General Operative

The Department of Defence invites applications for appointment to the position of General Operative Band 3. This competition is open to all candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria.

The position is a permanent Non-Established State Industrial post based on a 39 hour per week basis. The appointment will be subject to a probationary period of 12 months. Continuation in employment in the position, once appointed, is subject to satisfactorily meeting the requirements of the position and performing the duties as directed.

Persons who wish to be considered for appointment to the above position should submit an Application Form and copies of relevant certificates of attainment in support of their application. A short-listing assessment, on the basis of the information supplied in the applications, may be used by the Department to select those applicants who are to be invited to attend for competitive interview.

A competitive interview process will be used by the Department to select those candidates determined by the Interview Board as being suitable for appointment to fill the position and a reserve panel, effective for a limited period, may be formed. A practical exercise may also be conducted as part of the selection process.

Locations

Vacancies for General Operative Band 3 have arisen in the following locations:

· Naval Base & Dockyard (NBDY), Haulbowline, Co Cork

· Collins Barracks, Co Cork

· Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Dublin

· McKee Barracks, Dublin

· Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin

· Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC), Curragh, Co Kildare

· Coolmoney Camp, Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow

· Gormanston Camp, Co Meath

· Custume Barracks, Athlone

Candidates must select a location or area on their application.

Requirements and Principal Duties of a General Operative Band 3

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. Variances in the requirements of individual posts will reflect the management and operational requirements of individual sites and areas of work.

Candidates can be assigned to the following:

General Operative Duties / Range Operative Duties

Duties and Responsibilities – General Operative duties

Operate equipment, tools and machinery as instructed. Check that all equipment is operational.

Assist Craftsman during their craft activity.

Drive vehicles where suitably qualified and provided for within the Band 3 grade.

General cleaning duties around the environs of your assigned Military Installation.

General maintenance of the grounds of your assigned Military Installation.

Maintenance of any article, plant, equipment or machinery for use at work in a safe manner and reporting defects to the Headquarters office.

Accurate updating and maintenance of daily work books for inspection as instructed.

Report all accidents and maintenance problems to Military Management.

Consult or liaise on a daily basis with Military or Civilian Staff responsible for your working area.

Ensure all relevant senior staff are kept informed of important and appropriate occurrences.

Comply with Health and Safety legislation as outlined in the Unit’s Safety Statement.

Assume personal responsibility for own safety at work.

Obtain a safety awareness card (Safe Pass) and a construction skills card (CSCS) where required. The cost of this training will be borne by the employer.

Carry out any other appropriate tasks as allotted from time to time by Military Management.

Duties and Responsibilities – Range Operative

Care and security of range equipment.

Care and issue of range stores.

Make up and repair target screens and penetrable targets.

Grease and non-technical servicing of fitted range equipment.

Maintain bullet catchers in accordance with the Range Administration Unit (RAU) instruction.

Maintenance and minor repairs to the range structure, such as target pits and runs, mantlets, firing points and shelters.

Cleanliness of the range and range buildings.

Remove any military debris left in error by user units.

Maintain the range booking diary and liaise with the RAU regarding the range programme.

Display red flags and red lamps as required by Range Orders.

Prepare the range to the users' requirements.

Instruct the range user about targets, control systems and local range procedures when necessary.

Brief the user on special instructions for the range and any restrictions or limitations on movement caused by neighbouring ranges.

Custody of Range Orders and the Range Log.

Hand over and take back the range from the user.

Record defects and damage arising from use.

Security of the range at the end of the day's practice.

Special conditions apply

Work at heights.

Operate machinery appropriate to Band 3.

Lone working and working with teams.

Deal with the public and contractors.

The appointee must attend and reach a satisfactory standard in training, as and when directed.

Work outdoors, open to weather elements, and indoors in confined and restricted space.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must, at the closing date, possess the following:

Have the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to carry out the role.

Be capable and competent of fulfilling the role to a high standard.

Have a good general level of education.

Fulfil health and character requirements.

Desirable Skills and Attributes

Knowledge of the Defence Organisation.

A full, clean and current driving licence, minimum category B.

Note: From 1 January 2021 if you are resident in Ireland and hold a United Kingdom or Northern Ireland driving licence it is no longer valid to drive in Ireland and must therefore be exchanged. Further information is available on www.ndls.ie

Age and Pension

On the closing date for receipt of applications for this position, the minimum age requirement for potential applicants is 18.

The appointee, if not an existing State Industrial employee appointed before 1 January 2013, will be a member of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, as defined in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. Under the Scheme, retirement is compulsory on reaching 70 years of age.

Please note that the abatement provisions of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 will apply to applicants who are in receipt of public service pensions.

Outside Employment

The position is full-time and the appointee may not at any time engage in, or be connected with, any outside business or activity which would in any way conflict with the interests of the Department, be inconsistent with their official position, or tend to impair their ability to carry out their duties. Any intention to engage in outside business or employment must be notified to the Civilian Human Resources Section.

