General Operative

The Competition

The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel for Kildare County Council from which permanent and temporary posts may be filled by General Operatives as vacancies arise.

The Candidate

It is desirable that candidates demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that they have:

• Has relevant experience to be able to efficiently carry out the duties/responsibilities as detailed above.

• Has good communication and interpersonal skills.

• Has the ability to work independently or within multi-disciplined teams.

• Understands the role of the General Operative.

• Has a good standard of education that will enable them carry out work which may be assigned, including the keeping of records and the submission of reports.

• A sound understanding of Health and Safety Processes as they apply to this environment.

• Self-motivated with a record of demonstrating initiative and ability to use judgement in a workplace environment.

• Flexibility in terms of working hours as the duties can involve working outside of normal hours as required.

• Good public service values and ethics.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties to be assigned include the following although this is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require:

• Driving Council owned plant and vehicles including tractors, pick-up trucks and other similar vehicles.

• General maintenance duties in relation to roads and footpaths including opening water inlets, drainage works, cleaning gullies, tar patching etc.

• Be responsible for the safe keeping of all stores and equipment that has been allocated to him/her for the purpose of carrying out his/her duties.

• Patch–macadam, tar and chippings.

• Street cleaning and power washing.

• Surface dressing, road strengthening, sweep chips, traffic control and treat road for oil spillage.

• Cut grass using ride on mower, lawnmower, strimmers or other similar equipment.

• Planting, cultivation and maintenance of plants in parks, open spaces & public realm areas.

• Arboriculture and tree management works.

• Construction, installation & maintenance of street furniture, pavement and built structures in public realm spaces.

• Maintenance and repairs in playgrounds, outdoor gyms, multi-use games areas, and skateparks.

• Flagman duties.

• Repairing and/or replacing small bridges or culverts to ensure access across the tributaries to the river.

• Assist in fencing, concrete post and rail and concrete post and chain link.

• Build walls, clean & paint signs.

• Chemical spraying and weed control.

• Carrying out any other maintenance, installation, construction and repair work as may be required from time to time.

• Attend to emergency work outside of normal working hours when required.

• Employees must undergo all necessary training, including all Health & Safety and Traffic Management, and be willing to complete retraining as required, including the introduction of new technology.

• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, procedures and legislation at all times.

• Working in a safe manner, in full compliance with the relevant health and safety legislation and construction regulations.

• Co-operation and participation in any systems introduced including the Council’s Performance Management Development Systems (PMDS).

• Any other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

Character:

Each candidate must be of good character.

Health:

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

Education, Training and Experience etc.:

On the latest date for receipt of completed application forms, candidates must:

• Possess the required training and experience to be able to efficiently carry out the duties/responsibilities as detailed above.

• Have a good standard of education that will enable them carry out work which may be assigned.

• Possess good Communication and Interpersonal Skills.

• Have a sound understanding of Health and Safety Processes as they apply to this environment.

• Applicants must hold a current full manual Class B Driving Licence.

Desirable:

• C Licence and/or BE Licence.

• Experience in hard and soft landscaping maintenance and construction.

• Experience in gardening/landscaping/horticulture.

• A qualification in gardening or horticulture.

Please supply copies of any certificates, diplomas or degrees you may have with the application form.

Particulars of Employment

The Post

The post is wholetime (i.e., 39 hours per week) and appointment may be permanent or temporary.

Location

Kildare County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidates to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future.

The successful candidate will be appointed within the Transportation, Mobility & Open Spaces Department and may be based across the 5 Municipal Districts:

Naas

Kildare – Newbridge

Clane – Maynooth

Celbridge – Leixlip

Athy

Candidates should note that opportunities may also arise within other Departments including the Environment and Community and Parks Departments.

The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own means of transport and at their own expense.

Commencement

Kildare County Council shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period, or such other longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, Kildare County Council shall not appoint them.

Working Hours

Normal hours of work will be from 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., Monday to Thursday and 8.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. on a Friday. A Local Productivity Agreement applies from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. on a Friday.

The Council reserves the right to alter your hours of work from time to time. You will be required to work overtime on various occasions for which payment will be made at the appropriate nationally agreed rates.

You will be expected to co-operate with on call arrangements where required.

All hours of work will be subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 and the Organisation of Working Time Act (Regulations) 2001.

Reporting Arrangements

General Operatives report directly to the appropriate supervisor in the Section or to any other employee of Kildare County Council as the Director of Services or other appropriate employee may designate for this purpose.

A system of regular appraisal will be operated during employment, which will involve discussions between the employee and the line manager regarding performance and conduct.

Probationary Period of Employment

Where a person is permanently appointed to Kildare County Council, the following provisions shall apply:

a) there shall be a period after appointment takes effect, during which such a person shall hold the position on probation;

b) such period shall be twelve months, but the Chief Executive may, at their discretion, extend such period;

c) such a person shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation, unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that the service is satisfactory;

d) the period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one weeks’ notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts;

e) there will be assessments during the probationary period.

Remuneration

The present weekly scale is:

€693.83 - €708.09 - €751.26 - €754.80 - €758.19 - €760.10 - €762.06 - €763.983 - €765.88 - €767.90 - €769.90 - €772.00 - €774.08 - €774.08 - €774.87

On appointment successful candidates will be placed on the first point of the salary scale. Appointment to a higher point of the salary scale may apply to candidates employed elsewhere in the public service, subject to verification of service history.

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employees nominated bank account. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, e.g., P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I.

Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

Superannuation & Retirement

A person who becomes a pensionable employee of the County Council will be required in respect of their Superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the appropriate rate.

The terms of the Local Government Superannuation (Consolidation) Scheme 1998 as amended or the Public Services Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 or the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme & Other Provisions) Act 2012 will apply as appropriate on appointment.

Retirement age for employees is dependent on their relevant contract of employment, with due consideration being given to the rules of the Superannuation Scheme to which they belong.