District Works Manager

Heritage Services – National Monuments

The OPW’s Heritage Services – National Monuments is responsible for the conservation, management and presentation of almost 1,000 individual monuments at 768 locations across Ireland, including sites such as the Rock of Cashel and Skellig Michael. Over 10 million visitors are attracted to these high-profile sites on an annual basis. The OPW's portfolio of properties is therefore a key national asset and plays a vital role in meeting the demand of foreign and domestic visitors in this regard.

OPW Heritage Services – National Monuments is divided into six works districts with depots in Cork (Mallow), Galway (Athenry), Kerry (Killarney), Kilkenny (Kilkenny City), Leitrim (Dromahair) and Meath (Newtown, Trim).

The OPW is now seeking to recruit a suitably qualified and committed individual to take up the role of District Works Manager in its Heritage Services – National Monuments section. This is an exciting opportunity to join an organisation dedicated to supporting staff to realise their full potential with access to professional development opportunities and career progression.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Conservation Architect who oversees works programmes in the district, the District Works Manager will be responsible for a team of specialist craftspeople and industrial staff such as general operatives.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities of the posts may include:

• Supervising a direct labour force and small contracts;

• Managing the district depot and sub-depots including managing staff, organising recruitment, training etc and management of stores;

• Certifying ITP's (Instructions to Pay) wages, travel claims for depot staff and all other depot expenditure;

• Carrying out the role of Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) and Health & Safety (H&S) Coordinator under the Safety, Health and Welfare (Construction) Regulations 2013;

• Monitoring quality of work;

• Implementing OPW Health & Safety policies;

• Ensuring compliance with all office policies, procurement guidelines and statutory obligations and maintaining records of such compliance;

• Contributing to District Works meetings;

• Implementing the planned inspections of National Monuments sites;

• Assisting, when requested, with events on National Monument Sites;

• Driving to and working in remote/long distanced sites and locations;

• Managing the implementation of the routine maintenance plans;

• Liaising with public bodies, stakeholders and members of the public;

• Monitoring external contracts and contractors.

Please note: The above is a general guide to the key duties and responsibilities of the role and is not an exhaustive description. Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role may be assigned from time to time.

Vacancy and Location

There is currently one District Works Manager vacancy at the National Monuments depot in Kilkenny (Kilkenny City).

Applicants who are successful in this competition will be placed on a panel, in an order of merit, to fill any future vacancies which may arise in any of the following National Monuments depot locations:

• Cork (Mallow)

• Galway (Athenry)

• Kerry (Killarney)

• Kilkenny (Kilkenny City)

• Leitrim (Dromahair)

• Meath (Newtown, Trim)

Candidates are required to specify on the application form the location choice(s) in which they are willing to be placed. Candidates can select a maximum of two locations.

The onus is on candidates to select their correct location choice(s). Changes to these choice(s) will not be permitted after your application has been submitted. No exceptions will be made.

Please note that accepting a position in the location you are offered means you will be removed from consideration in the other location you had expressed an interest in.

It is not expected that appointments will be made from this panel after May 2028.

Working Environment

The work is divided between field and office. The successful candidate will be assigned to a depot in the appointed district and will be required to travel regularly and work on location at a variety of National Monuments sites and sub-depots within this district. They will also be required to travel regularly to perform duties and attend meetings in other locations within Heritage Services – National Monuments, nationwide. As some locations are not accessible by public transport, the successful candidate(s) will require a full driving licence and access to a car. Travel and subsistence expenses will be paid in line with Civil Service norms.

Training and Development

The OPW is committed to ensuring that all staff members are given the support and assistance required to realise their full potential within the organisation. As part of its strategy to meet this objective, Heritage Services – National Monuments provides opportunities for staff to develop professional skills and knowledge over a wide range of competences. Professional, technical, ICT and management training is provided to keep staff up to date on relevant developments. Opportunities to attend relevant courses are proactively encouraged.

Benefits

As well as a meaningful, varied, challenging and interesting career, some of the benefits of working as a District Works Manager in the OPW are:

• Salary starting at €50,546 with yearly increments for satisfactory performance;

• Public Sector pension;

• 23 days of annual leave per year, rising to 29 days after a number of years in the grade;

• Subject to business needs and a satisfactory probationary period;

o Flexible working with a commitment to work-life balance and a family-friendly workplace;

o Facility to apply for career breaks;

o Learning and development opportunities;

• Free access to all OPW managed heritage sites;

• Cycle to work scheme;

• Access to Public Service Credit Union;

• Tax saver public transport pass.

Essential

Candidates must have on or before 24th September 2026:

A minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience in building work at Clerk of Works or Foreman level;

Experience in leading and managing construction teams;

Experience of preparing reports, keeping records, measuring and recording progress and reading Architect's/Engineer’s drawings;

Experience of traditional building methods and materials including traditional building maintenance and repair methods;

A good knowledge of the building trades and Building Regulations;

Satisfactory knowledge of surveying and levelling in setting out works;

Good knowledge of current Health & Safety Legislation;

The ability to supervise and manage staff and/or external contractors;

Demonstrate the ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines;

Excellent organisational ability and a proven record of methodical and accurate work;

Demonstrate initiative, self-motivation and the ability to work independently;

Good communication and negotiation skills, with an ability to build effective relationships within the team, across the organisation and externally with stakeholders;

A current full driving licence (Category B), valid in Ireland and have access to a car.

In addition to the above, candidates must have a high standard of physical fitness as the role entails site visits and working in outdoor conditions.

Appointees are required to have and maintain a good level of physical fitness. Successful candidate(s) may be required to undergo a medical examination prior to being appointed.

Please note: The OPW reserves the right to seek expert medical advice and additional information from candidates in relation to the above point.

Desirable

• Successfully undertaken training to enable them to undertake the role of Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS) and PSCS Health & Safety Coordinator role;

• Background in carpentry or stonemasonry or other relevant trade;

• Experience of managing staff and/or external contractors;

• Experience of working on historic masonry and/or masonry structures;

• Proven capacity to deliver training and mentoring;

• Knowledge and understanding of National Monuments;

• Excellent knowledge of traditional building methods and Building Regulations;

• A good knowledge of preparing tenders and tender evaluations.