General Operative

The Office of Public Works (OPW) invites applications for the appointment to the position of General Operative Band 3 (Rural) at JFK Memorial Park & Arboretum, Co. Wexford.

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 in the position 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, along with copies of the 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 deemed suitable for appointment by the Interview Board, and a reserve panel effective for a limited period may be formed. Appointment to the position will be subject to satisfactory references and meeting health and vetting requirements.

Placement on the panel does not guarantee or 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 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. Further information is available at the NDLS official website

** 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 areas of work required to be undertaken by a General Operative
• Good knowledge of Health & Safety

Pay

The General Operative Band 3 (Rural) weekly pay scale for the position, as from 1 February 2026, is as follows.

Additional Payments

Various subsistence and allowances are paid where appropriate.

Where applicable, overtime at time and a half or double time is payable for any hours worked in excess of 39 hours per 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. Variations in individual posts will reflect the management and operational requirements of specific sites and areas of work.

• Undertaking landscape and general maintenance duties as required, including grass cutting, lawn mowing, strimming, weeding, weed-killing, scuffling/hoeing, sweeping, hedge cutting, and removing graffiti and weeds from building façades
• Flexibility in the use of different machinery as required by the site foreman
• 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 site machinery as required by management, 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 equipment used in parks and 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 and park
• Undertaking site inspections and security duties, including opening and closing the site, gate duty, grounds patrol duty, and event security
• Monitoring visitor activity on site and reporting security or protection issues to supervisors/managers
• Repairing walls, maintaining roads and walkways, fixing and installing gates and fencing
• Cleaning monuments, walkways, buildings, visitor centres, offices, and canteens in accordance with site requirements
• Carrying out window cleaning and gutter cleaning
• Cleaning toilets as required, opening and closing toilets as directed, and ensuring supplies are stocked up