Parks Ground Maintenance Operative

**Grounds Maintenance Operative T2**

**Salary: Band 3 - £20,812 - £21,205 p.a.**

**37 hours per week Monday - Friday but will be required to work some weekends**

**The Service**

The In-House Grounds Maintenance Operations Service covers parks and open space areas of the city and is responsible for the 760 hectares of publicly accessible green space in Portsmouth.

Portsmouth's green and public spaces are at the heart of the local community and enjoy great support and affection from residents. The services main priority is to maintain a consistent standard across all grounds maintenance areas and develop its service centred around community engagement and interaction of Portsmouth's Parks and Open Spaces.

The In-House Grounds Maintenance Operations Service is responsible for the maintenance of parks and open spaces, allotments, cemeteries, golf course and semi-natural open space, with assorted sports and play facilities within. The service also provides grounds maintenance services to Traded Services incorporating schools and social service locations.

Portsmouth’s parks and open spaces are of a high standard, fit for purpose, and they need to be maintained to meet the needs of Portsmouth’s residents and visitors. The services main priority is to maintain a high standard across all parks and open spaces and service areas.

**What is the role?**

As part of the Grounds Maintenance operations team, you will carry out the necessary works to ensure that the parks, gardens, and open spaces are well maintained and kept tidy to a level of continuity for the residents, communities and visitors.

You will be responsible for carrying out a range of grounds maintenance duties which will include:

- Grass cutting - using both specialised pedestrian and ride on grass cutting machinery.
- Strimming - follow up mowing process and cutting down of longer grass areas and allotment plots.
- Sweeping of paths and hard surfaces.
- Daily playground inspections - ensuring they are in a safe condition.
- Daily Inspection and litter picking to high profile parks and open space areas - inspection of parks to ensure it is safe and clean.
- Regular general cleansing including fly tip removals to open spaces.
- Emptying of litter bins.
- Maintenance of shrubs and hedges - weeding and pruning.
- Maintenance of rose beds - pruning, mulching and dead heading.
- Maintenance of seasonal flower beds - planting of seasonal annuals/bulbs, hand weeding, dead heading and watering.
- Maintenance of perennial borders - weeding, dead heading, watering and seasonal reduction.
- Maintaining (watering/dead heading) and dismantling lamp post basked units.
- Grass edging and clearing to borders and paths.
- Fine Turf Maintenance - golf, bowling greens and cricket.
- Grass Sports Maintenance - over marking of football, rugby, softball, rounder's.
- Cleaning of sports pavilions.
- Spraying - herbicide and pesticide (PA1 PA6 or equivalent certificated holders only).
- Driving a range of commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tons.

**Please click **HERE **for the full job profile**

**Who is the person?**

You need to:

- Be self-motivated and flexible to work on your own and as part of a team to carry out your tasks.
- Experienced in general grounds maintenance.
- Be able to work under supervisory instruction and follow set processes and procedures together with the ability to work automatously when required.
- Be able to plan and manage your time effectively, deciding which tools and equipment are required for individual tasks to make certain your tasks are completed efficiently, to meet the purpose of keeping the local parks well maintained.
- Be able to perform duties according to the Council's Policies and codes of behaviour
- Be able to use tools and machinery required for the role
- Have experience of using garden machinery including riding on mowers
- Be aware of Health and Safety requirements, hazardous materials etc.
- Be flexible to provide cover at weekends and out of normal working hours when required
- Ideally have a driving licence, and the ability to tow would be an advantage.
- Have basic literacy skills as the role will involve the filling out of forms
- Have good communication skills.
- Be reliable & punctual
- Be able to attend and work in any of the maintenance areas within the city.

We really appreciate our employees and fully realise they are essential to our success and look to offer an inclusive, supportive working environment where employees can reach their potentials with a healthy work life balance, offering the following rewards:

- A generous pension scheme
- Up to 31 days annual leave per year pro rata + bank holidays
- Flexible / hybrid working
- A range of retail discounts via our reward portal offering discounts at retailers including IKEA, Currys, Tesco
- Free Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellbeing support
- Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities including apprenticeships
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