Landscape And Grounds Operative

Energy and Maintenance

We are looking for an experienced Landscape and Grounds Operative to join our team providing a full range of horticultural services to maintain and improve the soft landscape of our Canterbury campus.

You will work on turfed surfaces, trees, hedgerows, shrubs and sports facilities to maintain and improve a safe and pleasant environment for our students, staff and visitors and to enhance biodiversity on the campus. We are seeking someone who is keen to work as part of a multi-skilled team and continue learning new skills and improving our Grounds services.

The average working hours for this role are 35 hours per week, split into seasonal working:

Summer: Monday to Thursday 8:00 to 16:30, Friday 8:00 to 14:30 (total 36.45 hours)

Winter: Monday to Wednesday 8:00 to 15:30, Thursday 8:00 to 15:00, Friday 8:00 to 14:00. (total 31.75 hours)

As a Landscape and Grounds Operative you will:

• proactively carry out work in line with the landscape specification document to ensure annual landscape maintenance occurs in a timely manner
• drive and operate University owned plant equipment, vehicles and equipment to carry out horticultural tasks around the estate in a safe and compliant manner
• work effectively with colleagues in the Grounds Team in order to ensure the best use of skills and experience to achieve the team’s objectives
• carry out regular maintenance and project work to enhance the biodiversity of the campus and help deliver implementation of the published Environmental Management System.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• NVQ 2 or equivalent qualification/experience in related areas e.g. Horticulture, Sports Turf or Maintenance of amenity facilities
• Full UK manual Driving Licence
• Proven experience of horticultural maintenance in a medium to large organisation
• Knowledge of maintenance techniques and processes inherent in the upkeep of artificial and natural landscapes.

Rewarding your contribution

You will enjoy a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing, along with a range of great staff benefits including:

• A beautiful Landscape and diverse habitats.
• Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
• Full training and full uniform provided
• Study while you work discounts, cycle to work scheme, local business discounts
• On-site parking
• 43 days' leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)

For further information on our staff benefits please go to https://staff.kent.ac.uk/employment/benefits

Meet your team

The Commercial Services and Estates Department provides essential services at both the Canterbury and Medway campuses that are critical to the staff and student experience at the University of Kent. Commercial Services delivers a range of value-added services including catering, conferencing, residential accommodation, reception services, sport and recreation. The residential accommodation houses approximately 6,500 students during term-time across Canterbury and Medway campuses. The Canterbury campus is a successful conference, events and holiday location during the summer months.

Estates are responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure, buildings and extensive grounds at Kent. The department also has responsibility for the security of students, staff and visitors, transport, parking and travel; customer and postal services and the Design & Print Centre

If you require further assistance regarding the online application process, please contact peopleserviceshr@kent.ac.uk quoting ref: EST-164-24