Location: Teagasc Kildalton College, Piltown, Co Kilkenny
General - Domestic
Salary: Farm Worker / General Operative / Canteen Assistant with a Salary Scale of €35,782 to €40,015
Closing Date: 22/10/2025 12:00 PM
Permanent Full Time
Job Description
Duration:
Permanent. A panel may be formed from which future similar vacancies may be filled; such a panel will remain active for a maximum period of 12 months.
Basic Function
To operate as part of a team in carrying out general grounds maintenance operations within Kildalton College, including particular responsibilities for the maintenance of amenity areas on the college campus.
Background
Kildalton College offers QQI accredited Level 5 and 6 courses in Agriculture, Horticulture and Equine Studies in full time, part time and through distance education. Kildalton College has close links with South East Technological University (SETU) and University College Dublin (UCD). All courses require extensive technical and practical training to be provided for students. The College Horticultural Unit comprises of a commercial nursery, a sportsturf area, 16 hectares of established gardens, amenity grounds and woodlands for amenity horticulture and 4 hectares of fruit and vegetables. The farm enterprise consists of a dairy unit, suckler cow unit with all progeny finished, a calf to beef unit, tillage unit and sheep unit. The equine unit has over 50 horses on site during term time for student learning on the equitation and stud management courses.
Job Objectives
* To undertake duties as directed relating to general amenity grounds maintenance and in line with enterprise unit plans:
* Mowing, strimming and edging
* Hedge maintenance
* Tree and Shrub care and pruning
* General tidying of borders
* Weed control
* Leaf clearance
* Feeding and mulching
* Shredding and composting
* Seasonal watering and maintenance of seasonal bedding
* Assistance and preparation of areas for student practicals
* To maintain allocated areas of the campus including waste management
* To carry out general day to day operations on the college campus.
* General tractor and machinery operations.
* Maintaining Biosecurity and Biodiversity around the college farm.
* Assisting with college events and open days.
* Supervise placement students and external contract/agency farm staff as required.
* To undertake relief calf feeding and livestock duties when required.
* 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.
* Fully co-operate with the provisions made for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of themselves, fellow staff and non-Teagasc staff and co-operate with management in enabling Teagasc to comply with legal obligations. This includes full compliance with the responsibilities outlined in the Safety Statement.
* Such 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.
Skills Requirement
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications
* A Level 5 qualification, (as recognised on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent), in horticulture, agriculture or a related discipline
* OR passed an examination at the appropriate level within the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which can be assessed as being comparable to Leaving Certificate standard or equivalent.
* Full Clean Driver's licence
* Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture or higher would be a distinct advantage.
* Sprayer Course.
* Trailer Licence.
* Manual Handling qualification.
* Animal Handling.
* Gator qualification.
* First Aid Course.
Skills/ Knowledge
* Grounds machinery operation and maintenance.
* Knapsack spraying operation.
* Time management.
* Ability to receive and comprehend direction clearly and seek clarification as required.
* Stock handling skills.
* Animal health and welfare.
* Strong planning and organising skills and an ability to schedule and prioritise workloads.
* Tractor and machinery operations
* Experience and familiarity with the use of IT and data management tools.
* Accurate record keeping
Behavioural Competencies
* Ability to work positively as part of a team and to engage with all personnel in the workplace.
* Excellent communicator facilitating a two-way flow of information.
* Strives for high quality of work and demonstrates commitment to the programme.
* Demonstrates initiative and is self-motivated.
* Demonstrates a strong 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.
* Have strong self-motivation and an ability to work unsupervised.
Other
As this role will involve driving vehicles, candidates must satisfy and continue to satisfy during employment with Teagasc, legal requirements to drive a car unaccompanied on Irish public roads.
Note: The 'essential' qualifications, knowledge, skills and behavioural competencies outlined above are 'must-have' which will be used in the selection process.