Ground Maintenance Operative in Belfast

LOCATION: Belfast

SHIFT PATTERN: Monday to Friday, 36 hours per week

SALARY: Competitive

ABM is one of the world’s largest providers of integrated facility services. A driving force for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world, ABM provides essential services across a wide range of industries – from commercial office buildings to airports, hospitals, data centres, manufacturing plants and distribution centres, and more.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a full-time 40-hour grounds maintenance and landscaping service at the Airbus site in accordance with the contract specification and annual calendar of works.
• Follow instructions from the Soft Services Site Lead or designated Supervisor and complete planned, seasonal and reactive tasks.
• Maintain grass areas by mowing, edging, strimming, collecting arisings and carrying out minor seeding or repairs.
• Maintain hedges, shrubs, borders and planted areas; prune and remove dead, damaged or diseased growth within competence.
• Prepare, plant, water, feed and maintain seasonal bedding, bulbs, trees, shrubs and replacement plants.
• Control weeds manually and apply only pre-approved herbicides when trained, certificated and authorised.
• Complete spray records and comply with product labels, COSHH/SDS, weather restrictions and environmental controls.
• Clear leaves, litter, moss, mud and debris from roads, car parks, paths, steps, drains and gullies, bike shelters and other external areas.
• Sweep and pressure-wash hard surfaces and external features using appropriate exclusion zones and controls.
• Provide seasonal and winter services, including spot gritting and snow or ice clearance when required.
• Clean and care for fences, gates, signs, external furniture and site features; report damage or deterioration.
• Inspect grounds, trees and shrubs for hazards; report unsafe branches, blocked drains, damaged surfaces, leaks or fly-tipping.
• Do not undertake tree felling or specialist arboricultural work unless specifically authorised and supported by approved RAMS and permits.
• Safely operate mowers, strimmers or brushcutters, hedge trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and other grounds equipment within training.
• Use MEWPs only when authorised, with the correct IPAF category, pre-use checks, permit and fall-protection controls.
• Complete daily and pre-use checks; keep vehicles, tools, machinery and stores clean, secure and serviceable; report defects immediately.
• Wear uniform, site ID and required PPE; use caution signs and barriers and minimise noise, flying debris, slips, trips and disruption.
• Follow task RAMS, point-of-work risk assessments, permit-to-work requirements and Airbus and ABM EHS procedures.
• Protect biodiversity and wildlife, prevent pollution, and minimise water, chemical and material use.
• Segregate and dispose of green waste, litter and packaging in the correct waste streams.
• Keep accurate timesheets, inspection records, spray logs, equipment checks, training records and completed-work records.
• Report hazards, accidents, incidents and near misses immediately and support corrective actions.
• Be professional and courteous with Airbus employees, visitors, contractors and the public, representing ABM positively.
• Support the wider Soft Services function in the case of planned leave or absence.
• Attend induction, refresher training and toolbox talks and maintain required licences and competencies.
• Support service improvement and complete other reasonable duties requested by ABM management.

Requirements

Essential Criteria:

• Eligibility to work in the UK and ability to meet Airbus and ABM security and site-access requirements.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Current recognised professional pesticide qualification: PA1 plus PA6 for pedestrian hand-held application, or an equivalent certificate of competence.
• Practical experience in commercial or industrial grounds maintenance, landscaping or horticulture.
• Competence in the safe use of powered horticultural machinery and hand tools.
• Working knowledge of health and safety, COSHH, PPE, manual handling, RAMS and safe working at height.
• Good written and spoken English and the ability to complete digital and paper records accurately.
• Able to work outdoors in all seasons, undertake physical work and work flexibly across a full-time 40-hour pattern.
• High attention to detail and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Desired Qualifications:

• Current IPAF PAL Card for MEWP categories 3A and/or 3B, as applicable to site equipment, or willingness to obtain during probation.
• Level 2 qualification in Horticulture, Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping or Grounds Maintenance.
• Relevant certificates for brushcutter or strimmer, ride-on mower, chainsaw or tree work, where duties require them.
• Emergency First Aid at Work.
• Winter maintenance, gritting, safe towing or vehicle-check training.

Desired Experience:

• Experience on a secure manufacturing, aerospace, engineering or similarly complex facilities-management site.
• Experience applying herbicides and maintaining compliant pesticide and chemical records.
• Experience using MEWPs for authorised high-level external or grounds work.
• Experience of pressure washing, winter services and working to a seasonal grounds calendar.

Benefits

We’re proud to offer a great range of benefits including: 24/7 GP: Both you and your immediate family can speak to a UK-based GP from the comfort of your own home Mental Health support and Life Event Counseling Get Fit Programme Financial and legal support Cycle to work scheme Access Perks at Work, our innovative employee app where you can find: Perks: discounts, gift cards, cashback, and exclusive offers Life: Search for resources and tools on topics ranging from family and life to health, money and work Support: Online chat or telephone service for urgent support in a crisis.