Gardener

Description

Job Title: Gardener

Location: Cyfarthfa Park, Team Leaders Office, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8RE

Pay Rate: £13.26 per hour

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled, qualified, and proactive Neighbourhood Services Operative (Gardener). This crucial role focuses on the preservation, maintenance, and enhancement of public parks, green spaces, and open areas throughout the County Borough. Reporting to a Team Leader, you will be instrumental in upholding high standards of horticultural excellence. Your work will directly contribute to creating welcoming and safe environments for all residents. This position requires a minimum of a Level 2 City & Guilds or equivalent qualification.

A key aspect of this role is operational flexibility. You must be prepared to be deployed within other critical Neighbourhood Services departments as needed, including Waste Management, Highways, street cleansing, or cemeteries, undertaking duties commensurate with the grade. This adaptability ensures our service remains responsive to community needs.

Main Responsibilities

Gardening & Grounds Work: Undertake diverse horticultural duties with minimal supervision, including operating pedestrian and ride-on mowers; expertly using strimmers, hedge cutters, and blowers; and performing soil cultivation, mulching, watering, weeding, and litter clearing.

Planting & Pruning: Execute skilled pruning of shrubs and small trees to promote healthy growth, along with creative seed sowing, bed preparation, and planting of flowers and shrubs for seasonal displays.

Turf Management: Accurately mark out and maintain football fields and other sports turf, carrying out essential repairs to fine turf and playing surfaces to ensure they remain in excellent, safe condition.

Driving & Assistance: Drive council vehicles and tow trailers (requiring valid qualifications). You will also assist the specialist arborist team as needed.

Equipment & Vehicle Care: Take full ownership for the daily care of all tools, machinery, and equipment, ensuring they are correctly maintained, reporting defects promptly, and keeping them in safe working order. Keep vans and tool sheds clean and secure.

Environmental Practices: Champion sustainable methods for plant protection and pest control, actively avoiding chemical pesticides to protect local biodiversity and ecosystems.

Health & Safety: Maintain a deep awareness of and rigorously practice all Health and Safety legislation, ensuring a safe environment for colleagues and the public.

Flexibility & Development: Engage in and complete all required training to enhance your skills. Be prepared to perform other duties across Neighbourhood Services as operational priorities dictate.

What We're Looking For

Qualifications: Holds a minimum Level 2 City & Guilds qualification (or equivalent) in horticulture or a closely related field.

Experience: Possesses demonstrable, hands-on experience performing a varied range of professional gardening and grounds maintenance duties.

Skills: Highly proficient and confident in the safe operation of a wide variety of gardening hand tools and professional machinery.

Safety Aware: Has a strong, practical understanding of and adherence to current Health and Safety legislation in a grounds maintenance context.

Adaptability: Is a flexible team player who can seamlessly transition between different tasks and departments as required by service needs.

Driving: Possesses the appropriate and current qualifications to legally drive council vehicles and tow trailers.

Commitment: Is deeply committed to maintaining public green spaces to the highest possible standards of quality, safety, and visual appeal.

What We Can Offer

A vital role where your efforts directly enhance the beauty and usability of public parks.

The opportunity to help our parks achieve and retain the prestigious Green Flag quality award.

A dynamic work environment with varied tasks across multiple council services.

Meaningful opportunities for targeted training and personal development to advance your skills.

The chance to be a valued member of a supportive team passionate about the community's green spaces.

How To Apply?

Please apply to this advert or call (phone number removed) and ask for Akhil or email for more information and to submit your application.

Randstad Business Support is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy

Ad ID: 5416926918