Farm Operative

Basic Function:

We are presently seeking to recruit a general farm operative with responsibility for general farm operations which include feeding, herds, animal husbandry, fencing, calf rearing and operating machinery, as assigned by the Farm Manager.

Background: 

Teagasc Grange is Ireland’s leading beef research institute and a world leading institute on grass-based beef production. It has national responsibility for all aspects of beef production research which include: grassland, grazing and indoor feeding management; beef breeding and reproduction; cattle health and welfare; animal nutrition; environmental performance; and beef systems analysis. The research programme is conducted by over 20 scientific and technical professionals, supported by an administrative and operative staff. Grange research farm comprises over 250 hectares and is typically stocked with over 1,000 beef cattle, of both suckler and dairy-beef origin, on experimental studies. Grange is also the location of a pilot-scale anaerobic digestion plant. Research resources include modern cattle accommodation and metabolism units, laboratories, greenhouse gas measurement facilities and education facilities comprising classrooms and cattle demonstration pens.

Job Objectives

• Support for delivery of livestock research projects on the research farms at Grange.
•  Calving suckler cows – supervision, penning, handling and intervention as required.
•  Calf rearing - all aspects of calf rearing e.g. health, nutrition.
•  Machinery operation and maintenance - e.g. tractors, implements, ATV’s.
• Breeding management – heat detection and AI.
•  Grassland management - grass allocation and management.
•  Indoor feeding – group and individual feeding of beef cattle with concentrate and forage feeds.
•  Animal health management – identifying and treating basic animal health problems e.g. respiratory illness, gastroenteritis, metabolic diseases, lameness.
•  Maintaining a clean and safe working environment.
•  Operation, management and care of any equipment used in the undertaking of research farm tasks.
•  In addition to operational duties, to assist in experimental measurements and other technical aspects of experiments, including the following:
•  Operation and day to day involvement with experiments including assisting with set up and subsequent treatment of these experiments.
•  Assisting with animal/forage measurements and the recording of data for ongoing grass and forage experiments.
• Liaising with other farm staff members to ensure the delivery of the programme.
•  Use of experimental related software packages as required.
•  Filing, processing and storing data samples.
•  To fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of oneself, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations, including full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
•  To assist management and administrative staff in achieving good governance and risk management through co-operation and adherence to administrative procedures and practices.
• To assist Teagasc in meeting the commitments of the Quality Customer Service charter and action plan.
•  To actively participate in the annual business planning and Performance Management Development System (PMDS) processes
• To carry out other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

* This job specification is intended as a guide to the general range of duties and is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive. It will be reviewed with the post-holder from time to time.

Qualifications

• A Level 5 qualification, (as recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent), in Agriculture, Farm Administration or a related discipline
• Driver's licence - categories 'B' and 'W'.

Skills

• Stockmanship skills.
•  Machinery operation.
•  Time management.
•  Animal health and welfare.
• Ability to learn and adapt to change.
• Excellent communicator, facilitates a two way flow of information.
•  Ability to receive and comprehend direction clearly and seek clarification as required.
• Have strong self-motivation and an ability to work unsupervised.
•  Strong planning and organising skills and an ability to schedule and prioritise workloads.

Behavioural Competencies

• Ability to work as part of a team and to engage with all personnel in the workplace.
• Strives for high quality of work and demonstrates commitment to the programme.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Possess a strong acumen for attention to detail and takes personal pride in their work.
•  Demonstrates a positive approach to new challenges.
•  Demonstrates a high level of ownership and commitment to the job.
•  Flexible with an ability to adapt to changing requirements/priorities.
• Commitment to teamwork and collaborating with colleagues as per our Teagasc Together ethos

Other

Candidates must satisfy and continue to satisfy during employment with Teagasc, legal requirements to drive a car unaccompanied on Irish public roads, as this is a requirement for this role.

Salary: €33,928 to €38,119 per year