General Operative

The Role General Operatives are frontline service employees who are involved in the delivery of a wide range of key local authority services in the heart of communities. Typical services include roads and transportation, maintenance of social housing units and estates, environmental and drainage works and the upkeep of recreation and amenity facilities. The role is likely to be outdoors, operational and manual and the duties will vary according to the functional area to which the person is assigned. The ideal candidate will be highly motivated, adaptable, flexible, capable of acting on their own initiative and someone with a strong sense of commitment to delivering quality public services.

Duties: The person employed shall be required to work as part of a maintenance crew in any of the service areas of the Council and carry out duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her in relation to his/her employment and as may be appropriate to any particular function of the local authority for which the Chief Executive is responsible and carry out such instruction as may be given in relation to the performance of duties. The Senior Engineer or any such person designated may assign any other duties as he/she sees fit at his/her absolute discretion. The typical duties which a General Operative carry out would include, but are not be limited to the following:- • To carry out duties of a general operative nature in the areas of roads, parks, playgrounds and open spaces, cleansing and litter cleaning; drainage, and the general maintenance of the public realm; • To sow and plant shrubs, plants and landscaping activities, moving and digging top soil, plant watering and other such duties as assigned by a supervisor; • To undertake works that may include: patch-macadam, tar and chippings; surface dressing, road strengthening, sweep chips, traffic control; open water cuts; mix mortar in concrete mixer; the use of wheelbarrow, yard brush, shovel; • To maintain drainage, road sewers, clean gullies; treat roads for oil spillage; cut grass and the use of lawnmowers, bushcutters, strimmers and assist in fencing; spread gravel; build walls, clean paint signs; to empty bins and litter picking and general cleansing; • To be responsible for the safe keeping of equipment that has been allocated to General Operatives for the purpose of carrying out their duties; • To assume personal responsibility for your own safety at work; • To be responsible for the maintenance of good work practices and working relationships; • To maintain and communicate information for the effective delivery of service; • To maintain and upkeep of housing stock. OTHER DUTIES: ▪ Being available as part of the out of hours, call out systems of the Council, such as in relation to winter maintenance and emergency response; ▪ To participate fully in any initiatives aimed at increasing quality of service and customer satisfaction; ▪ To assist and liaise with other County Council Departments on works and emergencies; ▪ To co-operate with, and contribute to, operational review and value for money initiatives; ▪ To co-operate with, and contribute to, any initiatives aimed at increasing safety in the workplace; ▪ To keep records as required by the Supervisor; ▪ To deal with members of the public in a courteous, prompt and efficient manner and to keep the District Engineer, or his/her appointed representative, informed of such dealings; ▪ To use as directed, and upon receipt of appropriate training, Information Technology equipment including digital cameras, personal computers, GPS equipment and hand held technologies and or two way car radio/mobile phone as directed. ▪ To accept the introduction of all new plant, equipment and machinery, and to be flexible in the use of same. ▪ To co-operate with, and participate in, new work systems that involve the keeping and updating of work/materials/plant records in either book or electronic format; ▪ To co-operate with private contractors and sub-contractors employed by Westmeath County Council; ▪ To undergo training for Health & Safety and to participate and co-operate with all training programmes and initiatives to improve technical skills and general performance as required ▪ To carry out any other instructions which may be given by the District Engineer, or his/her appointed representative, from time to time.

The above is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive, it will be subject to periodic review with the post holder. Holders of the post may be assigned to work in all appropriate areas in the course of their employment, or in any area or activity under the control of the Chief Executive. QUALIFICATIONS 1. Character Candidates shall be of good character. 2. Health Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. Candidates may be required to satisfy medical requirements prior to appointment. 3. Education, Experience, Training etc. Each candidate must on the closing date for receipt of application forms :- a) Have a good standard of education to enable the duties of the post to be performed to the satisfaction of the Local Authority b) Have satisfactory experience relative to the duties outlined c) Hold a current, unendorsed full Class B Driving Licence; d) Have a good knowledge and awareness of Health & Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee and their application in the workplace.

Desirable skills: The ideal candidate should be able to demonstrate the following :- a) Have a good knowledge of the services provided by Westmeath County Council and dealing with the public b) Possess a current and valid Safe Pass registration card c) Have a willingness to learn and aptitude to use all new technology and information systems and have a natural aptitude for the use of equipment d) Have the ability to work on own initiative without constant supervision Particulars of Post 1. The post A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel may be used to fill permanent & temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel. Vacancies may arise on a county-wide basis. Westmeath County Council reserves the right to assign employees to any work location having regard to funding and/or operational circumstances. 2. Rate of Pay The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay.

The current pay scale applicable to the General Operative post is €620.76 to €700.19 per week as per Circular EL 02/2023. New Entrants to the Local Authority Service commence on the 1st point of the scale in accordance with current Government Policy as set out in Department of the Environment Circular Letter EL 02/2011 of 28th January 2011 and Circular EL 05/2016 dated 5th February 2016. Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employee’s nominated bank account. The current pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment. Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions e.g. PAYE and PRSI. 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. 3. Work Hours Normal hours of work will be 39 hours per week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday and from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, with a half-hour for lunch. The Council reserves the right to alter your hours of work from time to time. All hours worked 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. 4. Annual Leave The current annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum (including a day for Good Friday and a day to be taken at Christmas). Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangement for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. 5. Sick Leave The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail. 6. Work Location Westmeath County Council reserves the right to assign you to any department, premises or district in use by the Council, now or in the future. Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to provide him/herself at his/her own expense with the necessary mode of travel to and from work. 7. Probation There shall be a period after appointment takes effect during which the person appointed shall hold office on probation. (a) such period shall be one year, but the Chief Executive may at his/her discretion extend such period; (b) the person appointed shall cease to hold office at the end of the period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of the person in such office is satisfactory. 8. Training It is a condition of employment that successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the skills necessary for the performance of the duties attaching to the post. 9. Residence Holders of the office shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof. 10. Superannuation A person who becomes a pensionable employee of a local authority who is liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children). A person who becomes a pensionable employee of a local authority who is liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of his/her superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of pensionable remuneration.