process.

Other important information The Office of Public Works will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates. The admission of a person to a recruitment process, or an invitation to attend any element of the selection process, is not to be taken as implying that the Office of Public Works is satisfied that such person fulfils the requirements of the competition or is not disqualified by law from holding the position and does not carry a guarantee that your application will receive further consideration. It is important, therefore, for you to note that the onus is on you to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the competition before attending. If you do not meet these essential entry requirements but nevertheless attend for selection tests/interview(s) you will be putting yourself to unnecessary expense. Should the person assigned to a post decline, or having accepted it, relinquish it or if an additional vacancy arises the Office of Public Works, may, at its discretion, select another person for appointment on the results of this selection process. Candidates' Obligations

• Candidates must not knowingly or recklessly provide false information;
• Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify and will result in their exclusion from the process;
• Candidates must not canvass any person with or without inducements;
• Candidates must not interfere with or compromise the process in any way;
• A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process;
• Any person who contravenes the above provisions or who assists another person in contravening the above provisions is guilty of an offence. A person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine/or imprisonment;
• In addition, where a person found guilty of an offence was or is a candidate at a recruitment process, then: where he/she has not been appointed to a post, he/she will be disqualified as a candidate; and where he/she has been appointed subsequently to the recruitment process in question, he/she shall forfeit that appointment.

Specific candidate criteria Candidates must:

• have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned;
• be suitable on the grounds of character;
• be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned; and if successful, they will not be appointed to the post, or, if appointed, continue in employment in the post, unless they:
• agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed;
• are fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.