HGV Driver/ General Operative

The Colas Group operates internationally in all aspects of transport infrastructure. As part of the global organisation, Colas Ireland is primarily involved the distribution of bitumen products, emulsion and emulsifier manufacturing, and the provision of specialist road maintenance services on the national, regional and local road network. In Ireland Colas operates from 14 locations across the island of Ireland.

Purpose of the Role

We are recruiting a HGV Driver/ General Operative who holds a HGV licence to join Colas Group to keep our roads safe and reliable. This is a hands-on role: while a valid HGV licence is essential to transport yourself, crew and equipment between sites, the core of the job is practical maintenance work on the network — signing, barrier and drainage repairs, litter and vegetation control, emergency response and routine inspections. You will be expected to carry out physically demanding tasks, follow safety procedures and use basic maintenance tools, not just drive. In return we offer a competitive total package of €16.60 per hour plus subsistence allowance, overtime premiums, a €1,400 winter standby allowance for gritting work in peak times and a €4,160 on-call allowance. You must live within 30 minutes commute of Athlone due to emergency attendance deadlines.

Main Responsibilities

• Driving a range of vehicles as part of maintenance duties.(incl. winter maintenance gritters)
• Conducting various maintenance works, to a high standard, on high speed motorway and associated roads
• Carrying out a wide range of works such as grass and hedge cutting, small drainage repairs, boundary and safety fence and barrier repairs, gully cleaning and routine tidying of depots and the network including litter picking, post and sign replacements, minor surfacing and minor civil works
• Setting up traffic management systems and operating them
• Completing record sheets and any other paperwork required by company procedures.
• Observing and promoting all aspects of health and safety.
• Carrying out the watchman role function by communicating back any issues that may arise on the network
• Communicating with and assisting members of the public and colleagues when required
• Carrying out any other tasks appropriate to the role

Skills and Competences

You must hold a full HGV driving licence to drive to the locations and be willing to carry out road maintenance duties.The role requires flexibility and adaptability to cope with a wide variety of tasks, participation in standby rotas to provide emergency cover 24/7/365 in line with Transport Infrastructure Ireland requirements, and be physical fit to carry out demanding manual duties. You should be able to work on your own initiative and support the emergency services during incident response operations.

Package Description

Here at Colas Group, we offer a great total compensation package of €16.60 per hour plus subsistance allowance, overtime, €1,400 winter stand by allowance and €4,160 on call allowance

• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance Scheme / Death in Service x3
• Safety Award Bonus
• Sick Pay & Compassionate Leave
• 21 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays and service days (one for every 5 years worked, capped at 20 years)
• RediCare Health and Wellbeing Support
• Employee Assistance Programme for employees, their spouse/partner and any dependents over the age of 16 years living at home.
• Mental Health, Legal, Financial, Career and Child and Elderly Care Support
• Free car parking.
• Professional subscriptions – role related
• Enhanced Maternity, Adoptive, and Paternity Benefit.

At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business.

Colas Group is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice.