Grounds Maintenance Operative

Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association Limited; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave + public holidays

Pension scheme with employer contrib.

Life Assurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Wellbeing support

Job summary

The package includes a salary of £26,442 to £27,833 per year, with 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, and a positive team-focused environment in the Ipswich area.

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths at grade C
• PA1–PA6 pesticide certificate (or willingness to work towards)
• Recent experience in a similar role
• Experience operating grounds maintenance machinery
• Good written and spoken English
• Good communication skills
• Full UK driving licence required for company driving

Responsibilities

• Maintain communal gardens and green spaces to a high standard
• Carry out grounds maintenance work to service standards
• Safely operate landscaping equipment and machinery
• Record completed work and update customers as needed
• Respond promptly to service issues and resolve them professionally
• Keep tools and equipment safe and maintained
• Perform spraying duties in accordance with regulations
• Assist with garden clearances and bulk waste removal

Skills

Literacy & Numeracy

PA1-PA6 strict certification

Grounds maintenance experience

Machinery operation

English proficiency

Communication skills

Full UK driving licence

Education

GCSE English & Maths (Grade C)

Tools

N/A

Job description

Title: Grounds Maintenance Operative

Ipswich, Suffolk, GB, IP1 4JP

Grounds Maintenance Operative

Ipswich

£26,442 - £27,833 per year

40 hours per week – Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 16:30pm

Do you enjoy working outdoors and take pride in keeping green spaces looking their best?

We're looking for a Grounds Maintenance Operative to join our friendly team in Ipswich. If you enjoy working in the fresh air, have a practical approach to work and want to make a visible difference to local communities, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

At Sanctuary Property Services, you'll play a key role in maintaining attractive, safe and welcoming outdoor environments for our customers. Every day will be different, and you'll be part of a supportive team that takes pride in delivering high-quality services across our estates.

The role of Grounds Maintenance Operativewill include:

• Maintaining communal gardens and green spaces to a high standard using basic horticultural practices
• Carrying out grounds maintenance work in line with agreed service standards
• Operating a range of landscaping and grounds maintenance equipment safely and effectively
• Recording work completed accurately and keeping customers informed of progress where required
• Responding positively to service issues and helping to resolve them quickly and professionally
• Ensuring all tools, machinery and equipment remain safe, serviceable and fit for purpose
• Carrying out spraying duties safely and in accordance with relevant regulations and guidelines
• Supporting with additional tasks including garden clearances and bulk waste removal when required

Skills and experiences:

• Literacy and numeracy equivalent to grade C GCSE English and Maths
• Pesticide Application Certificate PA1 – PA6 (or equivalent) or willing to work towards
• Recent experience of undertaking a similar role
• Some practical experience of operating machinery
• Good understanding of written and spoken English
• Good communication skills
• This role will involve driving on company business. In order to drive a company vehicle, drivers must hold a full valid UK driving licence

About us

We provide in-house repairs and maintenance for a wide range of properties, as part of a not-for-profit organisation. We foster a diverse and inclusive culture. Our customers are at the heart of all we do, and colleagues help make a real difference to people’s lives.

Our Benefits

As part of our commitment to making Sanctuary a great place to work, where your wellbeing is of genuine importance, we have developed an attractive employment package. The package recognises your contribution, supports your physical, mental and financial health and gives you the flexibility to tailor your employee benefits by offering:

• 25 days annual leave (rising to a maximum of 30 days) plus public holidays

• A pension scheme with employer contributions from Sanctuary
• Life Assurance
• Employee Advice Service including counselling
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Voluntary health plans
• Employee discounts
• Wellbeing support and tools
• Employee recognition scheme
• Staff Networks, with a shared interest in inclusion, and who provide invaluable support to colleagues
• £26,442 per annum (rising to £27,833 per annum after 12 months, subject to satisfactory performance)

Closing Date:28 October 2026

We work closely with the Home Office in order to prevent unlawful working.

Sanctuary Maintenance Contractors Limited is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity.