General Operatives

The Office of Public Works (OPW) invites applications for permanent, fixed term and seasonal positions that may arise at the grade of General Operative Band 3 (Rural) in the areas within the responsibility of the Dromahair National Monuments District. The Dromahair National Monuments District covers Counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon and Longford, and has a main depot in Dromahair, and sub depots in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Carrowmore, Co. Sligo, Boyle Co. Roscommon and Foxford, Co. Mayo.

The positions are Non-Established State Industrial posts based on a 39-hour week (full-time) rostered over 5 days, (Monday to Friday) and appointments 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 positions during the Probation Period. The actual hours of attendance are determined by local management requirements. This is an 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 application form, and copies of specified required documentation. Selection for appointment to the position will be determined by the Interview Board through a competitive interview process. The Interview Board will make its decisions based on the interview with each candidate who is invited to the interview and a reserve panel, effective for a limited period, may be formed. Any offer of a position will be subject to the candidate satisfactorily meeting the OPW’s requirements with regard to references, health and Garda vetting. In the event that the candidate does not satisfactorily meet the OPW’s requirements in these regards, 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): Candidates must have, on the closing date for receipt of applications the following minimum requirements:

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

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

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.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience, training and qualifications in the areas of work required to be undertaken by a General Operative. Responsibilities and Principal Duties of a General Operative Band 3 (Rural)

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

• Working on restoration and conservation works;
• Assisting and working with craft grades such as Stonemasons, Stonecutters, Carpenters, Gardeners, Electricians, Plasterers, Plumbers and Fitters in undertaking works e.g. laying paths/kerbs, mixing concrete/mortar/plaster, scaffolding, planting and painting;
• Drive and operate vehicles and other site machinery as required by management including ride on and pedestrian lawn mowers, tractors and associated machinery, small hydraulic excavators and dumpers;
• Undertaking landscape and general maintenance duties as required e.g. grass cutting, mowing lawns, strimming, weeding, weed-killing, scuffling/hoeing, sweeping, cutting hedges, removing graffiti and weeds from building facade, etc.;
• Operate light equipment to include: Leaf blowers, knap sac sprayers, hedge trimmers, and other light equipment to undertake general parks/garden maintenance;
• To operate chainsaws and assist with arboricultural works; (training provided)
• To operate an access platform; (training provided)
• To assist Gardeners with the implementation of floral and horticultural features in the Gardens/Parks;
• Preparation and clearance of exhibitions and furniture moving;
• Undertake Site Inspections and Security duties, to include opening and closing site, gate duty, grounds patrol duty and event security; monitoring visitor activity on site; ensure and report to supervisor/manager on the security and protection of the site and monument;
• Cleaning of monuments, walk-ways and site area/buildings (including visitor centre/offices/canteen) as directed in accordance with requirements; window cleaning and gutter cleaning; cleaning of toilets, as and when required; open and close toilets as directed; keep supplies stocked up;
• To assist with keeping parks/gardens litter free. Work will involve hand-picking and automated litter collection, emptying bins, etc., Collecting and disposing of litter from both inside and outside the site, Recycling;
• Know and understand Health & Safety, keeping areas of work clean, tidy and safe;
• Carrying out other duties which are considered appropriate to the grade.

Special working conditions apply:

• Five-day working week (39 hours), Monday to Friday, and hours of attendance will be arranged according to local management requirements;
• Working alone and in teams;
• Working in inclement weather;
• Regular physical activity;
• Working with blades, chemicals, paints, cleaning agents;
• Lifting awkward / heavy loads; Climbing scaffolding / Working at heights;
• Operation of plant / equipment; Driving Vehicles;
• Hazards, sharps including syringes, traffic, wildlife, disorderly members of the public;
• Environmental awareness;
• Traffic – assisting with plant mobilisation to and from sites;
• Working in or near water, working in confined spaces and walking or working on uneven ground;
• Wildlife.

