Grounds Maintenance Operator

Starting salary: £25,770 pro rata, per year 
Contract type:  Permanent 
Grade: 1
Location: Antonine Wall Depot, Falkirk
Working Hours: Full time – 1820 hours per year (annualised hours)
Interviews: To be held in person at Antonine Wall Depot, Falkirk on Week Commencing 12th January 2026

Thank you for your interest in the post of Grounds Maintenance Operator with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) that will be based in the Antonine Wall Depot. This is a permanent and pensionable position.

You will be joining a dedicated team where you will contribute to the ground's maintenance of historical monuments under the care of Historic Environment Scotland at Antonine Wall and in the surrounding areas.
 

For more information about the post and information about the team, please access the full job description for this post. Please note that if you don't have Office 365 installed on your device, this can be opened using your browser.

Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland

• Enrolment onto a Civil Service Pension scheme – 28% employer contribution
• 25 days annual leave, pro-rata (increasing to 30 days after 3 years public holidays
• Reimbursement for relevant professional subscriptions
• Support for further education and personal development
• Study leave for work related courses
• Flexible working hours (where appropriate)
• Free entry to all of our properties (with up to three guests)
• Free entry to English Heritage, Manx and Cadw properties

Key Responsibilities of this role

The post involves general grass maintenance and gardening duties within the grounds maintenance team. You will be expected to work under the instruction of the Property Maintenance and Compliance Manager and the Grounds Maintenance Supervisor. You will ensure an excellent customer experience by maintaining HES properties and grounds to a high standard.

Due to the nature of this role, you will work mainly outside in variable weather conditions.

You will be required to comply with and promote HES Health and Safety Policies.

From time to time you will be required to attend training courses identified to assist the work, or to comply with health and safety legislation (this may require travel and overnight stays away from home). You will be required to complete IOSH Working Safely when starting in post.

Key duties of the Ground Maintenance Operator post include:

•    Grass cutting and strimming at various sites using numerous types of machinery

•    Garden maintenance

•    Minor maintenance of plant and equipment

•    Hedge maintenance

•    Fencing repairs

•    Minor drainage works

•    Tree works

•    Dry stone wall repairs

•    Planting and weeding

•    Litter removal

•    Carry out maintenance works e.g. painting etc. throughout the area
 

Key requirements of the role:

In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to complete a cover letter which addresses:

1. Why you are interested in the post with Historic Environment Scotland

2. How you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 800 words), using examples of where you have used these skills in the past.

Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience. Please read our CV and Cover Letter Guidance first before completing, as you will only be eligible for selection if you use examples of how you meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Essential Criteria:

•  Demonstrable experience of carrying out grounds maintenance in estates, local authority environment or historic landscape management
•  Knowledge of the following: Health and Safety at Work Act, Risk Assessments, Method Statements
•  Competent in the use of various grass cutting machinery e.g. strimmers, flail mowers, ride on mowers, cylinder mowers, hedge trimmers etc.
•  Competent knowledge of estate management e.g. fencing, drainage, dry stone walling, use of pesticides etc.
•    Knowledge of small plant and equipment maintenance
•   Full UK driving licence and willing to work towards a D1 + E Entitlement if not already obtained.

Find out more about desirable skills and experience in our full job description

We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.

We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email at  or call our Head Office at and speak to a member of our People Team.

Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.

To submit your application online, please read our 'How to Apply' section followed by 'Apply Now' button to begin your application.