General Operative

The Office of Public Works (OPW) invites applications to fill the position of General Operative Band 3 (Rural) based at OPW National Monuments Service, Glendalough, Co Wicklow. This site falls under the managerial responsibility of Trim National Monuments District. The positions are Non-Established State Industrial posts based on a 5 day working week (39-hours) which will be rostered over seven days and include working on weekends and public holidays. The actual days and hours of attendance will be arranged according to local management requirements. On occasion, there may be a requirement of the General Operative Band 3 ((Rural) to undertake overtime. 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 position during the Probation Period.

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. A short-listing assessment, on the basis of the information supplied on the Application Form, will be used by OPW to select those applicants who are to be invited to attend for competitive interview. The competitive interview process will be used by OPW to select those considered by the Interview Board as most suitable for appointment to fill the position and reserve panel, effective for a limited period, may be formed, and may be used to fill certain sanctioned permanent, fixed term or seasonal General Operative Band 3 ((Rural)) posts that may arise in the area covered by the National Monuments Service, Glendalough, Co. Wicklow. Placement on the panel does not guarantee nor imply that an offer of employment will be made to those placed on same. In the event that an offer of an appointment is made, it will be made in the order of merit of those on the relevant panel regardless of the length of contract period offered. Appointments to approved positions of employment are made as and when considered appropriate by OPW management and will be subject to the candidate meeting the OPW’s requirements with regard to health, references and Garda vetting. In the event that the candidate does not satisfactorily meet the OPW’s requirements with regard to health, references and Garda vetting, 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):

• 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.

Specific Requirements for Glendalough:

• Ground works including duct work, pipe work, hand digging etc.;
• Daily maintenance of the Wastewater Treatment Plant including daily visual /manual inspections, the taking of readings and removal of items clogging the aeration motors and informing the line manager of any issues regarding the Plant.
• Attend and maintain all other sites in the area as directed by line management

Special working conditions apply:

• Five-day working week (39 hours), which will be rostered over seven days and include working on weekends and public holidays; the actual days and hours of attendance will be arranged according to local management requirements;
• Overtime during busy times or when the need arises from local management;
• 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; Biodiversity 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

The General Operative reports to: -

• Chargehand;
• Foreperson;
• District Works Manager;
• 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 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.