A General Operative Band 3 (Rural) 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 the energy, enthusiasm and the willingness to contribute effectively to a positive visitor experience for the public and to keep abreast of OPW activities;
• apply a positive, flexible and proactive approach to work allied with an ability to deliver an effective work presence
• carry out all work in a safe manner both to colleagues and to the public through understanding, observance and application of Health and Safety regulations;
• successfully undertake training as and when required;
• carry out other duties/works deemed by management as appropriate to the grade and to the position;
• Co-operate with the introduction of new work practices and technology;
• Comply with all Health & Safety procedures as directed;
• Attend and achieve the required standard in induction training, training courses in manual handling, and any other courses in supervision and health & safety as required by the OPW.

Contacts with:

• staff of the Office of Public Works;
• members of the public;
• external contractors and suppliers;
• land/property owners.

Notes

• Attendance on site at weekends and on public holidays as required.

Reporting Arrangements:

The General Operative reports to: -

• District Works Manager;
• Foreperson;
• Chargehand;
• Any other person to whom authority has been assigned and/or delegated.

Age On the closing date for receipt of applications for this position, the following are the eligibility requirements with regard to age; - the minimum age requirement for potential applicants is 18; - the appointee will be a member of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, as defined in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. Under the Scheme, retirement is compulsory on reaching 70 years of age.

Outside Employment The position is whole-time and the appointee may not at any time engage in, or be connected with, any outside business or activity which would in any way conflict with the interests of the OPW, or be inconsistent with their official positions, or tend to impair their ability to carry out their duties. For this reason, an appointee who intends to be engaged in or connected with any outside business or employment should inform the OPW HR Management (Operational) Section of such an intention. Ill-Health Retirement For an individual who has retired from a Civil/Public service body on the grounds of ill-health his/her pension from that employment may be subject to review in accordance with the rules of ill-health retirement within the pension scheme of that employment.

Health Before being accepted as suitable for appointment, the appointee must satisfy certain criteria including suitability in respect of health. The onus is on the appointee to declare their suitability, to the best of their knowledge and belief, regarding their health status, and in this regard, the appointee will be asked to complete a health self-declaration statement. Please note that any misstatements, incomplete statements and/or false declarations are liable to disqualify the appointee from the competition and/or result in the summary termination of their appointment to/employment in the position.

Security Clearance Garda vetting may be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for appointment. The proposed appointee may be required to complete and return a Garda Vetting form, which will be forwarded to An Garda Síochána for security checks to be undertaken. Enquiries may also be made with the police force of any country in which the proposed appointee resided. Persons selected for appointment under this competition may receive offers of appointment, the commencement and continuation of which would be subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting of the proposed appointees

Pay The General Operative Band 3 (Rural) weekly pay scale for the position, as and from 1st January 2024, is as follows: €621.16 - €762.55 per week The successful candidate will be paid at the appropriate point of the pay scale. Important Note: Increments may be awarded subject to changes in the terms and conditions relating to salary increments in the Civil/Public Service generally. Payment will be made weekly by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) into a bank account of an officer’s choice. Payment cannot be made until a bank account number and bank sort code has been supplied to the Office of Public Works. Statutory deductions from salary will be made as appropriate.

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.

Declaration: Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

Confidentiality Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 applications will be treated in strict confidence. All aspects of the application and assessment process are treated as strictly confidential and are not disclosed to anyone, outside of those persons directly involved in an aspect of the assessment process.

Other important information The Office of Public Works will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates. The admission of a person to a campaign, or an invitation to attend any element of the selection process, is not to be taken as implying that the Office of Public Works is satisfied that such person fulfils the requirements of the competition or is not disqualified by law from holding the position and does not carry a guarantee that your application will receive further consideration. It is important, therefore, for you to note that the onus is on you to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the competition before attending. If you do not meet these essential entry requirements but nevertheless attend for selection tests/interview(s) you will be putting yourself to unnecessary expense. Should the person assigned to a post decline, or having accepted it, relinquish it or if an additional vacancy arises the Office of Public Works, may, at its discretion, select another person for appointment on the results of this selection process.

