General Services Supervisor

Essential Requirements

A General Services Supervisor (GSS) is responsible for managing a multi-disciplinary team of front line service employees based in one of the Council’s three Municipal Districts, to deliver a wide variety of key local authority services. These include transportation infrastructure; environmental protection; drainage, recreation and amenity provision and community development.  Local Authorities also play a key role in supporting economic development and enterprise promotion at local level.

The GSS is a supervisory grade which includes responsibility for management of employees and budgets. The GSS is also one of the Council’s key representatives on the ground on a day to day basis and is often the first point of contact in emergency and crisis management situations. The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated adaptable and flexible person, with a strong sense of commitment to delivering quality public services who must also demonstrate a clear knowledge and understanding of:

·       Local authority services, its key stakeholders and relationships

·       Local government structures and its democratic role and mandate

·       Health & Safety legislation and regulation

·       Importance of fostering and maintaining wide ranging productive working relationships both internally and externally to the organisation

·       Public Service values

The ideal candidate should also have a good technical knowledge base and experience/knowledge of the following:

·       Managing teams and individual performance

·       Budget management

·       Planning and costing of projects

·       Project management of small works contracts

·       Managing Health, Safety and Welfare in the workplace

·       Operating standard office ICT systems and packages

·       Administration and report writing

·       Prioritising of work effectively

·       Acting on own initiative

·       Dealing effectively with conflicting demands

·       Working under pressure to tight deadlines

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POST

Must possess adequate experience in:

·       The Management (Planning/Organising Resources) & Supervision of Civil Engineering Works

·       Standard Safe Systems of Works for Civil Engineering Works, i.e. H&S Procedures/Best Practice

·       Preferably experience upon road maintenance works, with footpath construction & drainage works

Knowledge, appreciation and understanding of:

·       Health and Safety legislation

·       Traffic Management Plans/Diversion Set-up

·       Public procurement requirements/processes

·       Various utility services/Typical Connection Types

·       Record keeping of Work Activities/Resources Used

COMPETENCIES FOR THE POST

Key Competencies for the post include the following and candidates will be expected to demonstrate sufficient evidence within their application form of competence under each of these. Please take particular note of these when completing the application form as any short-listing or interview processes will be based on the information provided by candidates:

Interpersonal Communications

·       Supervision of employees and managing performance

·       Negotiating, influencing and liaising with others

·       Team-working

·       Communicating Effectively

·       Establishing and maintaining key internal and stakeholder relationships

Delivering Results

·       Problem solving and decision making

·       Thinking creatively

·       Organising, planning, co-ordinating and prioritising work programmes

·       Record keeping

·       Managing Resources including budgets and achieving efficiencies

·       Delivering Quality Outcomes

Performance through People

·       Has a creative and collaborative approach to problem solving and working with others to reach a solution.

·       Demonstrates ability to support the line manager and work as part of a team.

·       Communicates effectively & professionally with range of stakeholders including colleagues, elected members, citizens and service providers.

·       Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Personal Effectiveness

·       Resilience and Personal Well-Being

·       Integrity & Public Service Values

·       Personal Motivation and Initiative

·       Understanding the structures and environment within which the local authority sector operates

·        Political awareness

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Details of Key Duties and Responsibilities are outlined under “Particulars of Office”

QUALIFICATIONS

1.     Education, Training, Experience, etc.

The candidate should have a standard of education that would enable him/her to efficiently perform their duties and must be capable of making satisfactory reports (including written reports) on matters pertaining to the duties of the post.

Experience:

Candidates must have appropriate multifunctional experience relative to the position and in particular should have experience in a supervisory capacity in dealing with both skilled and unskilled works. Candidates should be competent and have such training or experience as shall be considered acceptable by the Council to enable the person appointed to perform the duties of the post. In particular candidates should have satisfactory knowledge and experience of the following matters:

i.     Satisfactory knowledge with a minimum of 4 years’ experience with civil engineering works.

ii.     Be capable of translating into effect civil engineering works from working drawings.

iii.     A satisfactory knowledge of civil engineering construction techniques including road maintenance, surface dressing operations, kerb and footpath construction together with a working knowledge of surface water drainage systems, the maintenance of public realm areas and an awareness of the other services or works for which the Council has responsibility pipe laying, block laying, water and drainage systems, together with a working knowledge iv.     Be capable of writing clear and concise reports, keeping work records and measuring and recording accurately the quantities of work done by those supervised.

* Copies of qualifications must be attached to support this application. Failure to provide qualifications will deem this application invalid.

2.     Citizenship

Candidates for any of the above panels must, by the date of any job offer, 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 is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

e)     A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa; or

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 or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

3.     Driving Licence

The Holder of the Post of shall hold a full driving licence for Class B vehicles free from endorsement/disqualification. When required to do so, holders of office shall drive a vehicle in the course of their duties and for this purpose provide and maintain a vehicleto the satisfaction of the local authority.

4.     Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

5.     Health

Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

* 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.

PARTICULARS OF OFFICE

1.     The Post:

The post is permanent, whole-time and pensionable. A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a period of time at the discretion of the Chief Executive. The panel will be used to fill appropriate positions that may arise for its duration. Positions will be offered in order of merit as per the panel.

2.     Salary:

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.   Starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale.  Where the appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay-scale, and will be moving without break to another part of the public sector at an analogous grade, the appointment may be made at the appointee’s current point of scale.  The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay.

