Chargehand Gardener

QUALIFICATIONS

Applications on the official form are invited from qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel from which Permanent or Temporary appointments may be made as Chargehand Gardener for positions as they arise.

CHARACTER

Each candidate shall be of good character.

HEALTH

Each candidate must be in a state of health as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, ETC.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application form:

Have satisfactorily completed The National Diploma in Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens, Horticulture College or equivalent qualification

AND

After obtaining qualifications, candidates should have satisfactory horticultural experience

AND

Hold a full unendorsed driving licence (Category B or equivalent) that permits permanent driving in Ireland

AND

Hold a valid work permit if required

All non European Union or European Economic Area citizens must hold a valid work permit prior to and for the duration of their contract. The work permit must allow you to work full time for Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. It is the responsibility of individual employees to ensure that you have a valid work permit. If at any stage during your contract you cease to hold a valid work permit you must immediately advise Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and your employment will cease with immediate effect.

It is desirable for candidates to:

• Hold a current Safe Pass card on taking up duty

• Have a good knowledge of mechanical plant including the agricultural tractor and ancillary equipment

• Have the ability to oversee and implement a programme of works and or significant landscape project undertaken by direct labour or outside contractors or a combination of these

• Have a good knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and be familiar with relevant legislation

• Have a knowledge of the cultivation of plants, both outdoor and under glass, as well as a good knowledge of decorative gardening

• Have a thorough knowledge of landscape or amenity horticulture

• Have experience in the use and care of tools, machines and appliances used in the maintenance of parks and gardens

Candidates will demonstrate through their application form and at interview the following skills and attributes:

• Understanding of the role

• Ability to apply previous experience to the role

• Good communication and interpersonal skills

• Self motivated with a record of demonstrating initiative and ability to use judgement in a workplace environment

• Be capable of dealing satisfactorily with outside bodies, residents associations, public representatives etc.

• Capacity to contribute to and work well in a team

• Sufficient knowledge and understanding of Health and Safety requirements, legislation and regulations

• Flexibility in terms of working hours as the duties can involve working outside of normal hours as required

• Knowledge of the services provided by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

• Demonstrate customer awareness skills and a positive customer service attitude

• Ability to maintain accurate and complete records of all tasks carried out in hard copy and electronic format

• Have ability to supervise depot staff, students and contractors operating within their area and be competent in their supervision and be able to demonstrate this

• Ability to take and record measurements including basic surveying, levelling and setting out procedures

PARTICULARS OF THE POSITION

The office is permanent, whole time and pensionable.

WAGES – HOURLY RATE

€24.08; €24.32; €24.43; €24.57; €24.68; €24.75; €24.80; €24.87; €24.93; €25.03; €25.11; €25.30

Rates as at 1 February 2026

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the office shall pay to the Local Authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their office or in respect of any services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

As a condition of employment, the holder of the post will be required, at all times when on duty, to wear such items of personal protective equipment as are specified from time to time by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

SUPERANNUATION CONTRIBUTION

Persons who become pensionable officers of a Local Authority who are liable to pay the Class A rate of Pay Related Social Insurance contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the rate of 1.5 per cent of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5 per cent of net pensionable remuneration (that is pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of Social Insurance Old Age Contributory Pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependant or qualified children).

Persons who become pensionable officers of a Local Authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of Pay Related Social Insurance contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the rate of 5 per cent of their pensionable remuneration.

All persons who become pensionable officers of a Local Authority will be required in respect of the Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension Scheme to contribute to the Local Authority at the rate of 1.5 per cent of their pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

RETIREMENT

New Entrants recruited to the Public Service on or after 1 January 2013

Pensionable public servants recruited to the Public Service for the first time on or after 1 January 2013, the commencement date of the Single Scheme, will be members of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

Pension age

Minimum pension age is linked to the State Pension age which is currently 66 but may be subject to change.

Compulsory retirement age

Scheme members must retire at the age of 70.

In all other cases, staff recruited on or after 1 January 2013 who were employed in the Public Service on 31 December 2012 or within a period prior to 31 December 2012 not exceeding 26 weeks will retain their existing pension scheme terms and conditions.

