General Operative

Overview of 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

Job specification

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Rural General Operatives will be required to carry out a number of duties which include some / all of the following:

Note: The following list, which is not exhaustive, sets out the broad range of duties that may be required to be undertaken by a General Operative appointed to the position.

Common duties to Longtown, Backweston, Ballyderown & Tops Farms

• Operation of a range of farm machinery and farm equipment including tractors, combine harvesters, vans, other vehicles etc.
• Operation of certain hand-held and motorised equipment.
• Daily checks on vehicles to include oil levels, coolant, tyre pressure and visual inspection.
• Carrying out minor maintenance and repairs of machinery and equipment.
• Reporting of any irregularities/defects for repair, ensuring vehicles/trailers are roadworthy and machinery is safe.
• Reporting of major maintenance issues and co-ordinate and assist maintenance contractors on site.
• Record keeping, compiling daily and monthly stock sheets including fertiliser, plant protection products (PPPs) applications and tachograph records.
• Manual handling and delivery of farm/office/lab equipment/samples and supplies.
• General maintenance of grounds/farm buildings, farm and office including fencing, painting, cleaning, power washing yards, sheds and machines.
• Compliance with all Safety, Health and Welfare at Work regulations for staff and customers.
• Continuous upskilling and maintenance of qualifications as required e.g., Health and Safety, use of technology/machinery and continuance of accreditation such as Professional User (PU) of PPP’s and articulated lorry driver licensing and CPC as required.
• Travelling to outside sites as required.
• Any other general duties as directed and may be required from time to time.

In addition to common duties, duties specific to Backweston Farm include (but not limited to) the following:

• Operation of a range of farm machineryand equipment including GPS, weigh scales & moisture meters.
• Application of good crop husbandry practices.
• Assisting as required in any work associated with crops variety trials for the Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) of newly developed varieties of agricultural crop species.
• Assisting as required in any work associated with commercial crops.
• Loading and unloading farm machinery and equipment for the purpose of transport.
• Cleaning of machinery prior to leaving farms to prevent spread of pests to include weeds, seeds, disease and insects etc.
• Out of hours duties when required are part of the roleat Backweston Farm

In addition to common duties, duties specific to Longtown Farm include (but not limited to) the following:

• Care of animals when housed to include, feeding, bedding and general husbandry.
• Maintaining animal accommodation in a clean and hygienic manner.
• Reporting any issues with accommodation e.g. water leak to the supervisor.
• Daily routine checks on machines and equipment used for feeding animals.
• Care of animals at grass ensuring water supply is functioning and fencing is secure.
• Care of animals at calving and lambing.
• Completing daily records and maintaining events books
• Routine animal husbandry e.g. dosing, dehorning tagging of stock.
• Assist with veterinary work routine and research.
• Facilitate on-farm training and learning events.
• Administration of animal remedies, routine and veterinary prescribed.
• Cleaning and pressure washing of animal accommodation.
• Operation of farm machinery to include daily maintenance checks.
• Facilitate on-farm project and research work.
• Facilitate on-farm training and learning events.
• Maintain the highest standards of biosecurity.
• Implement fully the protocols in place to ensure your health and safety and that of others.
• Any other general duties as directed and may be required from time to time.
• Out of hours and on-call duties are part of the roleat Longtown Farm
• Specialist training on animal welfare, research procedures and biosecurity is part of the role at Longtown Farm

In addition to common duties, duties specific to Ballyderown Farm include (but not limited to) the following:

• Operation of a range of farm machinery and equipment including GPS, weigh scales & moisture meters.
• Application of good crop husbandry practices.
• Assisting as required in any work associated with crops variety trials for the Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) of newly developed varieties of agricultural crop species.
• Assisting as required in any work associated with commercial crops.
• Loading and unloading farm machinery and equipment for the purpose of transport.
• Cleaning of machinery prior to leaving farms to prevent spread of pests to include weeds, seeds, disease and insects etc.
• Out of hours duties when required are part of the role at Ballyderown Farm.

In addition to common duties, duties specific to Tops Farm include (but not limited to) the following:

• Application of good farm animal husbandry and grassland management practices
• Inspecting stock daily, feeding of animals, assisting with movement of animals, tending to sick and injured animals
• Routine animal care (foot care, dipping, dosing, etc.), tagging of stock.
• Cleaning out of animal accommodation and bedding animals.
• Aassisting with lambing, moving stock to fresh pasture, assisting with annual fodder harvesting and baling silage, hay and straw.
• Record keeping, compiling daily and monthly stock sheets including animal health, fertiliser and plant protection products (PPPs) applications.
• Continuous upskilling and maintenance of qualifications as required e.g. Health and Safety, Use of technology/machinery and continuance of accreditation such as Professional User (PU) of PPP’s, and chainsaw training.
• Application of good crop husbandry practices.
• Assisting as required in any work associated with crops variety trials for DUS and VCU of newly developed varieties of agricultural crop species.
• Assisting with production of minitubers and maintenance of the potato genebank collection.
• Assisting with grading/ packing of potatoes.
• Loading and unloading farm machinery and equipment for the purpose of transport.
• Cleaning of machinery prior to leaving farms to prevent spread of pests to include weeds, seeds, disease and insects etc.
• Assisting OPW personnel with any enquiries that they may have regarding the building.
• Any other general duties as directed and may be required from time to time.
• Out of hours and on-call duties are part of the role at Tops Farm

Vacancies

The Department currently has 1 vacancy for the position of General Operative Grade 2 (Rural) located in each of the following Farms

• Backweston Farm, Leixlip, Co Kildare
• Longtown Farm, Clane, Co. Kildare
• Ballyderown Farm, Kilworth, Co Cork
• Tops Farm, Raphoe, Co Donegal

When completing your application, you are required to select the location(s) listed where you would be willing to work. Candidates are requested to number their locations in order of preference.

You should only select locations where you would be prepared to work if offered an appointment. The onus is on applicants to select their correct locations. Changes to your location choice(s) will not be permitted after the closing date. No exceptions will be made.

Essential Requirements

• A thorough knowledge of modern farming practices in Ireland.
• Ability to drive tractors and operate farm machinery.
• Good stockmanship and/or crop husbandry skills.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety principles and practice in the farm environment.
• Good organisational skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and work on own initiative.
• Willing to take instruction and provide feedback through effective communication.
• Must be flexible regarding seasonal demands in the work area. i.e., willing to work overtime during busy periods such as harvesting and calving etc.
• A full driving licence for tractors and cars (categories B and W). (At date of offer)
• 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.
• A willingness to continuously upskill and undertake training as required to carry out the role effectively as determined by business needs.

Desirable Requirements

• Driving licence in category BE and CE (car trailer and articulated lorry).
• Have a formal qualification in agriculture.
• Understanding of experimental trial work on both animals and crops.
• Basic IT skills.

Competencies

Applicants should have all the attributes required of a Rural General Operative Grade 2 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 Rural General Operative Grade 2 as identified in the following competency framework. Further information on the competencies can be found in the Candidate Information Booklet.

1. Knowledge of Farming and Practical Experience

2. Teamwork and Communication Skills

3. Organisation Skills

4. Flexibility and Initiative

How to Apply

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

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 12.00 noon on 3rd of September 2025.

All queries relating to this recruitment campaign should be directed to dafm@cpl.ie with the subject heading “General Operative Grade 2”

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 by email: dafm@cpl.ie

Applications will not be accepted after the closing date.