Farm Operative

Basic Function

To operate as part of a team in carrying out general farm operations within Clonakilty Agricultural College and to support the college in carrying out the full range of farm enterprises including educational activities and on-farm research projects.

Background:

Clonakilty Agricultural College is an education and training college and research centre in West Cork. The college offers QQI accredited Level 5 and 6 courses in Agriculture at full time, part time and through distance education. The college has developed close links with the Munster Technological University. The college is also offers training for Level 6 Farm Technician Apprentices. All courses require extensive technical and practical training to be provided for studentsIn order to support the education delivery and skills training the college runs a mixed farm of 118 hectares with 190 dairy cows, 100 beef cattle and 70 ewes. The farm plays a key part in student training and skills development

Job Objectives

• Carry out day to day operations on the college farm.
• Tractor driving operations with large scale machinery.
• Sprayer, fertilizer spreader and slurry operations.
• General animal husbandry and monitoring of animal health and welfare.
• Milking the dairy herd.
•  Setting up of temporary fences to implement the grazing plan.
• Calving and lambing supervision.
•  Calf rearing.
• Maintaining Biosecurity and Biodiversity around the college farm.
•  General farm maintenance and fencing and plumbing.
•  Assisting with college events and open days.
• Supervise placement students and external contract/agency farm staff as required.
• Assisting with research measurements as part of on-farm research projects.
• To fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of oneself, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations, including full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
• To assist management and administrative staff in achieving good governance and risk management through co-operation and adherence to administrative procedures and practices.
• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service Charter and Action Plan.
• To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes.
• Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of themselves, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
• Such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

* This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive. It will be reviewed with the post-holder from time to time.

Qualifications

• A Level 5 qualification, (as recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent), in Agriculture or equivalent.
• or
• Passed an examination at the appropriate level within the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which can be assessed as being comparable to Leaving Certificate standard or equivalent.
• Full Clean Driver's licence 

Skills/Knowledge

• Machinery operation.
• Dairy Husbandry.
•  Stock handling skills.
• Animal health and welfare.
• Time management.
• Ability to receive and comprehend direction clearly and seek clarification as required.
• Strong planning and organising skills and an ability to schedule and prioritise workloads.

Behavioural Competencies

• Ability to work as part of a team, including consulting, collaborating and building relationships with key stakeholders.
• Commitment to teamwork and collaborating with colleagues as per our Teagasc Together ethos
• Strives for high quality of work and demonstrates commitment to the programme.
• Ability to communicate effectively to enable knowledge and technology transfer.
• Demonstrates a positive approach to new challenges.
• Demonstrates a high level of ownership and commitment to the job.
• Flexible with an ability to adapt to changing requirements/priorities.
• Have strong self-motivation and an ability to work unsupervised

Other

As this role will involve driving vehicles, candidates must satisfy and continue to satisfy during employment with Teagasc, legal requirements to drive a car unaccompanied on Irish public roads.

Salary:  Farm Worker / General Operative / Canteen Assistant with a Salary Scale of €34,428 to €38,619