Environmental Technician

Cavan County Council leads and collaborates with all to drive and shape a better future for our County and it is a progressive, dynamic and innovative local authority in Ireland.

Cavan County Council employs over 500 employees across service divisions including housing and building; roads, transport and safety, development management, environmental protection, recreation and amenity, agriculture and education and miscellaneous services.

A dynamic and ever evolving place to work with a stimulating and challenging work environment, Cavan County Council offers excellent career opportunities in a wide range of administrative, professional, creative, technical, and general services roles. Supported by continuous learning and development, a highly skilled workforce is central to delivering these objectives. In the heart of the scenic lakelands, Cavan is located less than two hours’ drive from Dublin, Belfast, and Galway and boasts an unrivalled quality of life.

Competition:

The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel for Cavan County Council from which full-time, permanent, and fixed-term contract posts may be filled at Environmental Technician Grade I.

Post:

The Environmental Technician Grade I will work under the control and supervision of the Senior Scientist or other designated officer.

Responsibilities/Duties:

The principal duties and responsibilities will be to perform such duties appropriate to the post of Environmental Technician – Grade 1 that may be assigned by the Senior Scientist and may include the following duties:

• Investigate, report on and make recommendations in relation to complaints and incidences of environment pollution (air, water, noise) and waste management

• Undertake sampling, monitoring and reporting for a variety of different sample types.

• Implement various environmental and waste national legislative requirements, EU Directives and EPA standards.

• Evaluate planning applications and waste facility Permits, CORs and AERs which have consequences for the environment and produce conditions to manage and monitor same

• Monitoring/surveying of waste management facilities including recycling, composting, transfer stations and landfill;

• Monitoring, inspection and enforcement activities as per Environmental, Waste and Water Services legislation;

• Undertake Domestic Waste Water Assessments (DWWA)

• Implement Solvents/Decopaints/Petroleum Vapour Emissions Regulations

• Undertake Farm inspections

• Keeping up to date with best practices in relation to duties above

• Any other activities as assigned by Line Manager/Supervisor

Notwithstanding the requirements of the post successful applicants may be assigned to any service area/role within the Local Authority at an analogous level by the Chief Executive at any time.

Qualification:

Character

Each candidate shall be of good character.

Health

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, 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 is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK 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-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

Education, experience, etc;

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

(i) have passed the N.C.E.A. / H.E.T.A.C National Certificate Final Examination in Science in Applied Biology, or in Science in Applied Chemistry, or hold an equivalent qualification; and

(ii) have at least three years satisfactory relevant experience after attaining the qualification concerned;

or

(iii) have at least three years satisfactory relevant experience in a technician post at Grade II level or in an analogous post under a local authority or health board in the State, or have satisfactory service, in a technician post at Grade I or higher level in an analogous post under a local authority or health board in the State.

(iv) possess adequate training or experience relating to the control and supervision of staff.

Hold a current full clean driving licence.

Salary:

Remuneration will be at the Environmental Technician Grade I Scale of the national wage scales. The present minimum scale is €48,760 increasing to €57,790 per annum (including LSIs) with annual increments subject to satisfactory performance via PMDS. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Garda Vetting/Child Protection

This post may come within the scope of the Local Authorities Garda Vetting Scheme. Accordingly, candidates may be requested to complete and sign a consent form to permit the required vetting to be completed, in respect of candidates to whom the position will be offered, prior to taking up duty.

Pension:

The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies.

Annual Leave:

The annual leave entitlement for this post will be 30 days per annum. Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangement from public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Hours of Work:

The post entails a wide range of duties which require maximum flexibility and will be based on a 35 hour week. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time.

Acceptance of Offer of Employment

Cavan County Council shall require persons to whom appointments are offered to take up such appointments within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, Cavan County Council shall not appoint them.

Probation

The successful candidate shall be required to be on probation for an initial period, as determined by the Council. This period may be extended at the discretion of the Council.

Selection process:

Candidates will initially be assessed to ensure they meet the minimum qualifications set down above. Assessment will be based on information provided by the candidate on the application form. Qualifications of successful candidates may be subject to further checks post interview to confirm they meet the criteria.

Candidates will then be assessed on the basis of other information contained in their application form to determine, having regard to the requirements of the position and the number who have applied, if they should be called for interview. Candidates may be short listed on the basis of information provided in the application form.

Communications:

Cavan County Council will contact you when necessary at each stage of the competition by phone, post or email. It is strongly recommended that you do not change your email address or mobile phone number in the course of this recruitment competition, as any email will be sent to the email address originally supplied on your application form.