Craft Worker

Overview of the Department

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) plays the lead role in promoting competitive and sustainable economic development in the agriculture, food, forestry and fisheries sectors. Its mission is to lead, enable and regulate the sector in a way that optimises its contribution to social, economic and environmental sustainability.

The Department’s strategic goals include:

· to promote and safeguard public, animal and plant health and animal welfare for the benefit of consumers producers and wider society

· provide income and market supports to underpin the rural economy and the environment

· provide the optimum policy framework for the sustainable development of the agri-food sector

· deliver a sustainable, growth driven sector focused on competitiveness and innovation driven by a skilled workforce delivering value added products in line with market demands

· maintain and develop strategic, operational, regulatory and technical capacity to achieve operational excellence

Further information on the Department can be viewed here

Vacancies

The Department currently has 1 vacancy for the role of Craft Worker (Agricultural Mechanic – State Industrial Grade) - Kildare in Crop Policy, Evaluation and Certification Division located Backweston Farm, Leixlip, Co Kildare, W23 AE3V. The successful candidate will be headquartered in Backweston but may on occasion be required to temporarily work on Longtown farm as required by management.

Backweston Farm is situated outside Leixlip in Co Kildare and consists primarily of crops on approximately 100ha and is the headquarters for Crops Policy, Evaluation and Certification Division (CPECD) within DAFM. CPECD is responsible for the official field and laboratory trials for the Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) of newly developed varieties of agricultural crop species. Each year newly bred crop varieties for a range of crops are submitted by European and world plant breeders for evaluation in official Department trials and the best performing varieties are communicated to farmers by way of the Recommended Lists.

Longtown Farm is situated outside Clane in Co Kildare and consists of primarily livestock on approximately 114ha and is unique in Ireland in providing for bio-containment of animals of minimal disease status and of known infected status. The facilities provide for the veterinary research of pathogenesis of infectious disease and the host response. The farm is licensed by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA). It hosts a suckler herd, beef cattle, sheep enterprise along with pigs, poultry and horses. Longtown Farm’s primary function is to support and assist the Department’s Veterinary Laboratory Divisions and other veterinary Divisions in their work.

Following an assessment process, candidates who achieve the qualifying standard will be placed on an Order of Merit from which appointments will be made. The post will be offered to the candidate ranked first and, if refused, to the remaining candidates in sequence until the post is filled. The Order of Merit will remain in place for a period of up to two years from the date of the first appointment, or until exhausted, and will be used to fill further vacancies, if any, that may arise during that period in DAFM Backweston but also in DAFM’s Longtown Farm, Clane, Co Kildare.

Candidates who accept an offer of appointment will receive no further offers relating to this competition. Candidates who refuse an offer of appointment to a specific location will retain their placing on the order of merit but forfeit their right to be offered any further appointment to that location.

The successful candidate will be headquartered in Backweston but may on occasion be required to temporarily work on Longtown farm as required by management.

Temporary Vacancies

In the event that temporary vacancies for this post arise during the lifetime of the Order of Merit, the Department reserves the right to offer such temporary posts on the basis of the results of this competition. Candidates who accept such a temporary post retain their placing on the Order of Merit and the acceptance of such a temporary appointment in no way interferes with the normal process of appointing candidates to permanent posts that may arise.

Job Specification

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

The role of Craft Worker (Agricultural Mechanic) primarily involves the maintenance and repair of the farm machinery and road vehicle fleet of the Department to ensure the safe use of vehicles and machinery and the on-site fabrication as necessary for the safe completion of the Division’s variety trialling and other crop work.

Note: The following list, which is not exhaustive, sets out the broad range of duties that may be required to be undertaken by a Craft Worker (Agricultural Mechanic) appointed to the position.

