Deputy Head of Grounds and Gardens

We are looking for the above to join the Grounds & Gardens team, assisting the Head of Grounds & Gardens in the smooth running of the Department. You will have solid ‘hands on’ Grounds/Gardens experience and ideally have previous experience of supervising a team. We are looking for an individual who enjoys working to a high standard and has a passion for providing excellent sports surfaces.

The role is for 40 hours per week over 5 days between Monday to Saturday, with many Saturdays needed in the period April to August.

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification, available on the Oakham School website for full details of the role.

**Closing date is 9.00am on 17 March 2023.**

**Post title: Deputy Head of Grounds & Gardens**

**Department: Grounds & Gardens Date compiled: 03/03/2023**

**Salary: £ 29,000 - 32,000 per annum Hours per week: 40**

**Weeks per year: 52**

**1.0 FTE**

**Immediate line manager**: Head of Grounds & Gardens.

**Designation and grade of any staff line managed by the post holder**:

- Manage/supervise all other staff members with the team.

**Job purpose**:

- Enable the maintenance and development of all areas across the campus. Use technical expertise and detailed operational expertise to ensure safe, consistent quality playing surfaces, ensure areas across the campus and well maintained and well presented. Deputise in the absence of the Head of grounds and gardens.

**Principal duties and responsibilities**:
**The role may encompass all of the following duties. The exact duties and responsibilities and balance of workload will be determined in discussion with the post holder’s line manager.**

**Principal Duties**
- Lead other members of the Grounds & Gardens team in the set up of sports fixtures, training sessions and general maintenance.
- In the absence of the Head of Grounds & Gardens, delegate jobs to the Grounds & Gardens team to ensure all tasks are completed safely and to a high standard.
- Report to the Head of Grounds & Gardens any problems or ways that tasks could be performed more efficiently.
- Prepare all grass and artificial surfaces to the highest standard.
- Maintain and promote a good understanding of modern maintenance and renovation practices on a variety of surfaces.
- Maintain a basic knowledge of trees and shrub maintenance and basic amenity horticulture.
- Contribute to the estimating process for resources required for work projects.
- Always promote safe working practices, using a developed awareness of Health & Safety regulations and a sound understanding of legislation relating to chemicals and dangerous substances.
- Conduct appropriate risk assessments, make recommendations and be able to respond to emergencies.
- Train, develop and motivate staff to continuously develop their technical skills.
- Supervise staff, especially trainees and apprentices to ensure standards of work and safety are achieved and maintained.
- Establish and maintain effective communication channels and efficient, effective working relationships with members of the Grounds & Gardens team, other colleagues, customers and third parties.

**Work pattern**:

- 40 hours per week, 8.00am to 4.30pm, over five days, Monday to Saturday, with an unpaid half hour lunch break. During the period April to August, this will include many Saturdays.
- There may be the need for a small amount of seasonal flexibility around these core hours, at the discretion of the Head of Grounds & Gardens.
- In addition, you are required to participate in a salting, gritting and snow clearing rota, which will require an earlier start than normal and operates Monday to Saturday. Currently, this requires a start time of 5.30am, for which a call-out payment of £20 will be made. At the discretion of the

Head of Grounds & Gardens, overtime will either be paid at your hourly rate x 1.5 or time off in lieu (TOIL) will be offered for the extra rota hours worked, depending on workload. Generally decisions about the requirement for early morning salting, gritting and snow clearing will be taken by the Head of Grounds & Gardens by close of business on the previous afternoon **.**

During certain times of the year, there will be a need for overtime to be worked, which will be either paid or time taken off in lieu.

The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties which may reasonably be required as within the nature of the duties and responsibilities of the post as defined, such as a requirement to work outside normal office hours dependant on the needs of the business.

For the avoidance of doubt, the duties and responsibilities contained within this job description may change from time to time according to the requirements of the role and it is not intended to have a contractual effect.

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All staff are expected to comply with the School’s Health and Safety policies in the performance of their duties.

**Job description drawn up by** Head of G&G Date: 03-03-23

**Approved fo