Invasive Weeds Site Supervisor (360 Operator) - Japanese Knotweed Excavation

The Grounds Care Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company van

Fuel card

Paid overtime

Away meals provided

Job summary

The Grounds Care Group (UK) Ltd is hiring an Invasive Weeds Site Supervisor (360 Operator) to lead Japanese Knotweed excavation across London and the South East. You will run ground works, supervise 1–3 agency operatives, and operate a 360 excavator in challenging conditions.

This is a hands-on supervisory role with travel; expected to stay away overnight with a £50 per night allowance and meals when away. A strong focus on safety and compliance is required.

Qualifications

• Proven excavation experience and ability to work at a physical pace in all weather.
• CPCS or NPORS 360 excavator below 10 tonnes.
• Full clean UK driving licence.
• Experience supervising or leading a small gang, including agency labour.
• Willingness to travel and to stay away when a job needs it.
• CPCS or NPORS above 10 tonnes, and forward-tipping dumper (nice to have)
• SSSTS or SMSTS (advantageous)

Responsibilities

• Site set-up and control from first arrival to final reinstatement.
• Operate a 360 excavator and work alongside the gang.
• Brief, direct and check the work of agency operatives daily.
• Install root barrier and membrane, backfill and reinstate to spec.
• Control the clean and dirty lines to manage contaminated material.
• Manage waste arisings with correct paperwork on site.
• Adhere to RAMS and COSHH for each job and check for underground services.
• Photograph and record works to evidence the treatment plan.
• Deal with client or site contact professionally on the day.

Skills

Excavation experience

360 excavator operation

Leading a small team

Full UK driving licence

Willing to travel stay away

Health and safety awareness

CPCS/NPORS certification

Job description

Invasive Weeds Site Supervisor (360 Operator) - Japanese Knotweed Excavation

London, United Kingdom | Posted on 24/09/2026

Invasive Weeds Site Supervisor(360 Operator) — Japanese Knotweed Excavation

Fetcham, Surrey (KT22) — sites across London, the South East and further afield

£42,000 – £49,000 Company van and fuel card £50 per night awayplus meals Paid overtime

You will run our invasive weed excavation work on the ground. That means physically digging out Japanese knotweed, bamboo and other invasive species — by hand and on a 360 excavator — and supervising a working gang of one to three agency operatives on each job.

This is a hands-on supervisor's post, not a clipboard job. You will be in the excavation.

Our work takes us across the country. Most weeks you will be within reach of home. Some weeks you will be away, and we pay £50 a night plus your meals when you are.

Requirements

Key responsibilities

• Site set-up and control. Set up and rundig-out sites from first arrival to final reinstatement — site set-up,exclusion zones, welfare, plant positioning.
• Plant operation. Operate a 360excavator, typically 3 to 8 tonnes, and work manually alongside the gang.
• Supervision. Brief, direct and check thework of one to three agency operatives daily. Hold and record the toolbox talk.
• Remediation works. Install root barrierand membrane, backfill and reinstate to specification.
• Contamination control. Control the cleanand dirty line so contaminated material is properly segregated. This is thesingle point on which most dig-outs fail.
• Waste duty of care. Manage arisings ascontrolled waste — correct classification, loading, and waste transfer orconsignment paperwork completed on site, under section 34 of the EnvironmentalProtection Act 1990.
• Health and safety. Work to the RAMS andCOSHH assessment for each job, and stop the job if site conditions do not matchthem. Carry out underground service checks before breaking ground in line withHSG47.
• Plant checks. Complete daily plantchecks under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998,including quick-hitch checks, and pre-use lifting checks where liftingoperations apply.
• Evidence. Photograph and record theworks to evidence the treatment plan and support the GCG guarantee.
• Client contact. Deal with the client orsite contact on the day, professionally, without committing GCG to anything onprice or scope.

Person specification

• Proven excavation experienceand the ability to work at a physical pace in all weather's
• CPCS or NPORS 360 excavatorbelow 10 tonnes
• Full clean UK driving licence
• Experience supervising orleading a small gang, including agency labour
• Willingness to travel and tostay away when a job needs it
• The judgement to spot when ajob has changed on site, and to phone it in rather than press on
• CPCS or NPORS above 10 tonnes,and forward-tipping dumper
• SSSTS or SMSTS
• PA1 and PA6 sprayingcertificates
• Knowledge of Japanese knotweed,bamboo and other invasive species, and the obligations under the Wildlife andCountryside Act 1981
• First Aid at Work
• Experience of sites run underthe Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

Provided and funded by GCG

• SSSTS or SMSTS, funded, within the first three months where not already held
• PA1 and PA6 sprayingcertificates
• Invasive species identificationand GCG treatment methodology

TheGrounds Care Group (UK) Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. Allappointments are subject to a right to work check, an enhanced DBS check wherethe role requires it, and satisfactory references. We verify the informationgiven in applications against publicly available sources.

Shortlistedcandidates complete a written exercise as part of the selection process. Pleasetell us when you apply if you would need any adjustment to take part.