Ill-Health Retirement

For an individual who has retired from a Civil or Public Service body on the grounds of ill-health, his or her pension from that employment may be subject to review in accordance with the rules of ill-health retirement within the pension scheme of that employment.

Health

Before being accepted as suitable for appointment, the appointee must satisfy certain criteria including suitability in respect of health. The onus is on the appointee to declare their suitability, to the best of their knowledge and belief, regarding their health status. The appointee will be asked to complete an online health questionnaire. Any misstatements, incomplete statements or false declarations are liable to disqualify the appointee from the competition and or result in the summary termination of their appointment to or employment in the position.

Security Clearance

Garda vetting or security clearance may be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for certain appointments. The proposed appointee may be required to complete and return a Garda Vetting form that will be forwarded to An Garda Síochána for security checks. Enquiries may also be made with the police force of any country in which the proposed appointee resided.

Before appointing a person to a civilian employee position, the Minister for Defence shall be satisfied as to the person’s suitability for appointment to work in a military installation and may make any enquiries deemed necessary.

A person applying for a civilian employee position shall be required to authorise the Garda Síochána to furnish the Secretary General with a statement regarding any convictions recorded against that person.

Pay

The General Operative (GO Band 3) (Rural) pay scale, as and from 1 August 2025, is as follows:

On commencement Point 1 PPC 691.65

After 1 Year Point 2 PPC 727.56

After 2 Years Point 3 PPC 749.85

After 3 Years Point 4 PPC 761.13

After 4 Years Point 5 PPC 769.02

After 5 Years Point 6 PPC 780.21

After 6 Years Point 7 PPC 791.47

After 7 Years Point 8 PPC 795.91

After 8 Years Point 9 PPC 806.91

The General Operative (GO Band 3) (Dublin) pay scale, as and from 1 August 2025, is as follows:

On commencement Point 1 PPC 673.99

After 1 Year Point 2 PPC 709.91

After 2 Years Point 3 PPC 736.87

After 3 Years Point 4 PPC 741.68

After 4 Years Point 5 PPC 752.98

After 5 Years Point 6 PPC 764.28

After 6 Years Point 7 PPC 772.14

After 7 Years Point 8 PPC 783.38

After 8 Years Point 9 PPC 794.58

The rate of pay offered will be the first point of the above scales.

Class A rate of PRSI will apply to any person appointed under this competition. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government policy. Candidates should note that different pay and conditions may apply if, immediately prior to appointment, the appointee is a serving civil or public servant.

Important Note

Increments may be awarded subject to changes in the terms and conditions relating to salary increments in the Civil or Public Service generally.

Payment

Payment will be made weekly by Electronic Fund Transfer into a bank account of the officer’s choice. Payment cannot be made until a bank account number and bank sort code have been supplied to the Department of Defence. Statutory deductions from salary will be made as appropriate.

Declaration

Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit, whether in payment or preserved, from any other Public Service employment and or where they have received a payment in lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

Confidentiality

Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, applications will be treated in strict confidence. All aspects of the application and assessment process are treated as strictly confidential and are not disclosed to anyone outside of those persons directly involved in the assessment process.

Other Important Information

The Department of Defence will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates.

The admission of a person to a campaign, or an invitation to attend any element of the selection process, does not imply that the Department of Defence is satisfied that such person fulfils the requirements of the competition or is not disqualified by law from holding the position, and does not guarantee that the application will receive further consideration. The onus is on the candidate to ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements for the competition before attending. Failure to meet the essential entry requirements may result in unnecessary expense.

Should the person assigned to a post decline, or having accepted it relinquish it, or if an additional vacancy arises, the Department of Defence may, at its discretion, select another person for appointment from the results of this selection process.

Candidates’ Obligations

Candidates must not knowingly or recklessly provide false information.

Canvassing will disqualify candidates and result in exclusion from the process.

Candidates must not canvass any person with or without inducements.

Candidates must not interfere with or compromise the process in any way.

A third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process.

Any person who contravenes these provisions, or assists another person in doing so, is guilty of an offence and may be liable to a fine or imprisonment.

Where a person found guilty of an offence was a candidate and was not appointed, they will be disqualified. Where a person was appointed, they shall forfeit that appointment.

Specific Candidate Criteria

Candidates must have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned.

Candidates must be suitable on the grounds of character.

Candidates must be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned.

If successful, candidates will not be appointed to, or continue in, employment unless they agree to undertake the duties attached to the post, accept the conditions under which the duties are or may be required to be performed, and are fully competent and available to undertake the duties attached to the position.

Deeming of Candidature to be Withdrawn

Candidates who do not attend for interview or other tests when and where required, or who do not furnish requested evidence relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration.

Data Protection Acts 1988, 2003 and 2018

When an application is received, the Department of Defence creates a record containing the personal information supplied. This information is used solely for processing the candidature. Where third parties are involved, such as the Payroll Shared Service Centre, information may be shared where necessary, with all appropriate security measures in place. All information held is subject to the rights and obligations set out in the Data Protection Acts 1988, 2003 and 2018.