Candidates in Clare invited to apply for exciting career opportunities with Ireland’s National Water Authority
February 6 2024 – Uisce Éireann, Ireland’s national water authority, has today announced it will be recruiting for 700 new jobs across the country. These exciting opportunities will be available in the next year, with positions ready to be filled immediately.
The roles span a range of disciplines, offering a chance for professionals, tradespeople at all levels, recent graduates, and skilled workers to contribute to their local communities while building rewarding careers. Uisce Éireann is committed to providing ongoing training, and attractive compensation and benefits packages to ensure a secure and fulfilling work experience.
Speaking at the announcement, Uisce Éireann’s People and Safety Director, Dawn O’Driscoll said, “As we continue our development as Ireland’s national water authority with responsibility for the delivery of public water and wastewater services nationwide, we are delighted to be announcing 700 new jobs for candidates across the country. We’re filling an exciting range of roles in all counties, including front-line operations, science and engineering, administration, communications, management and IT.
“This is the largest recruitment announcement made by Uisce Éireann to date and reflects the scope and scale of the activities we are carrying out nationwide. These new positions will not only offer a chance to make a tangible difference to your community but will provide plenty of opportunities to develop your career in a growing organisation. We are looking for people with diverse skillsets to play their part in delivering transformative water services that enable their local communities to thrive.
“At Uisce Éireann, we are proud to provide all employees with equal opportunities and we continue to demonstrate our full commitment to creating an open, diverse and inclusive workplace that enables all our people to achieve their full potential.”
Derek O’Toole took a leap of faith when he joined Limerick County Council back in 2011. It was a move which led Derek into uncharted waters, but ones in which he has flourished.
Having qualified as an electrician after school, Derek worked in the family business with a focus on plumbing and mechanical works. When the downturn in the economy came, the ever-resourceful Derek looked for pastures new and for a role with Limerick County Council. His technical and mechanical skills made him a natural fit for several roles with the local authority and Derek was appointed to the role of caretaker at Castletroy Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2011.
As the largest wastewater treatment plant in the South West at that time, Derek had to learn fast. And learn he did. Spending four years as a caretaker and then as an instrumentation technician, Derek was perfectly poised to join Uisce Éireann as a water engineer in the Southern region when the opportunity arose in 2021.
“While I was with the council, I went to college part time at Limerick Institute of Technology and attained a degree in Electrical Engineering and then a degree in Process Engineering and Project Management. When the opportunity came to join Uisce Éireann, I jumped at it. I’ve never looked back and am delighted to be part of an organisation that makes such a tangible difference to people across the country. There is a commitment to excellence too and I’m very proud to be a part of that collective effort to help communities to thrive.”
While Derek has risen through the ranks at Uisce Éireann at a fast pace, the same drive to learn and work effectively has stood him in good stead in his current role.
As Asset Operations Wastewater Lead at Uisce Éireann, the Cappamore resident oversees the delivery of safe and compliant wastewater services for customers and communities in County Clare.
“I am passionate about improving the quality and sustainability of water resources and the environment and I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to achieve this goal. It’s a goal shared by my colleagues and I’m proud of be part of the fantastic work being done right across the country by the organisation.”
When asked what makes Uisce Éireann such an attractive place work, Derek sums it up in two words – “endless opportunities”.
“Uisce Éireann is a fantastic place to work with endless opportunities. Career progression is encouraged and supported in the organisation, and I’ve benefited massively from that. There is no one linear path that you must follow in your career and that appeals to me hugely here. I’m really enjoying the role and looking to new technologies and best practices so that our water and wastewater services continue to advance.
As a busy father of three young children, the work life balance afforded to him in Uisce Éireann is something that Derek delights in.
“From hybrid working to professional development opportunities as well as a host of core benefits, Uisce Éireann is a very rewarding and exciting place to work. I’ve never looked back and am delighted to be a part of organisation delivering transformative and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland.”
Uisce Éireann encourages interested individuals to visit www.water.ie/careers to explore and apply for the exciting opportunities available in their local areas.
