National Sampling Manager

Grade and Salary

C (€83,891 -€125,837)*

Job Description

*This role can be based nationwide*

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights into our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.

The Role:

The Scientific Services functional area is responsible for the national provision of operational support services to include sampling and laboratory analytics, ensuring that activities are performed safely in accordance with regulatory obligations to protect public health and the environment.

Reporting directly to the Scientific Services Senior Manager, the National Sampling Manager will be responsible for the delivery of high-quality accredited sampling across Ireland. This should be delivered at optimal costs to Uisce Éireann. The National Sampling Manager will be responsible for the development of strategy, processes, procedures, and ways of working to ensure an efficient national sampling service. They will secure and maintain ISO 17025 accreditation for sampling of drinking water, surface water and wastewater.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work with the Scientific Services Senior Manager in the development of business strategies for sampling and Scientific Services by providing specialist advice in their area of expertise.

• Work closely with the National Laboratory manager/ team to ensure sampling service meets the overall testing teams requirements.

• Responsible for managing and maintaining a focus on sample delivery times including reaction times to incidents.

• Make decisions on the allocation of resources (finance, people, equipment, information, and data) and managing competing demands for these resources.

• Ensure INAB 17025 accreditation is achieved and maintained.

• Provide high levels of customer service to maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders.

• Development of customer engagement protocols for Sampling Officers as Uisce Éireann’s on-the-ground representatives.

• Lead a culture of continuous improvement to deliver cost efficiency and service quality, challenging and developing solutions for improvements to existing practices and adopting industry best practice.

• Ensure the team works following defined levels of competence, regulation standards, health and safety requirements and legislation.

• Ownership of the budgets for the sampling service.

• Responsible for building a high performing team by managing and developing their team members.

• Responsible for internal team communications.

• Monitor and report KPIs for processes over which they have ownership. Identify and analyse potential performance issues and recommend improvement opportunities.

• Manage the development of best practices and implementation of standard operating procedures for the provision of the sampling service.

• Responsible for performing any other duties that the Scientific Services Senior Manager may reasonably request.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaboration with key internal stakeholders across the UÉ business.

• Responsible for promoting and delivering health and safety commitments across UÉ and its supply chain, reinforcing positive behaviours and delivering health and safety objectives and requirements to the highest industry standards.

• Provide visible leadership for their team, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential and deliver business objectives, promoting collaboration and highlighting the behaviours that are expected from everyone in the team.

• Conducts duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Éireann’s Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UÉ business information and delivery of critical services, in accordance with any relevant cybersecurity regulation.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Relevant third level qualification and or accreditation is desirable.

• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in the water, utilities or similar industries is desirable and or relevant experience.

• Experience in leading teams to deliver customer strategies that enhance customer service.

• Requires in-depth knowledge of both risk assessment and relevant legislation/regulations, coupled with the practical ability to undertake the operations of a national field-based sampling service.

• Require in-depth professional knowledge of sampling, testing, logistics and safety.

• Ability to enable positive teamwork across departments and encourage cooperation and open discussion to achieve common goals.

• Background in guiding and empowering teams to make a positive impact and challenging the status quo to drive development.

• Proven track record in leading continuous improvement initiatives in teams. Strong background in team motivation, and performance management.

• Proven track record with dealing with complex issues, proactively and in a timely fashion along with the ability to communicate complex information to others.

• Demonstrated experience in setting measurable safety and well-being goals for a team.

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