Job Profile for Horticultural Operative

Job Details

Job title: Horticultural Operative

Salary/Grade: Operational Grade SCP 6 - 8

Service: Operations

Reports to: Grounds Maintenance Supervisor

Manages/Supervises: N/A

Job purpose

• To undertake a range of Grounds Maintenance activities to help keep the District looking 'clean and green' and to enhance the well-being and quality of life for residents and visitors.
• To support and contribute through high levels of performance and productivity services that represent value for money and the key principles of Best Value.

Principal Accountabilities

• To carry out a range of tasks defined within the Horticultural Service specifications and work schedules, including:
  • grounds maintenance activities,
  • Grass cutting,
  • sports field maintenance,
  • hedge cutting,
  • shrub bed maintenance
  • litter-picking.
• To complete all documentation in respect of the above.
• To use and maintain a range of vehicles, plant, tools and equipment in accordance with Manufacturer’s instructions, including the completion of all maintenance checks.
• To ensure the vehicle (where allocated) is maintained in a clean and tidy condition. Undertake Drivers maintenance checks and report all defects using the Defect Reporting procedure.
• To wear the Council’s protective uniform and comply with all Health and Safety legislation/regulations, including: safe working practices, risk/COSHH assessments.
• To support, contribute to and comply with quality practices as detailed within the Corporate Policy and in accordance with Departmental plans/management.
• To take responsibility for maintaining own health and attendance. 
• To support, contribute and comply with quality and governance procedures as directed by management.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in all areas of employment and service delivery.
• Any other associated duties detailed by Head of Service or his representative.
• To advise Line manager if, at any time, the above duties and responsibilities cannot be performed.
• Any other duties as required to support the business, including maintaining business continuity and during civil emergencies.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Safeguarding Procedure in all areas of employment and service delivery.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

(Tested at application and interview stage)

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience of working in Grounds Maintenance (Horticulture)
• Experience of working in an outdoor manual job role
• Working knowledge of: Grounds Maintenance equipment, initial marking and maintenance of sports fields
• Qualifications or training in Grounds Maintenance (Horticulture) – NVQ Level 2 and above or equivalent
• Qualification/training and/or knowledge in health and safety relevant to the job role, including manual handling, risk assessments and safe working practices
• A full clean driving licence with ability to drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonne (or a willingness to undertake training to drive 7.5 tonne vehicles, if required).

Skills and Knowledge

• Literacy and numeracy skills in order to fulfil the requirements of the role
• Team player
• Ability to work on proactively and on own initiative
• Excellent customer service skills
• The ability to work outdoors in all weathers together with the ability to walk, bend, kneel and stand for long periods of time and perform heavy lifting if needed.
• Keen interest in environmental issues with particular reference to a clean and tidy environment..

Competencies

(Tested at interview stage)

Communicating Effectively

Demonstrate the effective use of the range of communication methods available: written, spoken, electronic, and use these methods in appropriate ways suitable to the context and situation

• Present spoken communication in a polite, friendly and respectful manner seeking to ensure mutual understanding
• Listen well and seek clarification and understanding, avoiding jumping to conclusions or making assumptions
• Present information and ideas in a clear and understandable way which avoids jargon
• Seek to understand the communication needs of colleagues and customers, being mindful of equality issues and the diverse needs of the range of people we work with
• Choose the most appropriate method of communication for the situation, seeking to avoid using one fixed style or approach

Performing Efficiently and Effectively

Promote good performance, developing clear, structured and efficient ways of managing workload and delivering results.  Staff should challenge themselves and others to perform well, and to adhere to the Council’s performance management systems

• Ensure that all work carried out by you is in line with business and service plans and supports the overall aims and ambition of the Council
• Plan your workload effectively, reporting achievements and problems to appropriate managers and project leaders
• See tasks and objectives through to completion
• Approach challenges with drive and enthusiasm
• Strive for continuous improvement in your work and manage your learning and development to enable you to perform to the best of your ability
• Create novel solutions to improve services and ways of working and challenge conventional practices
• Seek out income generating opportunities and efficiencies and aim to provide more for less to achieve the best possible value and high standards of service delivery
• Be enthusiastic about the Council’s services and look for opportunities to promote and sell them
• Treat the Council’s money as if it were your own

Using and Managing Resources Efficiently and Effectively

Demonstrate the effective and efficient use of the full range of resources used in and by the Council including time, finances, staffing, equipment, information, materials, buildings, etc.

• Take responsibility for managing your time, seeking efficient ways to carry out your work, maximising your output and minimising wastage
• Use and acquire materials effectively and efficiently minimising wastage, recycling where possible, and striving for cost effectiveness
• Seek out ways to improve the use of resources

Engaging with the Customer

Understand the needs and requirements of their customers, to provide excellent customer service, and to involve customers in the improvement of services

• Provide a helpful and friendly service to customers, both internally and externally
• Take responsibility for following up on enquiries and solving customer issues
• Make efforts to fully understand the customer’s needs and avoid assuming that “we know best”
• Ensure that you have a full understanding of the needs and requirements of the customer
• Seek feedback from internal and external customers on the effectiveness and efficiency of the service you provide

Working well Together

Actively foster good working relationships with colleagues and customers in order to collectively achieve the Council’s direction and ambition

• Co-operate and work well with colleagues at all levels of the organisation, seeking collective responsibility for the achievement of goals
• Demonstrate consideration and respect for other’s feelings and opinions and avoid judging and making assumptions
• Maintain positive working relationships with external contacts in order to maintain the reputation of the Council
• Seek to actively solve problems and avoid passing the issue on to others or leaving the problem unresolved
• Demonstrate self-awareness of your style of working and develop flexibility and adaptability in order to work well with others

Other conditions

• This position does not require a DBS check 
• This position is not politically restricted

Job profile updated April 2025

Values and behaviours

Our values and behaviours are an integral part of who we are; they are the guiding principles that should inform how we work together, support each other and make decisions.

Our organisation thrives on the dedication and passion of its people and it’s important that we embody these values and behaviours and they become a part of our organisational DNA.

Our vision

We will be ambitious, support each other and work together in new ways to achieve outstanding results

Our core values