Driver (Full Time, Permanent- Cork)

Contract type: Full time, permanent

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8am - 4.30pm

Location: Cork and surrounding regions with travel to Toughers warehouse, Kildare once per week

Closing date: 6th December 2024 at 5pm

Applicants must be authorised to work full time in Ireland.

Vision Ireland currently have a vacancy for a Cork-based Driver. The van driver will deliver and collect furniture and clothing items from our stores throughout the country. The driver will be required to travel to Vision Ireland's Tougher warehouse in Kildare once per week.

The delivery driver will assist our retail shop teams to increase sales & profits for the benefit of people who are blind and vision impaired, supporting and endorsing the aims and values of the organisation.

The Company - Vision Ireland

Vision Ireland is Ireland's national charity working for the rising number of people affected by sight loss. Our practical and emotional advice and supports assist the nearly 300,000 people and their families to face their futures with confidence every year.

Want to work somewhere that makes a difference for our community? Our Retail business contributes over 30% of the funding needed to provide essential services to the nearly 300,000 service users around the country.

Responsibilities

Furniture & Clothing deliveries and Store Support:

Collect and deliver furniture/clothing items between Vision Ireland stores, warehouses and customer homes, ensuring that all items are safely secured in vehicles and all parts are intact.

Assist with furniture assembly & shop displays, and assist with removal/disposal of any rubbish or unsellable furnishings.

Maintain assigned vehicle, keeping the vehicle clean and tidy with cleaning completed at least once a week

Assist in planning the best and most economical routes for collections and deliveries. Work with shop teams to ensure an effective time management programme is operated.

Support the store team with fundraising and marketing initiatives

Carry out all reasonable tasks and requests as assigned by manager/supervisor

Present a good image and 'face of Vision Ireland Retail' at all times.

Be willing to work reasonable additional hours and to perform any other additional duties as and when required to meet the needs of the business

Travel to meetings and training sessions as required

Have basic knowledge of Vision Ireland Retail's structures and current activities

Security, Environment and Health & Safety:

Ensure vehicles are securely parked and locked each day and that any shutters/gates are locked

Ensure manual handling guidelines are followed at all times by all team members

Conduct daily/weekly driver checks

Ensure all documents are completed, (e.g. collection/delivery notes signed, vehicle checklists, mileage sheets, fuel receipts) and returned to the Shop Team daily

Fully comply with Irish Driving regulations and traffic laws, ensuring that no violation of the Road Traffic Act is breached when you or other drivers are using Vision Ireland Retail vehicles.

Take every reasonable precaution to ensure no Vision Ireland Retail vehicle is damaged. Ensure the Driver's Assistant always gets out of the van and guides the driver when reversing. If damage occurs, ensure that verbal and written reports of any damages to vehicles are passed immediately to the line manager.

Ensure that all Vision Ireland Retail policies and procedures, including equal opportunities, are correctly followed at all times by all team members

Minimize the environmental impact of van activities, ensuring that environmental policies and procedures are followed at all times by all team members

Comply with Vision Ireland Retail health & safety policies and instructions and report any maintenance or other security/safety concerns to the SMC

Supporting Voluntary Team Members:

Support with the induction, training, development and retention of van volunteers, helping to maximize their potential and ensure compliance with Vision Ireland Retail's policies and procedures with specific reference to the volunteering policy and health & safety

Keep the van adequately staffed at all times, including holidays, in order to maintain levels of service

Use appropriate communication tools to keep volunteers up to date with Vision Ireland Retail's performance and development

Administration & Communications:

Ensure all requests for practical help are administered confidentially and via the appropriate channels

Comply with Vision Ireland Retail van administration procedures (as detailed in the Van Drivers' and Furniture Manuals) and all other directives within agreed timescales

Ensure that all instructions and information received are communicated to van team members using the appropriate communication tools and that these are actioned on a regular basis

Essential Experience, Skills and Competencies

Proven ability of basic vehicle maintenance (checking oil, water, tyres, etc.)

Full, clean driving license (for insurance purposes)

Proven customer service skills

Proven multi-drop van driving experience

Good local geographical knowledge

Good interpersonal skills

Ability to use initiative

Excellent time management and prioritization skills

Flexible 'can do' attitude and the ability to adapt to change

Proven ability to complete administration paperwork

Ability to effectively organise and plan

Desirable Skills, Knowledge & Experience

2 years multi-drop van driving experience (recent)

Management or Supervisory experience in the service sector

Accessibility, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Vision Ireland is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, and everyone is afforded equality of opportunity. It is our policy to recognise people as a key resource required for successful attainment of the organisation's mission. In support of this, it is important to remember that differences between people, whether devised from their different backgrounds and personalities, cultures and/or their different abilities, can be a source of strength to the organisation.

We welcome, encourage, and embrace people of all backgrounds, to include those with disabilities, accessibility plays a huge part of ensuring that the needs of all our employees and service users, can access our systems and services, with ease and respect, in a supportive environment, enabling all to effectively engage our services and achieve our goals whether they are an applicant for employment or an employee requiring special facilitation.