General Operative

The Office of Public Works (OPW) invites applications for the appointment to the position of General Operative Band 3 (Rural) at Killmacurragh Arboretum, Co. Wicklow.

The position, which may subject to local requirements be fixed-term or permanent, is a Non-Established State Industrial post based on a standardised 39-hour week (full-time) rostered over 5 days (Monday to Friday).

The appointment will be subject to a probationary period of 7 months, which may be extended to 10 months under certain circumstances. Continuation in employment following the end of the probation period will be dependent upon the appointee fully meeting the requirements of the position during the probation period.

The actual hours of attendance are determined by local management requirements.

The position will be filled by way of an open OPW recruitment competition to which applicants with the minimum eligibility requirements may apply.

Persons who wish to be considered for appointment to the above position should submit a completed and signed application form, and copies of specified required supporting documentation.

A short-listing assessment, based on the information supplied in the application form, will be used by OPW to select applicants who will be invited to attend for competitive interview.

The competitive interview process will be used by OPW to select candidates determined by the Interview Board as suitable for appointment to fill the position, and a reserve panel effective for a limited period may be formed.

Appointment to the position will be subject to the provision of satisfactory references and meeting requirements for satisfactory health and vetting.

Placement on the panel does not guarantee nor imply that an offer of employment will be made to those placed on it.

In the event that an offer of appointment is made, it will be made in the order of merit of those on the relevant panel regardless of the length of contract period offered and the specific area(s) in which the position would be based.

Appointments to approved positions of employment are made as and when considered appropriate by OPW management and will be subject to the candidate meeting the OPW’s requirements regarding health, references, and Garda vetting.

If the candidate does not satisfactorily meet the OPW’s requirements regarding health, references, and Garda vetting, the candidate will receive no further consideration under the competition and will not proceed to appointment.

OPW Areas of Responsibility

The OPW’s areas of responsibility include Heritage Services and Flood Risk Management.

The OPW’s Heritage Services has responsibility for the protection, care, and maintenance of 780 heritage sites nationwide, including national monuments, historical parks, gardens, and buildings.

Essential Eligibility Requirements (at the closing date)

• A full, clean and current manual driving licence, category B & W
• Current Safe Pass Card

Notes

• If your Irish driving licence is restricted to driving cars with an automatic transmission only (denoted by code 78 appearing on the licence), you are not eligible.
• From 1 January 2021, if you are resident in Ireland and hold a UK/NI driving licence, it is no longer valid to drive in Ireland. It must be exchanged for an Irish driving licence.
• Where a current Safe Pass Card is not available, proof of successful completion of the Safe Pass Course prior to the closing date will be accepted.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience, training, and qualifications in the areas of work required to be undertaken by a General Operative
• Good knowledge of Health & Safety

Additional Payments

Various subsistence and allowances are paid where appropriate.

Where applicable, overtime of time and a half or double time is payable for any hours worked in excess of 39 hours a week.

Annual Leave and Public Holidays

Annual leave is granted in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Currently the maximum allowance is 25 days per annum.

Annual leave allowance for staff working less than full-time is calculated on a pro-rata basis to that of a full-time equivalent.

Good Friday is a fixed day of annual leave.

Public holidays will be granted in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Responsibilities and Principal Duties of a General Operative Band 3 (Rural)

Note: The following list is not exhaustive and sets out the broad range of duties that may be required of a General Operative Band 3. Variances in the requirements of individual posts will reflect the management and operational requirements of individual sites and areas of work.

• Undertaking landscape and general maintenance duties such as grass cutting, mowing lawns, strimming, weeding, weed-killing, sweeping, hedge cutting, removing graffiti, and weeds from building facades
• Assisting and working with craft grades such as Carpenters, Electricians, Plasterers, Plumbers, and Fitters in undertaking works including laying paths/kerbs, mixing concrete/mortar/plaster, scaffolding, painting, and planting
• Driving and operating vehicles and other site machinery as required, including ride-on and pedestrian lawn mowers, tractors and associated machinery, small hydraulic excavators, and dumpers
• Operating light equipment including leaf blowers, knapsack sprayers, hedge trimmers, and other light equipment to undertake general parks/garden maintenance
• Operating chainsaws and assisting with arboricultural works (training provided)
• Operating an access platform (training provided)
• Assisting Gardeners with the implementation of floral and horticultural features in the gardens/park
• Undertaking site inspections and security duties including opening and closing sites, gate duty, grounds patrol duty, and event security
• Monitoring visitor activity on site and reporting to supervisors/managers regarding the security and protection of the site and monument
• Repairing walls, maintaining roads and walkways, fixing and installing gates/fencing
• Cleaning monuments, walkways, and site areas/buildings including visitor centres, offices, and canteens
• Carrying out window cleaning and gutter cleaning
• Cleaning toilets as required, opening and closing toilets as directed, and keeping supplies stocked up

Reporting Relationship

The General Operative Band 3 (Rural) will report to the Chargehand/Foreperson and to any other person to whom authority has been assigned and/or delegated.

This job description is intended as a general guide to the range of duties and is neither definitive nor restrictive.

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

• A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway
• A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK)
• A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons
• A non-EEA citizen who has a Stamp 4 or a Stamp 5 visa

Please note that a Stamp 50 TEU visa, which replaced Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent.

To qualify, candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer.

All non-EU/EEA citizens must hold a valid work permit prior to and for the duration of their contract.

The work permit must allow full-time work for the Office of Public Works.

It is the responsibility of individual employees to ensure they hold a valid work permit.

If at any stage during the contract a valid work permit is no longer held, the employee must immediately advise the Office of Public Works and employment will cease with immediate effect.