Craft Gardener

The Office of Public Works (OPW) invites applications for the positions of Craft Gardener at St. Stephen’s Green. We are looking for someone dynamic with a flair for both formal and informal garden layouts and plants and working with a team of garden staff on maintaining and developing these gardens and plant collections. The Office of Public Works is responsible for the care, maintenance, management and presentation of several significant properties and historic Parks, Gardens and designed landscapes across Ireland. Our principal objective is to protect, conserve, maintain and present these properties while encouraging appropriate public access be it informal, guided or to organised events. The positions will be permanent Non-Established State Industrial posts based on a 39-hour week (Monday to Friday), and will be subject to a seven-month probation period which may be extended to 10 months under certain circumstances. Continuation in employment in the position will be dependent on the employee meeting the requirements of the position. The hours of attendance for the advertised positions will be determined by local management requirements. Persons who wish to be considered for appointment to the above positions should submit a completed application form, and copies of specified required documentation. A short-listing assessment, based on the information supplied in the applications, may be used by OPW to select those applicants who are to be invited to attend for competitive interview. The competitive interview process, which may incorporate a practical element, will be used by OPW to select the candidate determined by the Interview Board as being suitable for appointment to fill the position 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 Office of Public Works is a State body with responsibility for the protection of Ireland’s built heritage. This is achieved through the conservation, presentation and management of National Monuments, historical properties and Government buildings. Our diverse portfolio consists of 750 sites from all periods of our history encompassing sites from prehistoric to the late medieval periods of our history. Role The following list of duties and skills is not exhaustive but indicative of the role of Craft Gardener. You will be expected to perform any duties assigned to you by your Supervisor/Manager, including by any person to whom authority has been delegated, which are considered appropriate to your position. Essential Eligibility Requirements (at the closing date) • Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, Hetac Level 7, or equivalent; * • Minimum of 1 year Horticultural experience as a Craft Gardener. (post qualification) Experience of working with Plant Collections and designed historic landscapes is desirable; • A full, clean and current driving licence, minimum category B & W. • A clear copy of their Employment Permit, if applicable (a non-EEA national, unless exempted, requires an employment permit to work in Ireland).*3 Note: * Irish or Foreign qualification (deemed in a similar field of study) recognised as equivalent to the above qualification on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. 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: ***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. All non-EU/EEA citizens must hold a valid work permit prior to and for the duration of their contract. The work permit must allow you to work full time for the Office of Public Works. It is the responsibility of individual employees to ensure that you have a valid work permit. If at any stage during your contract you cease to hold a valid work permit you must immediately advise the Office of Public Works and your employment will cease with immediate effect. Failure to supply copies of requested documentary evidence with application and/or original documents when invited for interview may lead to disqualification from the competition. (Do not forward original documents with application form). Original documents will be required at 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. Pay The Craft Gardener pay scale, per week, as and from 1st June 2026 is as follows: Non-Personal Pension Contribution (Non-PPC): This rate will apply where the appointee is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution: €814.20, €836.63, €891.46, €897.01, €902.52, €908.02, €913.53, €919.08, €924.61, €930.10, €936.26. Personal Pension Contribution (PPC): This rate will apply where the appointee is a new entrant or an existing civil servant appointed on or after 1 January 2013 and is required to make a Personal Pension Contribution: €849.99, €873.63, €931.24, €937.08, €942.89, €948.70, €954.51, €960.33, €966.14, €971.91, €978.41. 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. Additional Payments Various subsistence/allowances are paid where appropriate. Where applicable, overtime of time and a half or double time is payable for any hours worked in excess of 39 hours a week. Annual Leave and Public Holidays Annual Leave is granted in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. Currently the maximum allowance is 25 days per annum. Annual leave allowance for staff working less than full-time is calculated on a pro-rata basis to that of a full-time equivalent. Good Friday is a fixed day of annual leave. Public Holidays will be granted in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. The successful candidate will be required at times to complete other Craft Gardener duties set out by management. These duties can be viewed here. The job description is intended as a general guide to the range of duties and it is neither definitive nor restrictive. Notes • Overtime may apply; • Attendance on site at weekends and on public holidays as required. Contacts with: • Staff of the Office of Public Works; • Members of the Public; • External contractors and suppliers; • Other Government agencies as appropriate. The successful candidate is required to: • Have an extensive knowledge of horticulture and plant types; • Contribute to and maintain a good team spirit and an effective team-working environment; • Demonstrate flexibility and mobility, consistent with the needs of the service; • Have an interest in and knowledge about the protection and promotion of wildlife; • 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 requirements; • 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. • Be familiar with OPW policies such as Tree Safety Management Policy 2019; • Be knowledgeable in best practice for promotion of biodiversity; • Be knowledgeable in best practice for environmental safeguarding.