• Carrying out maintenance, preventative maintenance, repairs and servicing to farm and road vehicles and machinery.
• Carrying out modifications and associated fabrication, assembly and installation on existing farm machinery for specific purposes relating to work carried out on Backweston Farm.
• Conducting appropriate inspections, checks, testing and operation of machinery and recording details of same.
• Co-ordinating and assisting outside contractors for major machinery repairs and specialist servicing.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance of DAFM road vehicle fleet.
• Supporting management in the procurement of new machinery and equipment.
• Maintaining a safe workshop and to keep working areas clean and tidy.
• Ensuring the maintenance, safekeeping and good working order of all plant, tools, equipment and materials on Backweston Farm and to carry out the appropriate inspections, checks and recording of same.
• Continuous upskilling and maintenance of qualifications as required e.g., Specialist machinery maintenance and Health and Safety.
• Ensuring that farm property and structures are maintained in good condition.
• Carrying out modifications and associated fabrication, assembly and installation on existing farm and office buildings for specific purposes relating to work carried out on Backweston Farm.
• ·Compliance with all Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulations and attendance and participation in toolbox talks, Health and Safety meetings and other events organised by DAFM.
• Assisting with Farm Health and Safety Risk Assessments and implementation of recommendations.
• Operating tractors, combine harvesters, road vehicles and associated farm equipment and machinery when required during busy periods and attaining appropriate training such use of GPS technology/machinery, Plant Protection Product (PPP) User training and continuance of accreditation such as articulated lorry driver licensing and CPC as required.
• Any other duties as directed and may be required from time to time.

Reporting Relationship

The Craft Worker (Agricultural Mechanic) reports to the Farm Manager and to any other person to whom authority has been delegated and/or assigned.

Person Specification

Essential Requirements

Candidates must, on or before the closing date of 26th May 2026:

• Hold a recognised qualification in Agricultural Mechanics at a minimum of NFQ Level 6 or equivalent. Note: if apprenticeship served in this, evidence of exams completed successfully will be necessary and copies should be submitted with your application.
• Have a minimum of 5 years relevant experience, since qualifying, to include significant experience in repair of light or heavy commercial and agricultural vehicles and equipment.
• Experience in workshop welding and fabrication.
• A full driving licence for tractors and cars (categories B and W). (At date of offer)
• Good IT Skills
• While an articulated lorry licence is not an essential requirement, the successful applicant must be willing to undergo the relevant training for such a license for the transport of machinery to outside sites.

SOLAS Construction Skills Certification Schemes (CSCS) cards or equivalent or training certificates as described in a minimum of three of the following:

• First Aid
• Manual Handling
• Abrasive Wheels Training
• Chainsaw Safe Handling and Maintenance
• Confined Space
• Welding (ARC/TIG/MIG)
• Managing Safety in Construction
• Slinger/Signaller
• Teleporter
• Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP)
• Other relevant training

Desirable Requirements

• A Level 7 qualification (machinery related)
• Wide experience of operation of agricultural tractors and equipment
• Qualification in welding
• Fleet management experience
• Driving licence in category BE

Competencies

Applicants should have all the attributes required of a Craft Worker (Agricultural Mechanic) and in particular they must demonstrate, by reference to specific examples from their career to-date, that they possess or have the capacity to acquire the qualities, skills and knowledge required for the role of Craft Worker (Agricultural Mechanic) as identified in the following competency framework.

Note: All qualifications deemed essential for this role must be verified through the submission of relevant awards. In the case of non-essential qualifications, a number of candidates who are called forward to the final stage of the assessment process will be selected randomly and required to submit evidence of one or more such qualifications.

Application Process

How to Apply

Only Online Applications can be made and should be submitted via the Apply Now button.

Note: As outlined above, if you do not meet the Essential Requirements listed under Section 3, your application will receive no further consideration.

Closing Date

Your application must be submitted no later than 12 noon on 26th May 2026:

All queries relating to this recruitment campaign should be directed to dafm@cpl.ie with thesubject heading Craft Worker (Agricultural Mechanic) - Kildare

Application acknowledgements:

All applications received will be acknowledged within 5 working days of the competition closing date. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within the 5 working days or for any queries relating to this competition, please contact CPL by email: dafm@cpl.ie

Applications will not be accepted after the closing date.