Grounds Maintenance Team Leader

Sanctuary Group; Lancing; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave (rising to 30)

Pension scheme with employer contribut

Life Assurance

Employee Advice Service

Cycle to Work scheme

Wellbeing support and tools

Staff Networks

Job summary

Sanctuary is seeking a Grounds Maintenance Team Leader in Lancing, Sussex, to lead our Estates Services team in delivering high-quality outdoor spaces across properties. The role combines horticultural expertise with people leadership to drive service excellence.

You will manage operatives, ensure contract compliance, and maintain records. A UK driving licence and pesticide certificates PA1/PA6 are required, with a 40-hour week, 8am–4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• Experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping, horticulture, or similar
• Experience supervising or leading others
• Pesticide Application Certificates PA1 and PA6 (or equivalent)
• Experience using grounds maintenance machinery and equipment
• Good communication and problem-solving skills
• Basic IT skills to update digital work scheduling systems
• GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent)
• Full UK driving licence driving a company vehicle

Responsibilities

• Leading and supporting grounds maintenance operatives to deliver high-quality work
• Ensuring all work is completed in line with contract specifications and horticultural best practice
• Monitoring progress and maintaining accurate work records
• Responding to service issues and helping to resolve customer concerns professionally
• Maintaining tools, machinery, and equipment to ensure safe and effective operation
• Promoting a strong health and safety culture within the team
• Carrying out specialist tasks, including pesticide application, in accordance with legislation and best practice

Skills

Leadership experience

Strong communication

Problem-solving skills

Driving licence (UK)

Basic IT skills

Equipment operation

Education

GCSE English and Maths

PA1 and PA6 pesticide certificates

Tools

Grounds maintenance machinery

Job description

Grounds Maintenance Team Leader (Landscaping & Horticulture)

Inclusion is one of our core values. Our goal is to be a diverse, inclusive organisation where our people thrive and meet our customers’ needs with fairness and empathy. We know having a range of ideas and opinions makes a difference. We encourage and welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds to support this mission. We will make adjustments throughout your application process, in line with Sanctuary’s commitment to our Disability Confident employer status.

£29,362 - £30,908 per year

40 hours per week – Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

Are you an experienced grounds maintenance professional looking to take the next step in your career? Or perhaps you're already leading teams and looking for a rewarding role with a stable employer that values your expertise?

We're looking for Grounds Maintenance Team Leaders to join our Estates Services team based in Lancing, helping to maintain and enhance outdoor spaces across Sussex.

These are great opportunities to combine your horticultural knowledge, leadership skills, and passion for the outdoors in a role where you'll make a visible difference to our residents and communities every day.

The role of Grounds Maintenance Team Leader (Landscaping & Horticulture) will include:

• Leading and supporting grounds maintenance operatives to deliver high-quality work
• Ensuring all work is completed in line with contract specifications and horticultural best practice
• Monitoring progress and maintaining accurate work records
• Responding to service issues and helping to resolve customer concerns professionally
• Maintaining tools, machinery, and equipment to ensure safe and effective operation
• Promoting a strong health and safety culture within the team
• Carrying out specialist tasks, including pesticide application, in accordance with legislation and best practice

Skills and experiences:

• Experience within grounds maintenance, landscaping, horticulture, or a similar environment
• Previous experience supervising or leading others
• Pesticide Application Certificates PA1 and PA6 (or equivalent)
• Experience using grounds maintenance machinery and equipment
• Good communication and problem-solving skills
• Basic IT skills, including the ability to update digital work scheduling systems
• GCSE English and Maths (or equivalent)
• 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.

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
• Wellbeing support and tools
• Staff Networks, with a shared interest in inclusion, and who provide invaluable support to colleagues
• £29,362 per annum (rising to £30,908 per annum after 12 months, subject to satisfactory performance)

If you're unsure about any details, have questions about the role or want to discuss a need for adjustments, our fantastic talent team will be happy to help you – [e-mail]

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.