Conservation Cleaner

The Role The duties of the Conservation Cleaner (General Operative Band 3 (Rural)) are wide and varied. The primary function of the job holder will be to carry out duties relating to conservation cleaning duties for all areas within Castletown House and its ancillary buildings. The successful candidate will adhere to the cleaning programme in place which specifies cleaning requirements for same areas / individual rooms and to always maintain the standard required. The successful candidates will be based at Castletown House, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, and may be required to work at other OPW sites as and when directed by management. The hours of attendance will be determined by local management requirements.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements Candidates, must possess the following, at the closing date:

• 5 years proven experience working in a museum/historic house setting;
• 5 years proven experience in handling and working with historic objects;
• Experience of working with a variety of conservation supplies including chemical based products;
• Experience of working from a height including working on tower scaffolds;
• Fluent level of English both written and oral.

Desirable Eligibility Requirements

• Manual Handing Certificate;
• Safepass Card.

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.

Candidate Requirements specific to Castletown House

• Have a thorough knowledge of the practice and principals of preventative conservation;
• An understanding of Historic material;
• A thorough knowledge of the types of objects within the historic collections at museums/Historic Houses;
• Knowledge of the main agents of deterioration that can affect the condition of objects, including the effects of physical and mechanical force. Wrong environmental conditions, light exposure, relative humidity and temperature;
• Knowledge of the environmental system used in Museums/Historic Houses to regulate relative humidity and temperature.

General Candidate Requirements:

• Demonstrate appropriate self-presentation;
• Possess a good eye for detail;
• Be well organised with a meticulous attitude to work;
• Be self-motivated with a common sense and practical approach;
• Have experience in both cleaning and housekeeping including working at heights.
• Demonstrate a high degree of flexibility in terms of working hours and be consistent with needs of the service;
• Have access to own transport, as start and finish times may occur when public transport is not available (Different Sites may vary);
• Work on own initiative while being part of a larger team;
• Show a committed and flexible attitude to tasks and projects;
• Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills coupled with a professional, polite and courteous manner when dealing with Visitors, colleagues, management and guests.

Principal Duties and skills Note: The following list, which is not exhaustive, sets out the broad range of duties that may be required to be undertaken by a Conservation Cleaner (General Operative Band 3 (Rural)). Variances in the requirements of individual posts will reflect the management and operational requirements of individual sites and areas of work.

• To understand and interpret requests from the Foreperson and any other person to whom responsibility has been delegated;
• Responsible for all aspects of conservation cleaning within the House and ancillary buildings, retaining excellent standards;
• Vacuum or clean all floor areas used by the public;
• Dust all flat surfaces as necessary to maintain a well-cared for appearance of the museum rooms;
• Assessing and confirming that all equipment/furnishings are in good repair and clean: reporting faults to Foreperson;
• To have knowledge of cleaning products and solutions, best practice to ensure that all cleaning products are appropriate for the objects being cleaned;
• To have some knowledge of the care of specialised equipment, furniture, fabrics, silver, crystal and crockery;
• Ensuring that all cleaning products/chemicals and equipment are used and stored appropriately;
• Clean all machines, including glass, brass and stainless steel;
• To follow instructions on the correct storage and cleaning procedures for glassware, silverware and china;
• Demonstrating an appropriate manner when dealing with OPW staff, contractors and visitors;
• Informing management of stock required if stock requires replenishing;
• Being aware of all health and safety regulations, reporting hazards/potential hazards immediately;
• Adhering to Infection Prevention and Control protocols;
• Maintaining confidentiality at all times;
• Follow security protocols;
• Reporting to management any damage or any developing situation which may lead to members of the public/residents/staff being put at risk in any way;
• Monitoring and reporting on the condition of the collections and the fabric of the building and site;
• To monitor and report on any pest or infestation which may occur;
• Ad hoc duties as required;
• To carry out other duties that are considered appropriate to the grade as delegated by Senior Management and any other member of staff to whom responsibility has been delegated.

The Conservation Cleaner (General Operative Grade 3 (Rural)) 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 visitors through understanding, observance and application of Health and Safety requirements;
• Maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and dress in an appropriate manner, in line with management dress code;
• Use correct protocol when addressing visitors;
• 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 a good team spirit;
• Successfully undertake training as and when required.

Duties specific to Castletown House

• Carry out the conservation cleaning programme as devised and directed by Foreperson/NHP Management/ any other person to whom responsibility has been delegated to in all museum areas of the House;
• Carry out the maintenance of the collections according to their “care sheet” and adhering to the 6-week cycle of cleaning. This is to include the cleaning of the woodwork beyond the roles when required, and other areas referred to as the “fabric” of the House;
• Carry out conservation cleaning of all objects using appropriate equipment and tools;
• Take an active role in monitoring the condition of all items and report immediately any signs of deterioration Foreperson and any other person to whom responsibility has been delegated;
• Prepare the House for opening to the public at the beginning of the season. Daily vacuum of all floor areas used by the public and to dust all surfaces as necessary to maintain a well- cared-for appearance to the Museum rooms;
• Carry out tasks necessary for the well-being and appearance of the House, such as keeping fireplaces free of debris/dirt;
• Undertake the conservation cleaning and dust protection of items of furniture, ceramics, metalwork, carpets and tapestries as directed;
• Assist with the “putting to bed” of the collection, if necessary;
• Protect the museum areas during any maintenance works, filming and concerts;
• Be prepared to move objects/collections to facilitate conservation cleaning or to allow for events or for exhibitions.

Special Working Conditions

• Weekend and Public Holiday attendance will be required and the appointee must be prepared to be flexible in the hours of attendance;
• Attendance is required in early mornings and for some planned evening events;
• The working week will be rostered over seven days; the actual days and hours of attendance will be arranged according to local management requirements;
• Working with sharps, chemicals, cleaning agents.

Contacts with:

• staff of the Office of Public Works;
• members of the public;
• external contractors, caterers and suppliers;

Reporting Relationship The Conservation Cleaner (GO Band 3 (Rural) reports to the Service Manager/Foreperson/Office and Stores Supervisor and to any other person to whom authority has been assigned and/or 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. All non-EU/EEA 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 the Office of Public Works. 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 the Office of Public Works and your employment will cease with immediate effect. 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 reemployment 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). Pay The Conservation Cleaner - General Operative Grade 3 (Rural) pay scale, based on a 39-hour week, as and from 1st March 2025, is as follows: €656.12 - €798.93