Candidates' Obligations

• Candidates must not knowingly or recklessly provide false information;
• Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify and will result in their exclusion from the process.
• Candidates must not canvass any person with or without inducements;
• Candidates must not interfere with or compromise the process in any way;
• a third party must not personate a candidate at any stage of the process;
• any person who contravenes the above provisions or who assists another person in contravening the above provisions is guilty of an offence. A person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine/or imprisonment;
• in addition, where a person found guilty of an offence was or is a candidate at a recruitment process, then: where he/she has not been appointed to a post, he/she will be disqualified as a candidate; and where he/she has been appointed subsequently to the recruitment process in question, he/she shall forfeit that appointment.

Specific candidate criteria Candidates must:

• have the knowledge and ability to discharge the duties of the post concerned;
• be suitable on the grounds of character;
• be suitable in all other relevant respects for appointment to the post concerned; and if successful, they will not be appointed to the post, or, if appointed, continue in employment in the post, unless they
• agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed;
• are fully competent and available to undertake, and fully capable of undertaking, the duties attached to the position.

Deeming of candidature to be withdrawn Candidates who do not attend for interview or other test when and where required by Office of Public Works, or who do not, when requested, furnish such evidence as the Office of Public Works require in regard to any matter relevant to their candidature, will have no further claim to consideration.

Data Protection and Confidentiality Statement By submitting an application form for the purpose of applying for recruitment to, or promotion or assignment within, the Office of Public Works, candidates give consent for the personal data submitted to be processed as part of the selection process and administration of that competition. By consenting to this agreement, candidates give permission for the data submitted as part of this application form to be processed by Office of Public Works HR Management (Operational) section for the purpose of administration and for relevant data to be made available to assessment boards for the purpose of assessing and selecting the most suitable candidate(s). Other than the copy of the Driving Licence and Safe Pass Card which will be retained for administrative purposes in the event that a candidature proceeds to appointment, the data submitted will not be used for any other purpose and will be retained in accordance with the Office of Public Works retention policy. All such information will be maintained safely and securely in line with the provisions of the Data Protection Acts and Regulations. Personal information will be treated in confidence and will not be shared with any party outside of those outlined as part of the selection process and administration of the competition.

Application Process and Selection Process Applications for the post are invited from persons who meet the essential eligibility requirements above. A short-listing process will be used in order to determine those applicants who will be invited to attend for competitive interview. The short-listing process will be based on an assessment of the information supplied on the Application Form. When completing the Application Form, please take the opportunity to provide as much information as possible and to demonstrate relevant qualities and experience to support your application. Following shortlisting, suitable applicants will be invited to attend for a competitive interview.

The competitive interview process will be used by OPW to select the candidate determined by the Interview Board as being the most suitable to fill the position and a panel of the next most suitable candidates, effective for a limited period, may be formed. Appointments by the OPW to approved positions of employment are made as and when considered appropriate by OPW management and will be subject to:

• Receipt of satisfactory references for the candidate;
• The candidate meeting the health requirements for the position;
• The candidate passing Garda Vetting Requirements. If a panel member does not accept an offer of appointment, when made, that panel member may not receive further offers of appointment. Candidates may be required to provide satisfactory documentary evidence of all qualifications claimed by them, which must be provided promptly on request. Failure to produce such documentary evidence when requested may lead to disqualification from the competition and/or termination of contract. Applicants must include, with their application form:
• A clear copy of their Driving Licence, back and front. (required to verify the essential eligibility requirement, to verify age in respect of the age limits and to verify identification if successful in being appointed)
• A clear copy of their Current Safe Pass Card;
• A clear copy of their Employment Permit, if applicable (a non-EEA national, unless exempted, requires an employment permit to work in Ireland). Failure to produce such documentary evidence when requested may lead to disqualification from the competition.