The current salary scale applicable to the post is €923.97 - €1,088.14 per week

3.     Duties:

The duties of the post are to give to the local authority, and

a)     such other local authorities or bodies for which the Chief Executive, for the purposes of the Local Government Acts 2001 and 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 in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph under the general direction and supervision of the Chief executive or such other employee as the Chief Executive may from time to time determine, such appropriate services of an executive, administrative or management nature as may be required by any local authority or body herein before mentioned in the exercise and performance of any of its powers, functions and duties to exercise such powers, functions and duties as may be delegated to him/her by the Chief Executive from time to time, including the duty of servicing all committees that may be established by any such local authority or body. The post holder will, if required, act for an employee of a higher level. The post holder may be required to work outside his/her normal job description from time to time.

The duties to be assigned include the following although this list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time as organisational needs require:

·       Supervise and direct employees within their charge in relation to any project or activity

·       Maintain time and attendance records and systems in line with organisational policies and procedures

·       Ensure employees are adequately equipped with supplies of materials, tools and equipment for the works in hand

·       Mentor and train employees in relation to ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities

·       Supervise the conditions on all works, maintenance, construction, depots, quarries and gravel pits under the control of the Local Authority so as to ensure that they are properly and safely operated in accordance with the relevant legislation.

·       Ensure that all plant, equipment and machinery is properly and safely operated and gainfully employed

·       Taking of levels if required for any local authority works in the relevant area

·       Liaison with Line Manager, District Engineer and MD Engineer(s)/Technician Employees regarding issues arising with MD (outdoor employees) works, works being carried by Contractors on behalf of Offaly County Council and items reported by members of the public or local elected members

·       Maintain reports, diaries and other records including in an electronic format as prescribed by senior management including the maintenance of a personal daily diary, which can be inspected at any time, to include detailed accounts of incidents which could lead to litigation by others

·       Ensure all works are implemented in compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations including planning and procurement

·       Ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation and regulations, and Offaly County Council’s Safety Management Systems at all times

·       To carry out regular Health and Safety inspections of outdoor employees works, depot locations, facilities managed by Offaly County Council and ensure outdoor employees under their supervision are carrying out daily inspections of vehicles and reporting any defects to Offaly County Council Machinery Yard

·       Report immediately to line manager, the circumstances of any inefficiency or unsatisfactory work or service in his/her charge and to carry out the direction consequent on such reports.

·       Inspect public roads in the relevant area and take all necessary steps for keeping them in good repair at all times, subject to the general direction of the relevant line manager

·       Ensure all sign posts, warning signs, public lights and litterbins or other notices in the relevant area are maintained in a proper condition and to report vandalism of such items

·       Keep records of all work done including materials produced, supplied and used, and quantities of work done to include the checking of measurement of loads, etc., so as to verify that they contain the amounts specified

·       Prepare requisitions through the Council’s Financial Management System for the purchase of materials and supplies required for works in hand

·       Be responsible for the custody of all maintenance and construction materials, tools and equipment in the relevant and the maintenance of necessary records in this regard

·       Supervise and liaise with contractors/sub-contractors engaged by the local authority to carryout works

·       Prepare costings and expenditure/budget analysis on any works within the area when requested

·       Estimate project technical or resource requirements

·       Furnish all reports and returns in connection with any works, accidents or other matters which may be required from time to time.

·       Report to senior management on all development work, tree cutting or other activities in the area which impact on legislation relevant to the local authority

·       Serve notices on landowners in connection with hedge cutting, spillages and the cleaning of drains, and other relevant statutory notices

·       Give evidence in court when required in connection with any proceedings involving the local authority

·       Keep senior management advised on all matters which may be of importance in the interest of the County Council and to liaise with other relevant sections of the Council on works and emergencies.

·       Deal with members of the public in a courteous, prompt and efficient manner at all times and investigate public complaints

·       Carry out inspections as are required under the Planning Acts, Building Control Acts, Road Acts, Litter and Water Pollution Acts, Housing Acts and other relevant Acts as required

·       Act if directed as an Authorised Officer of the Council under the Litter Pollution, Water Pollution, Waste Management Acts and other relevant Acts.

·       Supervise and support any community employment or job initiative schemes operated by the local authority

·       Carry out site surveys on lands or bodies of water and public lighting

·       Support the preparation of traffic management plans and traffic surveys and road accident investigations

·       Supervise road improvement works and pavement condition surveys and urban renewal schemes

·       Carry out any duties assigned under the Winter Maintenance Programme

·       Prepare written reports in relation to any area of work for which responsibility has been assigned

·       Utilise all information and communication technology and equipment as directed in the course of their work

·       Participate in all training as required

·       Implement and participate in the local authority Performance Management Development System

·       Deal efficiently, effectively and professionally at all times with stakeholders including local authority employees, elected members, community groups, businesses and residents

·       Liaise with and respond to other local authorities, government departments and statutory agencies where required

·       Carry out duties in a politically neutral and impartial manner that enhances public trust and confidence in the local authority decision making process

·         Act or deputise for senior personnel in their absence, when required

·         Perform duties outside normal working hours where organisational needs demand

·         Be available at short notice for call outs, in particularfor call outs in connection with the Offaly County Council Major Emergency Plan or due to Severe Weather Events or in relation to Road Traffic Accidents/Incidents when LA Assistance is requested

·         Undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility, as may be required, or assigned, from time to time

4. Work Base:

Offaly County Council reserves the right to assign you to any department or premises 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.

5. Working Hours:

The working hours at present provide for a five day, thirty-nine hours working week, hours may vary from time to time.

The working hours may be reviewed at any time by the Council. The post may require flexibility in working outside of normal hours, including at weekends, as necessary. No additional remunertation will be paid in respect of such activities.

6. Annual Leave:

The current annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum (inclusive of Good Friday). 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 (as amended)

7. Sick Leave:

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

8. Probation:

Appointees will be on probation for the first year of employment. The terms of the Offaly County Council Probation Policy will apply.