Craft Gardener

The Methodist Church in Britain; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

LGPS membership

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Bus/train discounts

Job summary

Leicester City Council's horticultural team is looking for an experienced Grounds Gardener to maintain parks, open spaces and green infrastructure across the city. You will carry out horticultural and hard landscape upkeep, apply chemicals safely and operate specialist equipment.

A full driving licence is essential as driving is part of the role. Working Monday to Friday 7:30am with occasional out-of-hours cover, you will work under the Local Area Manager and Team Leader, with flexible working

Qualifications

• Experience in horticulture or grounds maintenance.
• Knowledge of COSHH regulations and safety practices.
• Ability to handle manual duties and lift heavy equipment.
• Capable of working with minimal supervision and in a team.
• Committed to high standards of customer service.

Responsibilities

• Maintain horticultural features across parks and open spaces.
• Maintain hard landscape features and buildings.
• Prepare and apply chemicals safely.
• Keep sites clean and tidy and manage records.
• Operate and maintain specialist equipment safely.
• Provide emergency cover outside normal hours when required.

Skills

COSHH regulations

Health and safety

Manual handling

Teamwork

Initiative

Safety-conscious

Job description

Craft Gardeners in the horticultural team at Leicester City Council maintain the city's parks, open spaces and wider green infrastructure. The work covers horticultural and hard landscape upkeep, chemical application, sports surfaces and specialist equipment, along with advising people who use the facilities. Hours run Monday to Friday from 7:30am, with occasional out-of-hours emergency cover and outdoor work in all weathers. A full driving licence is essential, as driving is part of the role.

What the job involves

• Maintain horticultural features across parks, open spaces and green infrastructure
• Maintain hard landscape features, including buildings
• Prepare and apply chemicals
• Keep sites clean and tidy
• Maintain sports features such as artificial surfaces
• Operate and maintain hand and mechanical specialist equipment safely
• Advise people using council facilities to maintain a high standard of customer service
• Complete paperwork and keep records accurate and up to date
• Provide emergency cover outside normal working hours when required
• Work under the guidance of the Local Area Manager and Team Leader

Experience

• Previous experience in horticulture or groundsmanship

Skills & knowledge

• Understanding of COSHH regulations
• Knowledge of health and safety
• Manual handling and lifting heavy equipment and materials
• Working without close supervision, using own initiativeWorking well in a team
• Highly safety-conscious when using specialist equipment

Checks & eligibility

• Full driving licence

What’s offered

• Generous annual leave
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Option of flexible working
• Training and development opportunities
• Flexible benefits, including discounts on city buses and trains