General Operatives

The Office of Public Works (OPW) invites applications for positions in the grade of General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver in the OPW’s West Region Arterial Drainage Maintenance and Construction Services Division.

The OPW is responsible for the maintenance of arterial drainage schemes completed under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act, the construction and maintenance of flood defence schemes under the 1995 (Amendment) Act and under Planning and Development Legislation (Local Authority led schemes). The West Region Division also provides professional advice on the advancement of flood defence schemes and related matters. Schemes construction by the West Region division are carried out using the “Direct managed Works Model” consisting of a large direct labour workforce, supplemented as necessary by private section suppliers and sub-contractors. This is 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 General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver Arterial Drainage Maintenance and Construction Services Division, and who meet the essential eligibility requirements, should submit a completed and signed application form. The selection process may include a short-listing process, based on the information supplied on the application form, which will determine those to be invited to competitive interview.

The General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver position is a Non-Established State Industrial post based on a 39-hour week, (Monday to Friday) and is subject to a seven-month probation period which may be extended to ten 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 for the position during the Probation Period. The actual hours of attendance are determined by local management requirements. The competitive interview process, will be used by OPW to select the candidate that is deemed suitable for appointment to fill the position and a reserve panel, effective for a limited period, may be formed and may be used to fill certain sanctioned seasonal, fixed term or permanent positions, that may arise in West Region Drainage Maintenance and Construction Services Division. Placement on panel(s) does not guarantee nor imply that an offer of employment will be made to those placed on same. In the event that an offer of an 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 requirements of the role and achieving the required standard on a practical driving assessment. In the event that the candidate does not satisfactorily meet the OPW’s requirements with regard to health, references and Garda vetting, the candidate will receive no further consideration under the competition and will not proceed to appointment. Existing Internal/Open panels take precedence for appointment over any panels established under this competition. Separate panels for the Headford Depot area, the Ballina Depot area and the Lifford Depot area will be formed in the order of merit on each panel as determined by the Interview Board. General Operative Band 2 (Rural)//360° Excavator Driver - Arterial Drainage Maintenance & Construction Service positions

(1) Counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and any works managed by the Headford Depot Area A. Arterial Drainage Maintenance B. Construction Services Division

(2) Counties Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and any works managed by the Ballina Depot Area. C. Arterial Drainage Maintenance D. Construction Services Division (3) Counties Donegal, Leitrim and any works managed by the Lifford Depot Area. E. Arterial Drainage Maintenance F. Construction Services Division

The following process will apply in relation to offers: Candidates may indicate preferences for positions in either Arterial Drainage Maintenance or in Construction Services, however, the following process will apply in relation to offers. Candidates may refuse any offers of Seasonal, Fixed Term or Permanent positions for A,C or E in Arterial Drainage Maintenance or B,D or F in Construction Services only once and one form of contract, whether Seasonal, Fixed Term or Permanent only once each. If a candidate refuses any of the above options, no further offer will be made for that specific form of contract in a specific location within either Arterial Drainage Maintenance or Construction Services. Candidate will however remain on other panels for which they have indicated a preference for the duration of the panel(s). All offers are made in order of merit on reserve panels following a competitive interview process.

For example: Candidate Z indicates a preference for Arterial Drainage Maintenance in Locations (1) Headford Depot and (2) Ballina Depot and Construction Services in Location (1) Headford Depot. Candidate Z is offered a Seasonal post in (A) Arterial Drainage Maintenance in geographic location covered by the Headford Depot. Candidate Z refuses this post, so he/she will no longer be offered a Seasonal post in (A) Arterial Drainage Maintenance in geographic location covered by the Headford depot. However, Candidate Z will remain on panel to be offered a Fixed Term or Permanent post in (A) Arterial Drainage Maintenance in geographic location covered by the Headford Depot and either a Seasonal, Fixed term or Permanent post in (C) Arterial Drainage Maintenance in geographic location covered by the Ballina Depot and either seasonal, fixed term or permanent in Construction Services in geographic location covered by the Headford Depot.

If Candidate Z turns down each job offer in turn, he/she will slowly reduce their options and eventually not be offered Arterial Drainage Maintenance or Construction Service contracts of Seasonal, Fixed Term or Permanent, based in either any of the selected geographic locations.

Essential Eligibility Criteria: (at the closing date)

• Hold a current CSCS card for 3600 Excavator (for category greater than 5 tonne) and have work experience in operating same;
• Hold a current full, clean and current manual driving licence, category B & W;*1,2

Note: * (1) If your Irish driving licence is restricted to driving cars with an automatic transmission only (denoted by the code 78 appearing on the licence), you are not eligible. (2)From 1 January 2021 if you are resident in Ireland and hold a UK/NI driving licence, it is no longer valid to drive on here in Ireland. It is not legal for driving purposes, and must therefore be exchanged. It is vital that you have a valid driving licence and that you are legally allowed to drive in Ireland by exchanging a UK/NI licence for an Irish driving licence. Further information available on: www.ndls.ie

• Hold a current Safe Pass card;**

Note: ** 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. Failure to supply copies of requested documentary evidence, as detailed above, with your application will deem your application invalid and will therefore be disqualified. (Do not forward original documents with application form). Original documents will be required if you are invited to interview. Candidates should note that the admission to a competition does not imply that the Office of Public Works is satisfied that they fulfil the essential entry requirements. Therefore, the onus is on candidates to ensure that they meet these requirements prior to submitting their applications.

