Grounds Assistant - 0652-26

Lancaster University; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave entitlement

Excellent pension and benefits package

Full training and development

Uniform, PPE, and wet clothing

Supportive working environment

Job summary

Lancaster University is recruiting a Grounds Team Assistant to support the Estates and Facilities Division. Based at Bailrigg, Lancaster, the role involves maintaining outdoor spaces, assisting with waste management, and helping keep the campus clean and welcoming.

You will work across the university grounds with a friendly team, undertaking environmental maintenance, litter picking, gritting in winter and helping ensure safety and high presentation.

Qualifications

• Good communication and customer service skills.
• Awareness of health and safety practices.
• Reliable and flexible, able to respond to changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Emptying external litter and recycling bins across campus.
• Litter picking and maintaining external areas to a high standard.
• Sweeping paths and other hard surfaces.
• Maintaining clean, tidy bin stores.
• Cleaning external fixtures and surfaces, including bins and canopies.
• Undertaking seasonal gritting and winter maintenance duties.
• Identifying and reporting cleanliness, maintenance and safety issues.
• Providing a helpful and professional service to students, staff and visitors.

Skills

Outdoors

Teamwork

Communication

Customer service

Health and safety awareness

Job description

Grounds Assistant

Facilities - Service Delivery

Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK

Salary: £24,215 (Full-Time/Indefinite)

Closing Date: Friday 14 August 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Reference: 0652-26

Grounds Team Assistant

Estates and Facilities Division

Are you someone who takes pride in keeping outdoor spaces clean, safe and welcoming?

Lancaster University is seeking a reliable and enthusiastic Grounds Team Assistant to join our Grounds Team and help maintain our attractive and vibrant campus environment. This is an excellent opportunity to work outdoors as part of a friendly and professional team responsible for the presentation and cleanliness of the University estate.

About The Role

As a Grounds Team Assistant, you will play an important role in ensuring the campus remains clean, tidy and welcoming for students, staff and visitors. Working across the University’s extensive grounds, you will undertake a range of environmental maintenance and waste management duties.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Emptying external litter and recycling bins across campus.
• Litter picking and maintaining external areas to a high standard.
• Sweeping paths, roads, pedestrian areas, and other hard surfaces.
• Maintaining clean, tidy, and accessible bin stores.
• Cleaning external fixtures and surfaces, including bins, canopies, and other outdoor structures.
• Undertaking seasonal gritting, snow clearance, and winter maintenance duties.
• Identifying and reporting cleanliness, maintenance and safety issues.
• Providing a helpful and professional service to students, staff and visitors.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Takes pride in delivering high standards of work.
• Enjoys working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Has a positive and proactive approach.

Can work independently and as part of a team.

• Has good communication and customer service skills.
• Has an awareness of health and safety practices.
• Is reliable, flexible and able to respond to changing operational priorities.

Previous experience in grounds maintenance, cleaning, environmental services, waste management or a similar role would be advantageous, although full training will be provided.

Working Pattern and Hours

This role operates 5 days from 7 working pattern and therefore requires a flexible approach to working hours. While most of the work is undertaken during the week, you will occasionally be required to support University events and operational activities at weekends as part of their normal working week.

Role

The role follows a seasonal hour's arrangement, averaging 36.5 hours per week across the year, with working hours varying to reflect operational needs and seasonal demand:

May – July

40 hours per week

• Monday to Friday: 8:00am – 4:30pm

August – October

36.5 hours per week

• Monday to Thursday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
• Friday: 8:00am – 3:00pm

November – January

33 hours per week

• Monday to Friday: 8:00am – 3:00pm

Flexibility is essential as working patterns may be adjusted to meet operational requirements and support events.

What We Offer

In Return, We Offer

• A supportive and inclusive working environment.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Excellent pension and benefits package.
• Full training and development opportunities.
• Uniform, PPE, and wet clothing.
• The opportunity to contribute to a sustainable and well-maintained campus environment.

If you are motivated, dependable, and enjoy working outdoors, we would love to hear from you.

Join our Grounds Team and help create a campus environment that everyone can be proud of.

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Further Details

Person Specification

Job Description

Please note: unless specified otherwise in the advert, all advertised roles are UK based.

Find out what it's like to work at Lancaster University, including information on our wide range of employee benefits, support networks and our policies and facilities for a family-friendly workplace.

The University recognises and celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in higher education whilst promoting the importance and wellbeing for all our colleagues.

We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression, race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting diversity, and equality of opportunity.