Grounds Maintenance Operative

Southern Housing; Greater London; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Housing is seeking reliable Grounds Maintenance & Bulk Collection Operatives to join our Estate Services team in North London. This hands‑on role involves outdoor work, maintaining communal green spaces and carrying out bulk clearance to keep estates safe, clean and presentable for residents.

You’ll work outdoors in all weather, wear provided PPE, and report to the Estate Services Manager. A driving licence with up to six points and two years’ driving experience are required, along with

Qualifications

• Experience undertaking grounds maintenance duties such as gardening and upkeep of communal areas.
• Experience carrying out bulk clearance or refuse collection duties.
• Experience working in small teams and good interpersonal skills.
• Basic understanding of health & safety and safe systems of work.
• Ability to plan workload, prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Maintain communal green spaces across estates to high standards.
• Carry out bulk refuse collection in line with schedules and safety.
• Represent Southern Housing and support positive resident experiences.
• Work outdoors in all weather and wear provided PPE.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Bulk clearance

Teamwork

Health & safety

Time management

Tools

Driving licence (UK)

Job description

About The Role

We’re looking for reliable and hardworking Grounds Maintenance & Bulk Collection Operatives to join our Estate Services team, helping to keep our estates and neighbourhoods safe, clean and well maintained for our residents.

Reporting to the Estate Services Manager, you’ll deliver a consistently high quality grounds maintenance and bulk clearance service across our sites in North London. This is a practical, hands on role that involves working outdoors in all weathers and undertaking physically demanding work.

You’ll be responsible for maintaining communal green spaces as well as collecting bulk refuse in line with agreed schedules and standards. You’ll be provided with the tools, machinery, uniform and personal protective equipment needed to carry out your role safely and effectively. As a visible presence on our estates, you’ll play an important role in representing Southern Housing and supporting positive resident experiences.

About you

You enjoy working outdoors and take pride in keeping spaces clean, safe and presentable. You’re organised, safety conscious and comfortable working both independently and as part of a small team.

You will need:

• Experience undertaking grounds maintenance duties, such as gardening and general upkeep of communal areas
• Previous experience carrying out bulk clearance or refuse collection duties
• Experience of working in small teams
• A basic understanding of health & safety and safe systems of work
• The ability to plan and prioritise your workload and use your time effectively
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with residents and colleagues
• A proactive approach and the ability to work on your own initiative, with the team or under instruction
• You must hold a full UK driving licence with no more than six points and with no serious motoring offences in the last 10 years (i.e., CD, DD, DG, DR, IN, MR, TT). You must also have a minimum of two years driving experience.
• We will undertake driving licence checks on the successful candidate as part of our standard pre-employment checks process

About the team

You’ll be part of our Estate Services team, which sits at the frontline of our housing service and is often the most visible point of contact for residents.

The team is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and safety of communal areas across our estates. Working closely with colleagues in Estate Services and Housing teams, you’ll help identify issues early, support vulnerable residents where appropriate, and ensure our estates are safe, well maintained and places people are proud to live.

Advert closing date: 30th September 2026 at 23:59 (We may close the advert early if we receive a suitable number of applications).

About Us

At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we give over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own! We also understand the difference that safe, secure, and affordable homes can make to people’s lives.

A career at Southern Housing will allow you to make a difference every day you come to work. Working in the housing sector with us will bring fresh challenges and give you the opportunity to grow and develop, too.