Reporting Relationship/Work Area The General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 3600 Excavator Driver (Arterial Drainage Maintenance or Construction Service Division), will be assigned a location/function by the relevant Head of Section (Engineer Grade 1) and will report to the Engineer Grade 2 and any other person to whom authority has been assigned or delegated. Requirements and Principal Duties of a General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver (Arterial Drainage Maintenance or Construction Service Division)

Note: The following list, which is not exhaustive, sets out the broad range of duties that may be required to be undertaken by a General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver (Arterial Drainage Maintenance or Capital Construction Scheme). Variances in the requirements of individual posts will reflect the management and operational requirements of individual sites and areas of work.

• Undertake the operation and control of hydraulic excavators and other machinery on the Scheme under the direction of the Engineer/Foreman;
• Supervise machine/site operations under the direction of the Engineer/ Foreman;
• Carry out channel maintenance and construction operations;
• Carry out instream enhancement works as directed by line management;
• Undertake scheme structure inspections on bridges and ancillary structures;
• Assist with scheme structure repairs and scheme structure replacement;
• Assist with embankment inspections and work on embankment repairs and refurbishment;
• Assist occasionally with manual channel maintenance operations;
• Maintain quality (ISO) records and communications records as required;
• Liaise with landowners, Inland Fisheries Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service and others;
• Comply with all Health & Safety procedures as directed;
• Comply with all environmental protocols and requirements as directed;
• Attend and achieve the required standard in induction training, training courses in manual handling, and other courses in environmental conservation, construction, supervision and health & safety as required by the OPW;
• Carry out civil engineering earthworks and construction operations;
• Supervise machine/site operations under the direction of the Engineer/ Foreman;
• Undertake ground works including trial excavations, duct work, pipe work, hand-digging etc.;
• Assist with construction of precast and in-situ concrete works, construction of large bridges and culverts etc.;
• Assist with scheme structure repairs and scheme structure replacement;
• Assist with works on embankment construction, repairs and inspections,
• Shuttering Formwork: experience in assembling shuttering;
• Interpret drawings and undertaking steel works - steel fixing, cutting/bending steel as required;
• Understanding of construction risk assessments and method statements.

The General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver is also required to undertake General Operative Band 3 duties.

The following list, which is not exhaustive, is indicative of the role of the General Operative Band 3:

• Concrete works; shuttering; concreting; steel-fixing; block work;
• Ground works including duct work, pipe work, hand-digging etc.;
• Plant operation, as appropriate to training received;
• Manual spraying operations, as appropriate to training received;
• Scaffolding, as appropriate to training received;
• Assist with structure inspections;
• Work on the construction and repair of bridges and other structures;
• Work on channel maintenance operations and undertake all associated tasks i.e. remove silt and debris, fence, cut back foliage etc.;
• Assist with embankment inspections;
• General maintenance of depots and installations;
• Operation of plant/equipment, including chainsaws and pole saws;
• Driving vehicles;
• Maintain quality (ISO) records and communications, as required.

The General Operative is required to:

• Demonstrate flexibility and mobility, consistent with the needs of the service;
• Contribute to and maintain a good team spirit and an effective team-working environment;
• Remain calm while working under pressure when effectively dealing with incidents;
• Make sound judgements in emergency situations;
• Work on own initiative in accordance with manager/supervisor instructions whilst being an effective part of a larger team;
• Apply excellent and effective interpersonal and communication skills coupled with a professional, polite and courteous manner when dealing with colleagues, management and the public;
• Apply a positive, flexible and proactive approach to work allied with an ability to deliver an effective work presence;
• Carry out all work in an efficient and safe manner, in accordance with the directions of the Engineer/Foreman, with regard to self, colleagues and the public through understanding, observance and application of Health and Safety requirements;
• Successfully undertake training as and when required;
• Be physically capable of meeting the full range of the requirements of the position;
• Carry out other duties/works deemed by management as reasonable and appropriate to the grade and to the position;
• Co-operate with the operation of and introduction of new work practices and technology e.g. tablets, smart phones, vehicle tracking, electronic information circulation incl. location reporting.

Special working conditions apply:

• Manual handling and lifting of awkward / heavy loads;
• Mechanical lifting of awkward / heavy loads;
• Environmental awareness;
• Working at heights and in confined spaces;
• Working in inclement weather conditions;
• Management of traffic and assisting with plant mobilisation to and from sites;
• Dealing sensitively with members of the public/property owners;
• Hazards – sharps, chemicals, traffic, wildlife, uneven/soft ground, disorderly members of the public;
• Working in or near water;
• Working in large urban areas;
• Working in isolated rural areas.
• Management of plant working adjacent to overhead electric power lines and other utility infrastructure.
• Appointees will be required to report directly to work, as directed by management, to any location in the areas under the responsibility of the assigned OPW Depot under which the position is being offered.

Contacts with:

• Staff of the Office of Public Works;
• Local Authorities, semi-state and other service/utility providers;
• Members of the public;
• External contractors and suppliers;
• Land/property owners.

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

Citizenship Requirements Eligible candidates must be: (a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or (b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or (c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or (d) A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 41 or a Stamp 5 visa; 1 Please note that a 50 TEU visa, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent. To qualify candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer. Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility). Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Pay

€699.48 - €853.01 per week