Estates Operative - Grounds

Retirement Villages Group; Hexton; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Retirement Villages Group is seeking an Estates Operative (Grounds) to maintain Cedars Village grounds. This full-time role involves outdoor work, lawn care, planting, paths, and general upkeep to create a welcoming environment for residents and visitors.

You will monitor plant health, use gardening tools safely, and support the village team with maintenance and safety checks. A practical, hands-on approach and reliability are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in gardening, grounds maintenance or a similar role.
• Practical ability to use gardening tools and equipment safely.
• Physical fitness and stamina for outdoor work in all weathers.
• Good attention to detail and pride in keeping spaces tidy and well maintained.
• Safety-conscious approach with willingness to follow procedures and training.
• Friendly, helpful attitude and ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Looking after grounds: mowing lawns, trimming hedges, pruning, planting and maintaining beds and greenery.
• Maintaining woodlands, fences, roadways, paths and paved areas to keep the village tidy, welcoming and safe.
• Caring for plants and environment: monitor health, watering and irrigation, sustainable practices.
• Support general maintenance: check outdoor fixtures and equipment, report faults, keep in good order.
• Maintain health and safety: follow procedures, use equipment and chemicals correctly, complete checks.
• Work as one team: support colleagues to deliver a great service for residents.
• Provide additional support when needed: participate in out-of-hours rota and respond to emergencies when trained.

Skills

Gardening experience

Grounds maintenance

Landscaping

Tool safety

Attention to detail

Outdoor fitness

Teamwork

Safety training

Job description

At RVG, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to age well. Our villages are more than just places to live. They're communities where people can stay independent, enjoy the outdoors and make the most of every day.

We're looking for an Estates Operative (Grounds) to help keep our beautiful Cedars Village looking its best. If you enjoy working outdoors, take pride in a job well done and love creating welcoming, well-maintained spaces, this could be the perfect role for you. This is a full time role, working 37.5 hours per week.

What you'll be doing

You'll play an important part in keeping our grounds safe, attractive and enjoyable for residents, visitors and colleagues. From maintaining lawns and flower beds to looking after paths and outdoor areas, you'll help create a place everyone can feel proud of.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Looking after our grounds: Mowing lawns, trimming hedges, pruning, planting and maintaining flower beds, shrubs and other greenery.
• Keeping outdoor spaces looking their best: Maintaining woodlands, fences, roadways, paths and paved areas, ensuring the village remains tidy, welcoming and safe.
• Caring for plants and the environment: Monitoring plant health, managing watering and irrigation, and following sustainable gardening practices.
• Supporting general maintenance: Checking outdoor fixtures, fittings and equipment, reporting faults and helping ensure everything is kept in good working order.
• Maintaining health and safety: Following safety procedures, using equipment and chemicals correctly, and completing regular checks and records.
• Working as one team: Supporting colleagues across the village to deliver a great service for our residents.
• Providing additional support when needed: Taking part in an out-of-hours emergency rota and responding to emergency situations when appropriately trained.

What we're looking for

You don't need to know everything, but you should enjoy practical, hands-on work and take pride in your surroundings.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Experience in gardening, grounds maintenance, landscaping or a similar role.
• A practical approach and the ability to use gardening tools and equipment safely.
• The physical fitness and stamina needed for outdoor work in different weather conditions.
• Good attention to detail and pride in keeping spaces clean, tidy and well maintained.
• A safety-conscious approach, with a willingness to follow procedures and complete relevant training.
• A friendly, helpful attitude and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Why join Retirement Villages Group?

At RVG, our people make our villages special. You'll be part of a supportive team doing meaningful work that makes a real difference to residents' everyday lives.

Our values guide everything we do:

• Age Well: Help create an environment where residents can enjoy life to the fullest.
• Community: Be part of a welcoming village where people feel they belong.
• Keep Improving: Take pride in what you do and look for ways to make things better.
• Invest Wisely: Look after our equipment, resources and surroundings.
• Planet Positive: Help care for our outdoor spaces with the environment in mind.
• One Team: Support one another and achieve more together.

If you enjoy working outdoors and want to make a positive difference to the place people call home, we'd love to hear from you.