Ground Maintenance Operative.

Mobile or Static, reporting to Contract Manager

To work as part of a team to ensure that the site is maintained to the highest possible standards in accordance with the contract and good horticulture practice for the enjoyment, recreation and safety of site employees and visitors.

Responsibilities:

·        To undertake the full range of grounds maintenance duties as instructed by your line manager as follows: Horticultural operations including formative pruning for a range of plants, annual seasonal bedding operations, pest & disease control, general grass cutting, watering of trees, shrubs, and bedding plants. Hedge cutting, irrigation, strimming, edge reformation. Litter picking operations. Weed control.

·        To work as part of a team with the aim of ensuring productive and professional relationships within team, with other employees, managers, clients, and external agencies.    

·        Ensure hand/power tools and grounds maintenance equipment, machinery and vehicles in your charge are secure, in good working order, carry out routine maintenance and refer major mechanical problems to your line manager.

·        Empty bins, including bag removal and bag replacement where appropriate and recycle where necessary

·        To advise/coach newer or less experienced team members on the job at the request of the line manager.

·        Undertake regular checking and reporting of the physical infrastructure of the site including paths.

·        Assist with hard and soft landscaping projects including preparation of ground, paving, simple construction, grubbing out, planting including trees/shrubs and other general landscaping operations where appropriate.

·        Report other defects/damage regarding the site to a line manager.

·        Attend staff meetings and specific project meetings.

·        Participate in on-the-job or other training/development courses to improve ability and effectiveness to carry out duties and completion of training notifications.

·        Comply with all company and site procedures and regulations.

·        Ensure an efficient and effective response to incidents/emergencies and maintain effective liaison with colleagues and external services.

·        Draft basic reports on incidents that occur to enable accurate records to be maintained.

·        Ensure that you observe safety procedures and use safe working practices specifically regarding COSHH and Risk Assessments, reporting accidents and near misses to your line manager.

·        To undertake any other duties that may be required within your area of your responsibility.

Health, Safety and Hygiene

·        Follow correct working practices in use of equipment and materials and adopt safe working practices to safeguard the safety of others as well as oneself.

·        Always wear correct PPE (PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT), adhering to the company standard as set out in the Employee Handbook 

·        Report all Near Misses and/or accidents to your line management

·        Always maintain a high degree of security, if you are a key holder, whilst working you will be expected to follow correct access procedures to buildings and not infringe any data protection regulations.

Training

·        Attend Company/Site induction.

·        Attend individual and team, monthly training as directed

·        Relevant Qualification and Training

·        (Ideally one or more of the qualifications listed below, dependent upon site or contract)

·        City and Guilds/NVQ Amenity Horticulture Stage I and II or equivalent.

·        HND Amenity Horticulture or equivalent.

·        RHS General Horticulture or equivalent.

·        National Certificate in Horticulture or equivalent.

·        PA1/PA6 in Spraying.

·        Chainsaw Certificate (where required).

Skills and Experience

·        Experience of Corporate and/or Local Authority Grounds Maintenance.

·        Practical use of ride on mowers, hedge trimmers, strimmer's, scarifiers, tractor driving.

·        Previous experience of bedding out, pruning and lawn edging.

·        A demonstrable ability to establish and sustain good working relationship within a team environment as well as the ability and initiative to work alone.

·        Aptitude to communicate effectively with colleagues and members of the public.

·        Holds valid driving licence preferably with legal and practical ability to use a trailer.