Grounds Operative 1

The Methodist Church in Britain; Taunton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Training and development opportunities

Health and wellbeing support

Paid volunteering opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking a fixed-term Grounds Operative based in Yeovil to support its grounds maintenance service across the county. The role covers parks, cemeteries, verges, highways, housing areas and landscaped sites, with outdoor, hands-on duties and seasonal/emergency work such as flood response and snow clearance.

Occasional work outside normal hours is required. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK and, ideally, a full UK driving licence.

Qualifications

• A good standard of general education or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience of outdoor manual work and using hand-operated equipment.
• Knowledge of health and safety requirements (COSHH) and ability to work safely in varying weather.
• Basic IT skills in Outlook, Word and Teams, and ability to learn new systems.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out grass cutting, hedge trimming, planting, weeding and general upkeep of grounds and horticultural areas.
• Maintaining highways, verges, housing areas, cemeteries, parks and landscaped sites.
• Removing litter, leaves, graffiti and flyposting.
• Operating hand tools, powered equipment and ride-on machinery, with appropriate training.
• Supporting seasonal and emergency work, including flood response, watercourse clearance, snow and ice clearance and sandbagging.
• Driving council vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 tonnes, with daily checks and defect reporting.
• Reporting vandalism, fly-tipping and damage to supervisors.
• Completing paperwork and electronic records accurately.
• Providing a professional and courteous service to members of the public.
• Working flexibly, including occasional work outside normal hours

Skills

Outdoor manual work

Health and safety COSHH

Physical fitness

IT basics

Teamwork

Education

General education or equivalent practical experience

Tools

Hand tools

Ride-on machinery

Job description

A fixed-term Grounds Operative post with Somerset Council's grounds maintenance service, based in Yeovil and running until March 2028. The work covers parks, cemeteries, verges, highways, housing areas and landscaped sites across the county. It is outdoor, hands-on work with seasonal and emergency duties such as flood response and snow clearance, plus occasional work outside normal hours. Candidates must already have the right to work in the UK, as no visa sponsorship is offered.

What the job involves

• Carrying out grass cutting, hedge trimming, planting, weeding and general upkeep of grounds and horticultural areas
• Maintaining highways, verges, housing areas, cemeteries, parks and landscaped sites
• Removing litter, leaves, graffiti and flyposting
• Operating hand tools, powered equipment and ride-on machinery, with appropriate training
• Supporting seasonal and emergency work, including flood response, watercourse clearance, snow and ice clearance and sandbagging
• Driving council vehicles and trailers up to 3.5 tonnes, with daily checks and defect reporting
• Reporting vandalism, fly-tipping and damage to supervisors
• Completing paperwork and electronic records accurately
• Providing a professional and courteous service to members of the public
• Working flexibly, including occasional work outside normal hours

What’s required

Qualifications

• A good standard of general education or equivalent practical experience

Experience

• Experience of outdoor manual work and using hand-operated equipment

Skills & knowledge

• Good understanding of health and safety requirements, including COSHH
• Good physical fitness, including lifting and moving materials and equipment
• Ability to work safely and effectively in varying weather conditions
• Basic IT skills in Outlook, Word and Teams, and ability to learn new systems

Checks & eligibility

• Full UK driving licence
• Right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship

Other

• Good teamwork skills and a flexible approach to work

What’s offered

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy additional leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing support, including confidential employee assistance services
• Paid volunteering opportunities