General Operative

THE POSITION

The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of General Operative. It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which vacancies will be filled during the lifetime of the panel.

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, upkeep of recreation and amenity facilities, etc.

The role is likely to be outdoors (but not limited to), 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.

While initial assignment may be at the preferred Municipal District or to a particular Directorate, the successful candidate may be assigned to any of the Municipal Districts/Directorates under the Chief Executive’s control or to any premises/depot in use by the Council, now or in the future.

Any panel formed will be used to fill permanent or temporary General Operative vacancies (where a temporary panel does not already exist) that may arise during the lifetime of the panel.

Locations of employment include, but not limited to:

• Arklow Municipal District

• Bray Municipal District

• Greystones Municipal District

• Wicklow Municipal District

• Baltinglass Municipal District – includes Blessington area, Baltinglass area & Tinahely area

Please note that any vacant positions that arise in Wicklow County Council’s Recycling Centres will be taken from the relevant Municipal District panels.

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.

3. Education, Experience, etc.

The ideal candidate shall:

• Have reached a standard of education sufficient to enable them to carry out the duties assigned.

• Have a good knowledge and previous experience in Safety, Health & Welfare at work and in dealing with the public.

• Have satisfactory experience relative to the duties outlined.

• Hold a current clean full unendorsed Category B Driving Licence (C1 licence is desirable but not essential).

• Have an ability to work on own initiative without constant supervision.

The successful candidate will be required to undertake any training deemed necessary by the Council.

PLEASE NOTE:

Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document. Failure to do so will deem your application inadmissible.

The onus is on the candidate to ensure that the relevant qualification is listed on their application form. In the event that an offer of employment is made, the candidate will be required to submit all relevant Educational Qualifications in order to meet the requirements above.

DRIVING LICENCE / TRAVEL

The holder of the office will be required to hold a valid Irish/EU full driving licence for class B vehicles or a licence acceptable to NDLS for exchange, free from endorsement and disqualification. They must be a competent driver and shall drive a motor car in the course of his/her duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the Local Authority. The Local Authority must be indemnified on their insurance.

https://www.ndls.ie/help/faq.html#exchange-of-foreign-driving-licence

Where a candidate does not hold a driving licence due to a certified medical condition, they may still be considered for interview. If successful at interview, the candidate will be required to provide an appropriate medical certificate and may be required to attend the Council’s independent medical practitioner for assessment prior to the issue of any contract of employment.

DUTIES

The following is a non-exhaustive list of key duties and responsibilities which may be assigned to a General Operative. The person employed shall be required to carry out, under the supervision of the Area Supervisor and other supervisory staff, such duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Duties include the construction and maintenance of pavements, roads, buildings, working in the water services area, recycling centres, etc. Duties will also include:

• To report any workplace accident or dangerous or abnormal occurrence to the Area Supervisor.

• To undergo such training, including Health & Safety training, as may be deemed necessary from time to time by the Council (either on the job or at any training or educational institution).

• To work either alone or as part of a crew as required. To cooperate with other colleagues and other Sections of the Council.

• To be polite and courteous when dealing with members of the public in the course of work.

• To use such personal protective safety clothing or equipment as may be issued from time to time and to observe proper use conditions.

• To assist other Council trade, technical and engineering staff as necessary.

Other duties may include but are not limited to:

(a) Carrying out duties of a general operative nature in the Roads, Environment, Housing and other areas that may be assigned.

(b) Operating equipment, tools and machinery.

(c) Following instructions from supervisor and District Engineer.

(d) Setting out temporary traffic management.

(e) Installing covers and frames.

(f) Assuming personal responsibility for own safety at work.

(g) Availability for out-of-hours and winter maintenance works.

(h) Participation in on-call roster.

(i) Driving duties if assigned.

(j) Serving Tradesperson.

(k) Working collaboratively with other staff.

(l) Dealing effectively and courteously with customers and members of the public.

(m) Working collaboratively with private and subcontractors.

(n) Using IT equipment and handheld devices as directed.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

The following are desirable but not essential:

• Hold a current valid Safepass Card.

• Hold a current valid Manual Handling Certificate.

• Hold a valid Class C1 Driving Licence.

• Have good knowledge and previous experience in general maintenance work, particularly road maintenance and construction of road projects.

• Some form of technical qualification and a reasonable level of IT skills.

PRINCIPAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Panels may be formed from which future General Operative positions may be filled. The position will be full-time and pensionable. The successful candidate(s) may be assigned as required to any of the Municipal Districts/Directorates under the Chief Executive’s control or to any premises/location in use by the Council now or in the future.

Duties:

The duties of the office are to give to the local authority and:

(a) To such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts 2001–2014, is Chief Executive, and

(b) To any other local authority or body with which an agreement has been made by the local authority or by any of the authorities or bodies mentioned above.

Under the general direction and control of the Chief Executive or of such other officer as the Chief Executive may determine, the holder shall provide appropriate professional/technical and ancillary services as may be required by any local authority or body hereinbefore mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties. The holder of the office will, if required, act for an officer of a higher level.

PROBATION

Where persons who are not already permanent officers of a Local Authority are appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) There shall be a period after such appointments take effect, during which such persons shall hold office on probation.

(b) Such period shall be three months (temporary contract) and six months (permanent contract). This period may be extended at the Chief Executive’s discretion.

(c) Such persons shall cease to hold such office at the end of the period of probation unless, during such period, the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory.

SALARY

€684.25 - €765.29 per week in accordance with Circular EL 07/2025.

The salary shall be fully inclusive and determined in line with national policy. The holder shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than inclusive salary) received by virtue of their office. Starting pay shall be determined in accordance with appropriate Departmental Circulars. New entrants will be placed on the minimum of the salary scale.

HOURS OF WORK

The person appointed will be required to work a 39-hour week, Monday to Friday.

8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday

8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Friday

The Council reserves the right to alter working hours. Successful candidates may be requested to work outside of core hours on various occasions. Overtime remuneration will be paid in accordance with agreed rates and procedures.

GARDA VETTING

Candidates may be subject to Garda Vetting. Appointment(s) will be considered having regard to satisfactory vetting, particularly to determine suitability to work with children/vulnerable adults.

CITIZENSHIP

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) – EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

b) A citizen of the United Kingdom.

c) A citizen of Switzerland.

d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA/UK/Swiss citizen and has a Stamp 4 visa.

e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or a family member entitled to remain under family reunification.

f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state, the UK, or Switzerland, and holds a Stamp 4 visa.

WORK PERMIT

All non-EU/EEA citizens must hold a valid work permit prior to and for the duration of their contract. It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain a valid work permit. Failure to do so will result in immediate termination of employment.

HEALTH

Successful candidates must undergo, at their own expense, a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner nominated by the local authority. Expenses will be refunded upon appointment.

RESIDENCE

Holders of the office shall reside in the district in which their duties are performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

ANNUAL LEAVE

Annual leave entitlement will be 25 days per annum, exclusive of public holidays.