General Operative Band 2 (Rural) / 360° Excavator Driver

Office of Public Works; Ballina; On-site; EUR 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of Public Works in Ballina, Ireland, invites applications for General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver. The role covers arterial drainage maintenance and construction work across the West Region.

Applicants must hold a CSCS Excavator card, an Irish driving licence (B & W), Safe Pass, and an employment permit if applicable. Eligibility includes EEA/UK/Swiss citizenship or permitted status; prior experience with excavators is essential.

Qualifications

• Current CSCS card for 3600 Excavator (for category greater than 5 tonne) and experience operating similar equipment.
• Valid full, clean Irish driving licence, category B & W.
• Current Safe Pass card or proof of Safe Pass completion prior to closing date.
• Clear Employment Permit if applicable (non-EEA nationals may need one).
• Eligibility: EEA/UK/Swiss citizen or other permitted status as described by immigration rules.

Responsibilities

• Operate Hydraulic Excavators and other machinery under supervision.
• Supervise machine operations and assist with site work and maintenance tasks.
• Carry out channel maintenance, construction operations and embankment work as required.
• Maintain ISO and communications records; liaise with landowners and agencies.
• Adhere to Health & Safety procedures and environmental protocols; complete induction and courses as required.

Skills

CSCS Excavator

Irish driving licence (B & W)

Safe Pass

Employment Permit (if applicable)

Job description

The Office of Public Works (OPW) invites applications for positions in the grade of General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver in the OPW’s West Region Arterial Drainage Maintenance and Construction Services Division.

Competition Reference: 2026/062

Essential Eligibility Criteria: (at the closing date)

• Hold a current CSCS card for 3600 Excavator (for category greater than 5 tonne) and have work experience in operating same.

• Hold a current full, clean and current Irish manual driving licence, category B & W;*1,2


• 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 (2)From 1 January 2021 if you are resident in Ireland and hold a UK/NI driving licence, it is no longer valid to drive on here in Ireland.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


• Hold a current Safe Pass card;**


• 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.


• 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: Eligible candidates must be:

1. A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or


2. A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or


3. A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or


4. A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 41 or a Stamp 5 visa;

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.

Requirements and Principal Duties of a

General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver

Note: The following list, which is not exhaustive, sets out the broad range of duties that may be required to be undertaken by a General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver(Arterial Drainage Maintenance or Capital Construction Scheme). Variances in the requirements of individual posts will reflect the management and operational requirements of individual sites and areas of work.

• Undertake the operation and control of Hydraulic Excavators and other machinery on the Scheme under the direction of the Regional Engineer/Foreman;


• Supervise machine/site operations under the direction of the Area Engineer/ Foreman;


• Carry out channel maintenance and construction operations;


• Carry out environmental fishery enhancement works as directed by line management;


• Undertake scheme structure inspections on bridges and ancillary structures;


• Assist with scheme structure repairs and scheme structure replacement;


• Assist with embankment inspections and work on embankment repairs and refurbishment;


• Assist occasionally with manual channel maintenance operations;


• Maintain ISO records and communications records as required;


• Liaise with landowners, Inland Fisheries Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service and others;


• Comply with all Health & Safety procedures as directed;


• Comply with all environmental protocol, including Environmental River Enhancement Programmes (EREP) works, as directed;


• Attend and achieve the required standard in induction training, training courses in manual handling, and other courses in environmental conservation, construction, supervision and health & safety as required by the OPW;


• Carry out civil engineering earthworks and construction operations;


• Supervise machine/site operations under the direction of the Area Engineer/ Foreman;


• Undertake ground works including trial excavations, duct work, pipe work, hand-digging etc.;


• Assist with construction of precast and in-situ concrete works, construction of large bridges and culverts etc.;


• Assist with scheme structure repairs and scheme structure replacement;


• Assist with works on embankment construction, repairs and inspections,


• Shuttering Formwork: experience in assembling shuttering;


• Steel-fixing, Interpreting drawings and undertaking steel works. Cutting/Bending steel as required;


• Understanding of construction method statements and risk assessments;

The General Operative Band 2 (Rural)/ 360° Excavator Driver is also required to undertake General Operative Band 3 duties.

The following list, which is not exhaustive, is indicative of the role of the General Operative Band 3:

• Concrete works; shuttering; concreting; steel-fixing; block work;


• Ground works including duct work, pipe work, hand-digging etc.;


• Plant operation, as appropriate to training received;


• Manual spraying operations, as appropriate to training received;


• Scaffolding, as appropriate to training received;


• Assist with structure inspections;


• Work on the construction and repair of bridges and other structures;


• Work on channel maintenance operations and undertake all associated tasks i.e. remove silt and debris, fence, cut back foliage etc.;


• Assist with embankment inspections;


• General maintenance of depots and installations;


• Operation of plant/equipment, including chainsaws and pole saws;


• Driving vehicles;


• Maintain ISO records and communications, as required.

The General Operative 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 a positive, flexible and proactive approach to work allied with an ability to deliver an effective work presence;


• Carry out all work in an efficient and safe manner, in accordance with the directions of the Regional Engineer/Foreman, with regard to self, colleagues and the public through understanding, observance and application of Health and Safety requirements;


• Successfully undertake training as and when required;


• Be physically capable of meeting the full range of the requirements of the position;


• Carry out other duties/works deemed by management as reasonable and appropriate to the grade and to the position;


• Co-operate with the operation of and introduction of new work practices and technology e.g. tablets, smart phones, vehicle tracking, electronic information circulation incl. location reporting.