Gardener

University-of-Salford; Salford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Salford seeks a proactive Gardener to join the Landscape Services team within Estates & Facilities. You will perform hands-on grounds maintenance across the campus, including grass cutting, pruning, planting and biodiversity initiatives, ensuring safe, welcoming outdoor spaces for students and staff.

We value practical horticultural skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work with minimal supervision while collaborating with trades and external partners.

Qualifications

• recognised horticultural / landscaping qualification or equivalent experience
• PA1 and PA6 pesticides certificates are advantageous
• full UK driving licence and ability to drive University vehicles
• health and safety training and commitment to mandatory training
• experience in commercial / public sector grounds maintenance
• experience maintaining lawns, shrub beds, trees, hedges and borders

Responsibilities

• Grass cutting, hedge trimming, pruning, planting and weed control
• Maintain lawns, planting areas and public spaces to a high standard
• Support landscaping schemes, biodiversity projects and environmental improvements
• Safely operate and maintain grounds maintenance machinery and equipment
• Assist in keeping external areas clean, safe and welcoming
• Work with Estates & Facilities teams, contractors and other stakeholders
• Identify and report defects, hazards and health and safety concerns
• Support occasional operational, emergency, event and out-of-hours duties

Skills

Driving licence

Horticultural knowledge

Grounds maintenance

Education

NVQ Level 2 / City & Guilds / RHS

Job description

Are you passionate about horticulture and take pride in creating attractive, well-maintained outdoor environments

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Gardenerto join our Landscape Services team within Estates & Facilities at the University of Salford.

Our Estates & Facilities team plays an important role in creating and maintaining a safe, welcoming, and high-quality campus environment for our students, colleagues, and visitors. This is a hands on opportunity to contribute directly to the appearance, sustainability, and ongoing improvement of our University estate.

The role

Reporting to the Landscape Services Team Leader, you will undertake a broad range of grounds maintenance, horticultural and landscaping activities across the University estate.

No two days will necessarily be the same. Your work will include:

• Grass cutting, hedge trimming, pruning, planting, weed control and general horticultural maintenance.
• Maintaining lawns, planting areas, borders, and public spaces to a high standard.
• Supporting new landscaping schemes, planting projects, biodiversity initiatives, and environmental improvements.
• Safely operating and maintaining grounds maintenance machinery, vehicles, powered tools, and equipment.
• Helping to maintain clean, safe, accessible, and welcoming external areas.
• Working alongside colleagues, other Estates & Facilities trades, contractors, and external organisations.
• Identifying and reporting defects, hazards and health and safety concerns.
• Supporting occasional operational, emergency, event and out-of-hours requirements.

About you

We are looking for someone who combines strong practical horticultural skills with a positive, flexible, and proactive approach.

You should have:

• A recognised horticultural, landscaping, grounds maintenance or amenity horticulture qualification, such as NVQ Level 2, City & Guilds or RHS, or equivalent relevant experience.
• PA1 and PA6 Pesticide Application Certificates would be advantageous, although we will also consider candidates willing to obtain these.
• A full UK driving licenceand the ability to drive University vehicles as required.
• Relevant health and safety training and a commitment to maintaining mandatory training requirements.
• Practical experience of grounds maintenance, horticulture, landscaping or estate maintenance within a commercial, public sector, educational, local authority or similar environment.
• Experience maintaining landscaped areas including lawns, shrub beds, trees, hedges, borders, and public realm spaces.
• Experience safely using grounds maintenance machinery, powered tools, vehicles, ride-on equipment, or specialist equipment.
• The ability to undertake physically demanding outdoor work throughout the year and in varying weather conditions.

You will also need a good understanding of horticultural practices, safe working methods, risk assessments, manual handling and PPE, together with an awareness of environmental sustainability within a landscaped environment.

Just as importantly, you'll be someone who can use initiative, organise their own workload and work effectively with minimal supervision, while also being a strong team player. You'll communicate positively with colleagues, students, visitors, contractors, and other stakeholders and be willing to adapt to changing operational and seasonal priorities.

This is an opportunity to bring your horticultural skills to a varied University estate and play a visible role in creating an attractive, safe, sustainable, and welcoming campus environment.

If you take pride in the quality of your work, enjoy working outdoors and want to be part of a team that makes a real difference to the everyday campus experience, we'd love to hear from you.