Festina Lente Mission Statement
Festina Lente provides a unique range of equestrian and horticultural activities, training, recreational events and employment services options with a strong emphasis on social inclusion, choice and personal development.
Job Title: Garden Maintenance Person / Groundskeeper (CSP Supported Position) Part-time Permanent
Location: Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow
Reporting to: Garden Manager
Responsible to: Garden Manager /Chief Executive Officer
This position is CSP Supported and funded by POBAL. Qualifying criteria is listed below.
Main purpose:
The overall purpose of this role is to help the Garden team develop the Festina Lente gardens to their full potential, increasing visitor footfall and maximising revenue for the charity. By developing the gardens we will increase plant and course/workshop sales, build awareness of the important work undertaken within Festina Lente and help raise funds to further our work promoting opportunity and social inclusion.
Position Summary:
This role is important in the strategic development of horticulture side of the charity. You will play a valuable part in maintaining the gardens to a high level so that your work will help to create a space that promotes wellbeing and footfall in the gardens.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Main responsibilities of this position include:
• Working as part of a team planning, planting and maintaining all flower beds in the ornamental garden for the spring and summer season.
• Maintaining the raised beds at the entrance.
• Grass cutting and general lawn care.
• Maintaining and cleaning all paths and edging.
• Assisting in the maintenance of the ponds and pond life.
• Working with colleagues maintaining the sensory, woodland trails and meadows.
• Hedge cutting.
• Pruning of the trees for summer and winter.
• Seasonal tasks (bulb planting, dividing and transplanting, selling Christmas trees).
• Operating and safe use of machinery eg. hedge strimmer, leaf blower and lawnmowers etc.
• Assisting with garden projects.
• Tidying and maintaining allotment plots after the season is over, this work is undertaken in January of each year.
• Attending all designated training workshops.
• Active participation in team and staff meetings.
• Complying with the Health & Safety requirements of the organisation and legislation.
• Building and maintaining excellent working relationships with colleagues, learners, service users and customers of Festina Lente
• Contributing to the overall strategic planning of Festina Lente Gardens
• Undertaking any other reasonable duties which may be assigned to you by the CE
PERSON SPECIFICATION
• To be physically fit, hard-working, with a positive attitude, the ability to demonstrate initiative and a good eye for detail
• Safe pass and manual handling certification
• Highly motivated and willing to work hard and in all sorts of weather
• Team player
• Landscape maintenance and Horticultural experience
Personal Attributes
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience of being a team player
• Proven ability to work on own initiative within a flexible, co-operative team structure
• Solution focused
• Ability to work well on their own, working to schedules and within time frames
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
• Working Hours: 19.5 hours per week
• Salary: €13.40 p/h
• Pension: Employees have access to PRSA scheme.
Benefits Include:
Ongoing training and Development
Free on-site parking
Bike to work scheme
Annual Leave:
The holiday entitlements shall be calculated at 8% of hours worked per annum and shall be given in accordance with the provisions of Part III of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.
Location of the position: Successful applicants will be required to work at Festina Lente, Old Connaught Ave, Bray, Co Wicklow
HOW TO APPLY
Closing Date for Applications: 3rd May, 2024
Application forms can be found on our website should be completed online via the following link:
https://www.festinalente.ie/forms/festina-lente-job-application-form/
Please contact Sinead O’Connor if you have any questions about the position on 0862381283.
Interviews will be held: TBC
SELECTION PROCESS
Selection will involve short listing of applicants for interview based on the criteria for the position as outlined in this job description.
A file may be formed for future vacancies.
For Your Information:
This position advertised is funded through Pobal. Pobal administer and manage Government and EU funding to address disadvantage and support social inclusion.
Evidence of your eligibility for this position as laid down in Pobal Guidelines must accompany your application.
Qualifying Criteria for all applicants applying for CSP Supported Positions:
• People who are in the workforce but unemployed and seeking to return to work i.e., people who are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB), Jobseekers Allowance (JA); people who are signing for credits
• Qualified Adults (Adult dependants of those in receipt of social welfare payment)
• People with Disabilities (PWD) i.e. in receipt of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Partial Capacity Benefit, or other disability benefit.
• Ukrainians (displaced by the war)
• People coming from a labour activation scheme i.e. Community Employment, TUS or RSS placements
• One Parent Families (people who parent alone without sufficient resources and are in receipt of social welfare payments)
• People who are deserted, separated, divorced or widowed (People in receipt of Widow/Widower’s non-contributory pension, surviving Civil Partner’s non-contributory pension, or deserted Wives allowance/benefit)
• Carers (people in receipt of Carers Allowance/Benefit who want to return to the workforce)
• Irish Travellers • Roma
• Migrants • Refugees • Asylum Seekers
• People who are homeless • Stabilised and recovering drug misusers.
Festina Lente is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes suitably qualified applicants from all sections of society
FESTINA LENTE CHILD PROTECTION POLICY / GARDA VETTING / MANDATORY DECLARATION*
Garda Vetting for all employees and volunteers is compulsory and those candidates invited for interview will be asked to complete a Garda Vetting form for submission at that time.