Outdoor Team Member – Horticulture Lead

Derbyshire County Council; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

Belper Town Council is seeking an experienced horticulture practitioner to maintain and develop the town’s green spaces. You will work with the Outdoor Team to deliver the Beautiful Belper and Nature Friendly plans, ensuring heritage-sensitive planting and accessibility considerations.

The post is full-time with 42 hours in summer and 32 hours in winter, with a SCP18–23 salary range depending on qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

• Experienced horticulture practitioner with exceptional knowledge and skills.
• Ability to design and manage planting, landscaping and street furniture initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and develop Belper's municipal grounds with the Outdoor Team.
• Implement the Beautiful Belper, Nature Friendly and Peat Free plans.
• Engage with partners to enhance biodiversity and sustainability.
• Care for perennial planting and coordinate nursery orders for seasonal color.
• Support events such as Food Festivals and Christmas Lights.

Skills

Horticulture expertise

Job description

Closing date: 27 November 2026

Belper Town Council serves Belper and the neighbouring villages of Milford, Makeney, Farnah Green and Blackbrook located in the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site. There are 16 Councillors representing 22,000 people.

Overall Responsibilities to be included in this role include;

• The Council is looking for an experienced Horticulture practitioner who has exceptional knowledge and skills and who will ensure that the Council can fulfil its ambition to deliver exemplar sustainable, creative and contemporary municipal grounds maintenance within the Parish. Schemes should be sensitive to the importance of the heritage of the Belper Parish and should have regard to potential Accessibility needs.
• To continue to progress with the successful implementation of the Beautiful Belper, Nature Friendly and Peat Free Plan.
• To proactively engage with key partners to develop planting, hard landscaping and street furniture initiatives that will continue to sustain and enforce the vibrancy of Belper Town Centre to meet the aims of biodiversity and sustainability as well as helping to promote the town as a centre for retail, leisure and commercial activity.
• To work with the Outdoor Team in the management of the existing planting within the town, sharing their knowledge and experience to care for the Perennial plants which have been introduced.
• To design, specify and work with the Council’s nursery supplier to place orders for plants, shrubs and bulbs which will provide year-round impact, be beneficial to wildlife and which can address the changing climate.
• To improve existing opportunities for planting in the limited spaces which are under the direct control of Belper Town Council and to consider opportunities for more sustainable, contemporary and attractive street planters and street furniture.
• To provide support at events which the Council may organise e.g. e.g. Food Festivals and Christmas Lights Switch On.
• To carry out routine maintenance tasks to and within the Council’s properties (including St John’s Chapel, the Coppice depot and garage, stores in the Memorial Gardens, public toilets) and to ensure that tools and equipment are maintained in good order.
• To work with other members of the Outdoor Team to maintain, in an effective and efficient way, all the Council’s property and land (including planting out, weeding and watering flower beds, hanging baskets, channels/footpaths, trimming of hedges etc.
• The post will include some evening, weekend and Bank Holiday hours.

Belper Town Council believes that hard work and commitment should be rewarded, and we offer:

• 25 days annual leave per year (rising to 30 after 5 years continuous service) plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Guaranteed incremental pay increases (in line with Local Government pay recommendations)
• Training and development opportunities to help you achieve your goals
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Hours - The post is full time but due to the nature of the position the successful candidate will work 42 hours per week in the Summer and 32 hours per week in the winter (salary will be paid at the average of 37 hours per week).
• Proposed Salary Range - SCP18 £16.89 to SCP23 £18.44 depending on qualifications and experience.

For any queries or an informal chat please contact Tina Faloon, Deputy Town Clerk 01773 822116 or email: [e-mail]

Applications close Friday 27th November 2026 at 5.00 pm. Interviews are likely to take place within the following 2 weeks.