Head Groundsperson

**Job Title**:Head Grounds Person

**Location**:Silverlake, Dorset.

**Reports to**: Estate Manager

**Aim of post**: The role of the Head Grounds Person, is to oversee the management, direction and development of the grounds team alongside their daily duties. To take responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of all the communal areas, grounds, wider estate and nature reserve of Silverlake Estate, working in conjunction with our Landscape & Ecology plan. It is the Head Groundsman's duty to develop, monitor and review all staffing, scheduling and delegating of essential and routine works, facility operations, safety training, and standard operating procedures and to ultimately keep the Estate always looking at its best. The Head Grounds Person must be able to effectively manage a team of 4, and lead by example and help create a motivating environment for the team to work within. This person must exhibit and demonstrate an exceptional level of professionalism as an ambassador for Silverlake Estate

**Operations Management**
- Attend management meetings with the Senior Management team as required. Attend regular management meetings with Estate Manager and Chief Ecologist to discuss all aspects including ecology plan, planned works, staffing, client satisfaction and complaints, health & safety and expenditure.
- To assist the estate management in managing expenditures relating to the grounds team in line with budget and to always be looking out for innovative ideas on how to manage more effectively.
- Hold regular staff meetings to keep staff up to date on all aspects of the Grounds team operation.
- Ensure all members of the team are maintaining all equipment regularly to keep it in good working order. Conduct regular stock counts on tools assigned to each team and track losses and damage.
- Maintain a professional relationship with the developer, homeowners, suppliers, providers and contractors.
- To ensure all stock, equipment and buildings are always kept secure.
- Ensure all members of the team are working efficiently and managing their time effectively.
- Assist in the management of all aspects of Health & Safety. Ensure all recommendations and actions raised within annual General Risk Assessment and Fire Risk Assessment reports assigned to the grounds team are closed in a timely manner. Ensure all COSHH records are kept up to date with job-related training. Ensure all staff are up to date with relevant Health & Safety / First Aid / Open water / Lifesaving training and liaise with Estate Management to keep updated where necessary. Ensure accident reports are completed and followed up for all incidents occurring. (Must be able to swim)
- To write regular review documentation associated with the Grounds team e.g., SOPs and risk assessments.
- Ensure housekeeping of the grounds shed, staffroom and toilets are kept to a high standard.
- Conduct regular one2one meetings with the team and complete annual staff appraisals. Conduct probationary reviews with new employees. Monitor staff performance and inform Estate Management of any performance-related issues.
- To manage any issues within the team as effectively as possible and where needed escalate to Estate Management.
- To assist in the recruitment and interviewing process for new members of the grounds team and to update job description.
- To ensure all grounds team follow company procedure and policy.
- To assist with training and development of staff. To ensure all training is recorded and signed off by both the trainer and trainee.
- Aim for continuous improvement in all areas of the grounds team responsibility without compromising the quality of service, standards or safety.

**The main duties and tasks of the grounds team will vary daily and will include**:

- Weeding, digging, forking, mulching, watering, raking, edging, pruning, planting, hedge-cutting, cross-cutting and felling of small trees.
- The use of hand tools and basic light machinery and plant.
- The use of mowers, strimmers, hedge-cutters, chainsaws, and leaf blowers.
- The use of the estate vehicles including ATVs.
- To inspect the estate vehicles on a weekly and monthly basis to ensure that all are operationally sound and maintained in accordance with the maintenance schedule and inspection sheets.
- To be aware of Health & Safety procedures and requirements, noting that all duties must be carried out to comply with current Health & Safety at Work legislation.
- To ensure all equipment, machinery and buildings are safely secure
- To keep the staffroom and tool shed clean and tidy.
- To keep all tools and equipment clean and in good order, reporting any defects or repairs required to the Estate Manager.
- To be aware of and report any security risks posed within the Estate
- To keep the courtyards, planted areas, thoroughfares, footpaths, Estate tracks, and any other areas of the Estate clear and free from litter at all times.
- To carry out gritting, salt spreading, snow clearing, as