Grounds & Landscape Operative

Bangor University; Bangor; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Bangor University is seeking a Grounds & Landscape Operative to join the Grounds & Gardens Team on a permanent basis. The role involves maintaining the outdoor estate, carrying out grass cutting, hedge and tree work, weed control and hard landscaping, while reading plans and ensuring safety.

Welsh language ability is desirable; on-call weekends and seasonal gritting may apply. The ideal candidate will have NVQ Level 1 in Amenity Horticulture or equivalent, plus COSHH and relevant

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 1 in Amenity Horticulture or equivalent experience.
• IOSH Working Safely qualification (or willingness to attain).
• CS34 Certificate of Competence (or willingness to attain).
• COSHH training (or willingness to undertake).
• Full driving licence, ideally B + E (trailer towing).
• Experience in Grounds Maintenance tasks and use of a wide range of machinery.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the University estate to an acceptable standard including grass cutting, hedge trimming, planting and litter picking.
• Undertake external hard landscaping works and pavement jet washing as required.
• Operate hand-held tools and machinery such as chainsaws and mowers.
• Carry out winching operations and act as banksman when needed.
• Read and interpret site plans including underground services and planting plans.
• Maintain safety, records and documentation in line with procedures.

Skills

Grounds maintenance experience

Welsh language ability

Self-motivated

Flexible hours

Team & independent working

Education

NVQ Level 1 in Amenity Horticulture

Tools

Chainsaw

Mowers

Wood-chippers

PA1 Certification

PA6 Certification

COSHH training

Job description

Grounds & Landscape Operative

Job Number

BU04080

Grade

3

Contract Duration

Permanent

Closing Date

11 September 2026

Applications are invited for the above permanent, full time post working in the Grounds and Gardens Team.

You will be part of a team responsible for maintaining the University's outdoor estate to a high standard, undertaking a wide range of grounds maintenance and hard landscaping duties including grass cutting, hedge and tree work, litter picking, weeding, spraying, planting and paving/jet-washing works.

You will have experience operating hand-held tools and machinery such as chainsaws, mowers and wood-chippers, and be confident undertaking winching operations and working as a banksman. You will be able to read and interpret site plans, including underground services and planting plans, and will work safely and in line with the University's procedures at all times, with an awareness of the impact of your work on colleagues, students and the public.

You will have good communication skills to deal confidently with staff, students and visitors, and will be willing to undertake relevant training, including COSHH training, to maintain compliance with statutory regulations. The role forms part of a seasonal on-call/call-out weekend rota, including seasonal gritting duties, and involves supporting special events as required.

Candidates should be educated to NVQ Level 1 in Amenity Horticulture or possess equivalent experience in a grounds maintenance, horticultural or similar practical role.

The successful candidate will be expected to commence as soon as possible.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.

This role will be located on campus at Bangor, and given its practical/outdoor nature is not suitable for remote working under the Dynamic Working framework.

Closing date for applications: 11 September 2026

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting: Peter Dennis (Grounds & Gardens Team Leader) at [e-mail]

Purpose of the Job

Maintaining Bangor University estate to an acceptable standard, enhancing the visual impact of the estate and providing a salt spreading service during the gritting season to maintain access along roadways and in car parks.

Carry out a range of Repairs, Maintenance and Planned Improvement duties with the emphasis on multi-skilled around the University estate.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake a range of technical and practical tasks required to maintain the University’s Estate to an acceptable standard which will include, amongst others; grass cutting, leaf collection, hedge cutting, some tree work, litter picking, bin emptying, weeding, spraying, planting and other such duties according to requirements.
• Undertake external hard landscaping works as requested which will include, amongst others; pavement jet washing, building jetwash, Paving slab relaying and other such duties according to requirements.
• Operate equipment such as hand-held tools, including chainsaws and machinery such as mowers and wood-chippers.
• Undertake winching operations.
• Operate as a banksman.
• Safe use and storage of tools and equipment required to undertake the role, which may include vehicles and large machinery.
• Able to understand plans, including underground infrastructure services plans and horticultural landscaping & planting plans.
• Ensure all work is undertaken in a safe manner, following procedures and safe systems of work, with an awareness of the potential impact of the work on any co-workers, staff, students or members of the public who may be in the vicinity.
• Maintain accurate records of work activity and complete documentation in-line with procedures.
• Interact with staff, students and members of the public, dealing with basic questions and queries.
• Undertake relevant training to ensure compliance with statutory regulations, including COSHH training.
• Part of a seasonal on call / call-out weekend rota response team and undertake seasonal gritting duties as required.
• To participate in preparation of special events.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
• The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Policy.
• The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for him/herself and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by his/her actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their posts.
• A flexible approach to working within a busy professional environment.
• To report the condition of the University’s Estate to the Operations Team Leader and /or the Maintenance & Landscape Supervisor.
• The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grade of the post.

You may be required to undertake other responsibilities and training as requested by your line manager appropriate to your grade.

Person Specification

• Numeracy and literacy skills sufficient to carry out the duties of the post
• NVQ Level 1 in Amenity Horticulture or equivalent experience.
• IOSH Working Safely qualification (or a willingness to work towards attaining this).
• CS34 Certificate of Competence (or a willingness to work towards attaining this).
• A willingness to undertake emergency first aid training.
• Relevant statutory training certificates or operator licences or a willingness to work towards attaining these with appropriate training.
• Full driving licence, ideally to include category B + E (trailer towing).
• Experience of undertaking Grounds Maintenance Tasks; for example, mowing, planting, weeding, hedge trimming, pruning, seeding, etc.
• Experience of using a wide range of machinery; for example, mowers, ride on mowers, brush cutters, hedge trimmers (chainsaw certificate advantageous).
• Must be sufficiently physically fit to undertake the specified duties.
• Ability to work with colleagues from within your team but also an ability to work independently and sometime alone with the judgement to know when to seek advice and guidance from management.
• Self-motivated.
• Flexible attitude to working hours.
• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.
• COSHH training.
• PA1 and PA6 Pesticide Application Certificates.
• A knowledge and understanding of the HE environment.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture.

The University has recently achieved a Race Equality Charter Bronze award reflecting our commitment to building an inclusive and equitable society for black, Asian and minoritised ethnic staff.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas . If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.