In certain circumstances, for example where the public servant was on secondment or approved leave or remains on the same contract of employment, the 26 week rule does not apply.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement

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

HOURS OF WORK

Applicants will be required to work a 39 hour week, Monday to Friday (08:00 – 16:30 Monday to Thursday; 08:00 – 15:30 on Friday). They will be required to work overtime as required. They must work as required on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays for which payment at the appropriate rate will be made.

PROBATION

When a person is not already a permanent officer of a Local Authority within the Public Service in Ireland and is appointed to a permanent office the following provisions shall apply:

a. There shall be a period after such appointment takes effect during which such person shall hold office on probation

b. Such period shall be one year

c. Such person shall cease to hold such office at the end of the period of probation unless, during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such person in such office is satisfactory

ANNUAL LEAVE

Annual leave entitlement for the position of Chargehand Gardener is 24 days per annum in accordance with Department of Environment, Community and Local Government Circular LG(P) 07/2011.

Prior authorisation is essential before annual leave is taken. The granting of annual leave at any particular time is always subject to the requirements of the Council and all annual leave is liable to suspension during periods of exceptional pressure. The final decision in allocating leave rests with Management.

CITIZENSHIP

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The European Economic Area consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom; or

c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the European Union and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

d) A non European Economic Area citizen who is a spouse or child of a European Economic Area or United Kingdom or Swiss citizen and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a Stamp 4 visa; or

f) A non European Economic Area citizen who is a parent of a dependent Irish citizen child and has been granted residence permission, usually Stamp 4.

DUTIES

The post holder will be required to carry out all the duties allocated to them by the Council under the direction and supervision of the relevant Supervisor, which will include but are not limited to:

a. The person selected for the post will report to the Senior Executive Parks and Landscape Officer or other authorised person

b. Supervise and control staff who may be detailed to assist them

c. Participation in the Performance Management and Development System process

d. Be responsible for the efficiency of works in the area and to carry out all instructions and inspections and furnish any reports, diaries, records or other particulars described by the Senior Executive Parks and Landscape Officer or other authorised person

e. Be responsible for the use and care of tools, machines and appliances used in the maintenance of parks and gardens

f. Be available to attend to emergency work outside of normal working hours and participate in an emergency call out roster if required

g. Propagation and cultivation of plants and for the layout, care, upkeep, maintenance and control of ornamental pleasure and recreational grounds in the parks, gardens and open spaces to which they may from time to time be assigned

h. Attendance at meetings and workshops arranged by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

i. Communicate satisfactorily with outside bodies, residents associations, public representatives etc.

j. Maintain accurate and complete records of all tasks carried out in hard copy and electronic format

k. Co operate with and avail of any new technology and or systems which may become available to assist in the effective and efficient carrying out of duties or as may be required

l. Utilise the Council’s Customer Relationship Management system in accordance with corporate policies and procedures:

• Deal with complaints or incidents as may arise and be advised through Customer Relationship Management or other channels

• Reply to complaints or incidents through the Customer Relationship Management portal on all platforms as made available

m. Ensure that all works being carried out comply with the relevant Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts and Regulations, including the completion of Risk Assessments, Safe Systems of Work Plans and Accident or Incident forms

n. Comply with Health and Safety requirements of the Council and wear or use any safety equipment or clothing supplied

o. Ensure staff they supervise are fit to work, wear the required personal protective equipment for the tasks to be carried out and take appropriate action immediately when these requirements are not met

p. Supervise external contractors to ensure works are carried out to the required standards

q. Operate in accordance with current best practice requirements in relation to the activities that staff carry out

r. Operate a Council vehicle as part of work responsibilities and utilise a mobile phone or other electronic devices when required

s. Co operate fully in the implementation of security arrangements for plant, equipment etc., as well as security within the Council’s parks

t. Co operate and contribute to operational reviews

u. Co operate and contribute to value for money initiatives

v. Participate fully in any initiative aimed to increase customer satisfaction and quality of service to the community

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the Council.

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority and to:

a. The local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive is Chief Executive, and

b. To any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies referred to in sub paragraph (a) under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such officers as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate computing, technical, management, administrative, executive, supervisory, advisory and ancillary services as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties and to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Chief Executive from time to time including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The holder of the post will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

LOCATION AND RESIDENCE

Holders of the office shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council reserves the right to assign employees to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future, subject to reasonable notice.