Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to maintain beautiful parks and outdoor spaces in your community.
- Company: Public sector role with a focus on community and environmental care.
- Benefits: Earn £13.68 per hour with flexible hours and potential for contract extension.
- Other info: Great opportunity for teamwork and developing practical skills in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a difference in your local area while gaining hands-on experience.
- Qualifications: Experience in horticulture or sports ground maintenance is essential.
The predicted salary is between 28400 - 28800 £ per year.
Position: Junior Groundsperson
Location: Lurgan Park, Craigavon, however the postholder may be required to work at other locations across the Borough
Duration: Temporary contract for 3-6 months, may be extended
Pay Rate: Scale 3, £13.68 per hour
Hours of work: 37 hours per week on a rota basis, Monday-Thursday 8.00am-4.30pm, Friday 8.00am-1.00pm.
The post holder will work as a member of the outdoor space's maintenance team under the general direction of a Head Grounds person/team leader and be responsible for undertaking both basic and skilled work in parks, playing fields, landscaped areas and open spaces either individually or as part of a team.
The post holder will be required to work flexibly regarding time, place and type of work assigned within the Borough in the field of amenity horticulture including the care and maintenance of buildings, sports equipment, sports facilities, general amenity areas, parks and play areas and work diligently, efficiently and effectively to achieve assigned personal and team tasks to the required quality and within the allotted timescales.
The post holder will be required to develop personal competence in the use of plant and equipment and provide customer care services at parks and sports grounds.
Duties will include:
- Carry out horticultural operations, including planting trees, shrubs and plants.
- Carry out grass cutting, hedge cutting and pruning.
- Carry out labour associated with soil cultivation, fertiliser spreading, site preparation and constructional labouring.
- Carry out sports facility maintenance as and when required to include preparation and constructional labouring.
- Maintain games facilities and areas including spiking, aeration, scarifying, top-dressing, fertilising and also marking of games areas and erection/dismantling of posts.
- Load, unload and move equipment and materials such as mowers, barrows, plants, soil, fertilisers, horticultural and sundries.
- Assist the higher graded gardeners with their work.
- Responsible for opening and closing parks facilities as and when required to include the setting of alarms etc.
- Maintain the orderly condition of grounds, i.e. sweeping, hoeing, ranking, mowing, edging, removal of litter/rubbish/illegal dumping etc.
- Maintain buildings, i.e. cleaning (sweeping, mopping and dusting), movement of equipment and materials (tables, chairs and machinery).
Essential Criteria:
- 12 months' experience in two or more of the following areas: Operating a variety of commercial grass cutting machinery; Amenity horticulture skills; Sports ground maintenance.
- Ability to work as part of a team; Good communication skills; Excellent customer care skills; Ability to work on own initiative with minimal supervision; Ability to work to deadlines; Committed to quality work; Committed to safe working.
- Hold a full current driving licence (valid in the UK) including category B.
Desirable Criteria:
- NVQ Level 1 Amenity Horticulture or equivalent; Pesticide certificate PA1.
- One year's experience of: Customer care.
Groundsperson - Public Sector in Craigavon employer: Ashton Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Ashton Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Groundsperson - Public Sector in Craigavon
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the team! If you can, visit Lurgan Park and chat with the current staff. Building rapport can give you an edge and show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Bring along examples of your previous work or even photos of projects you've been involved in. This will help us see what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Be flexible and ready to adapt. The job requires working in various locations and tasks, so highlight your willingness to take on different responsibilities during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Groundsperson - Public Sector in Craigavon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your 12 months' experience in relevant areas like operating grass cutting machinery or amenity horticulture. We want to see how your skills match up with what we're looking for!
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor it to the Junior Groundsperson role by mentioning specific duties from the job description that you’re excited about. This shows us you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested.
Keep It Clear and Concise: We appreciate clarity! Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points if needed to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website: Remember, the best way to apply is through our website. It’s super easy and ensures your application gets to the right place. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ashton Recruitment
✨Know Your Horticulture Basics
Brush up on your knowledge of amenity horticulture and the specific tasks mentioned in the job description. Be ready to discuss your experience with grass cutting, planting, and maintaining sports facilities. Showing that you understand the role will impress the interviewers.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since this position involves working as part of a maintenance team, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in previous roles. Highlight your communication skills and ability to work under minimal supervision, as these are key for this job.
✨Showcase Your Customer Care Skills
Customer care is essential in this role, especially when interacting with the public in parks and sports grounds. Think of instances where you've provided excellent service or resolved issues effectively. This will show that you're not just about the tasks but also about creating a positive experience for visitors.
✨Be Ready for Practical Questions
Expect questions that assess your practical skills and knowledge of equipment. Familiarise yourself with the types of machinery you'll be using and any safety protocols. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience confidently will set you apart from other candidates.