Crematorium Gardener

Southampton City Council; Southampton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent local government pension

Death in service benefit

Generous holiday 25-31 days

Flexible working options

Family-friendly policies

Training and development

Health and wellbeing support

Armed Forces Covenant

Discounts through SCC benefits

Discounted memberships at local gyms

Sustainable travel benefits

Volunteer days – 2 paid days

Job summary

Southampton City Council's Bereavement Services team is seeking an experienced Gardener for the crematorium grounds in Southampton. You will maintain lawns, shrubs, hedges and established landscaping, using a range of machinery, with minimal supervision and sensitivity to funeral services and visitors.

The role is permanent part-time (18 hours per week) with a pro rata salary band of £29,742 - £32,046 per annum; starting salary £29,742 with annual progression.

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence is essential.
• Experience in gardening and maintaining established grounds is essential.
• Horticultural qualifications or certificates relating to grounds maintenance machinery or COSHH would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Maintain daily grounds at the crematorium to a high standard all year.
• Care for lawns, planted areas, shrubs, hedges and landscaping.
• Operate grounds maintenance machinery and hand tools.
• Plan and prioritise workload and work independently with minimal supervision.

Skills

Driving licence

Gardening experience

Education

Horticultural qualifications

Tools

Grounds maintenance machinery

Pesticides/COSHH training

Job description

Crematorium Gardener

About the role:

We are looking for an experienced, self-motivated and enthusiastic gardener to join Southampton City Council's Bereavement Services team, based at Southampton Crematorium.

This is an important role within our service, taking responsibility for the day-to-day maintenance and presentation of the crematorium's extensive and established grounds. We are looking for someone who takes pride in their work and can maintain these important surroundings to a consistently high standard throughout the year.

You will undertake a varied range of horticultural and grounds maintenance duties, including the care of lawns, planted areas, shrubs, hedges and established landscaping. You will also use a range of grounds maintenance machinery, powered equipment and hand tools.

The successful candidate will have relevant practical gardening/horticultural experience and be confident in organising and prioritising their own workload and working independently with minimal supervision.

As you will be working within an operational crematorium, often in the presence of funeral services, bereaved families and visitors, sensitivity, discretion and a professional and respectful approach are essential at all times.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and essential criteria.

About you:

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• A full UK driving licence is essential.
• Relevant gardening/horticultural experience and practical experience of maintaining established grounds are essential.
• Relevant horticultural qualifications and certificates relating to grounds maintenance machinery, pesticides/COSHH or specialist equipment would be advantageous.

Working Pattern

This is a permanent part time role, 18 hours per week, worked over three days.

The specific working days will be agreed with the successful candidate, subject to the operational requirements of the service.

Some out-of-hours working, including evenings and weekends, may be required from time to time.

What we can offer you:

Salary: The salary band for this role is £29,742 - £32,046 per annum (pro rata). The starting salary is £29,742 with annual progression through the salary bands.

Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Generous holiday 25-31 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)

Important Additional Information:

• Please ensure you complete the application criteria questions, providing sufficient information and examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the role.
• Applications will be shortlisted against the published criteria, so please provide sufficient information to support your application.
• You will need to upload a CV but this will not replace completion of the application form and criteria questions.

Contact details for informal discussion

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Claire Hodges, Team Leader, Bereavement. Tel: [phone] or Email: [e-mail]

Recruitment contact details

Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]

For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council.

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