Farm Operative (Permanent) (Kildalton College, Kilkenny)

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Job Summary

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 farm operations within Kildalton College on all farm enterprises, including educational activities with particular responsibilities for tractor driving activities such as spraying, fertiliser spreading and corn drilling.

Background: 

Kildalton College offers QQI accredited Level 5 and 6 courses in Agriculture, Horticulture and Equine Studies both full time, part time and through distance education. Kildalton has close links with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and University College Dublin (UCD) with students attending the College to study production modules. All courses require extensive technical and practical training to be provided for students.

The college farm consists of 159 hectares and plays a key part in student training and skills development. The farm enterprises consist of a dairy unit, suckler cow unit with all progeny finished, a calf to beef unit, tillage unit and sheep unit.

The College Horticultural unit comprises of a commercial nursery, a sports turf area, 16 hectares of established gardens and woodlands for amenity horticulture and 4 hectares of fruit and vegetables. The equine unit has over 50 horses on site during term time for student learning on the equitation and stud management courses.

Job Objectives

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Carry out day to day operations on the college farm.
  • Tractor driving operations with large scale machinery.
  • Sprayer, fertilizer spreader and slurry operations.
  • General animal husbandry and monitoring of animal health and welfare.
  • Milking the dairy herd.
  • Setting up of temporary fences to implement the grazing plan.
  • Calving and lambing supervision.
  • Calf rearing.
  • Maintaining Biosecurity and Biodiversity around the college farm.
  • General farm maintenance and fencing and plumbing.
  • Assisting with college events and open days.
  • Supervise placement students and external contract/agency farm staff as required.
  • Assisting with research measurements as part of on-farm research projects.
  • 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.
  • 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 Required

 

Essential Desirable
Qualifications At the time of applying, candidates must have

  • QQI Level 5 qualification 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.
  • Level 6 qualification or higher would be a distinct advantage.
  • Manual Handling qualification.
  • Animal Handling.
  • Quad/Gator qualification.
  • Sprayer Course.
  • First Aid Course.
  • Trailer Licence.
Skills/Knowledge
  • Machinery operation.
  • Dairy Husbandry.
  • Stockmanship skills.
  • 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.
  • Health & Safety.

 
  • Experience and familiarity with the use of IT and data management tools.
  • Computerised feed systems and associated technology.
  • Grass management software.
  • Chemical fertiliser application.
  • Pesticide Application.
  • GPS use.
  • Fencing experience.

 
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.
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.

Note:  Alternative location(s) may be considered solely at the discretion of Teagasc management
For further details and to apply visit: https://www.teagasc.ie/about/opportunities/current-vacancies/