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Senior Gardener / Gardener / Assistant Gardener

Job introduction

Do you have broad experience in all aspects of grounds maintenance? Do you enjoy working outdoors whatever the weather? Are you a team player?

If so, then this could be the job for you. The City Parks department at Brighton & Hove City council is looking for qualified Senior Gardeners (Scale 5: starting salary £24,948), Gardeners (Scale 4b: starting salary £24,054) and Assistant Gardeners (Scale 4a: starting salary £23,194) to join their professional team.

You will be responsible for carrying out specialist horticultural and grounds maintenance operations, maintaining the city’s parks and green spaces, ensuring that all works are completed competently and in accordance with Health & Safety legislation.

About the role

The city of Brighton & Hove has approximately 147 parks and gardens (covering 1,200 hectares), including seven award-winning Green Flag parks, that promote a positive image of the city. The city’s parks and public open spaces are immensely popular with residents and tourists alike.

The council’s City Parks department is responsible for maintaining all those public open spaces to a highly professional and safe standard. In addition, City Parks manages a number of grounds maintenance contracts for the council’s Housing, Highways, Schools and Cemeteries departments.

City Parks is seeking to employ experienced Senior Gardeners, Gardeners and Assistant Gardeners to work at sites across the city.

The ideal candidates should be self-motivated and hard-working with past employment experience delivering horticultural and grounds maintenance works to a high standard.

The roles require a wide range of experience using grounds maintenance equipment. A sound knowledge of health and safety relating to grounds maintenance is essential.

It will be decided at interview whether applicants’ levels of training and experience are most suited to the role of Senior Gardener, Gardener or Assistant Gardener. Applicants should specify which role they are applying for, or if they wish to be considered for more than one role.

Those applying for the role of Gardener must hold a NVQ Level 2 qualification in a relevant subject. Those applying for the role of Senior Gardener must hold a NVQ Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject. Candidates must hold a full UK driving licence. A NPTC PA1 & PA6A spraying certificates and LANTRA training to operate a ride-on mower are desirable qualifications for all roles.

Contracted will be asked to work Monday to Friday. Working hours are 37 per week, however requests to work part time can be considered.

We are seeking keen, dedicated and responsible gardeners who can demonstrate the following qualities:

• Ability to provide a high standard of grounds maintenance
• Able and willing to work as part of a small team
• Good people skills and ability to build strong working relationships
• Awareness of Health & Safety legislation relating to grounds maintenance
• Experience using a wide range of grounds maintenance equipment
• Knowledge of basic vehicle and machinery maintenance
• Willingness to undertake additional training
• Ability to identify a wide range of shrub and plant species
• A conscientious approach to personal health and safety in the workplace

Interview date: TBC

Shortlisting and interviews happen on a frequent basis, please submit applications as soon as possible. This advert may be withdrawn if the vacancies are filled and headcount complete.

For an informal discussion, please call 01273 294751 or email [email protected] and leave a message for an Operations Manager to contact you.

As part of your application, you will need to complete your education and work history and provide answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as they will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Shortlisting questions guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk)) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

Work Permits: We may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Please see Gov.uk for more information on the Skilled Worker Visa.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, female or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).