Grounds Maintenance Operative, Suffolk

• Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils – Sudbury and Stowmarket depots
• £26,835 – £30,060 per annum (plus contractual overtime – see hours)
• 40 hours per week (37 hours plus 3 contractual hours overtime)
• Permanent

Full time, part time and job share opportunities will be considered.

What we are looking for

We are looking for motivated individuals to join the Grounds Maintenance Crew within our Public Realm Team .

The successful people will share our values , commitment, and motivation to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities.

About the role

The Public Realm Team are responsible for the day to day management of the district councils’ countryside sites and open spaces. These include informal recreational sites, local nature reserves, parks and smaller picnic areas.

In addition, the team is responsible for council owned play areas, management of the councils’ tree stock, routine grounds maintenance on roadside verges and open spaces within council housing areas as well as keeping the districts clean through litter collection, mechanical sweeping and removing fly tips.

These roles will be based at our Sudbury and Stowmarket depots and will play a key part in keeping the joint district and our public open spaces clean, tidy and welcoming.

Delivering a range of grounds maintenance services of a practical and physically demanding nature across council owned parks, play areas, open spaces and communal areas. This will include use of specialised vehicles, machinery and equipment, litter picking, clearing fly-tipped waste and other general cleansing duties.

The role is for 40 hours per week spread over 5 working days (Monday – Friday) and will include working annualised hours (varied between Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter).

About you

You will have some experience in grounds maintenance and be passionate about the environment and keen to work with the team to make a difference to local areas, providing a service to residents and visitors alike. You will enjoy working outside either individually or as part of a team.

You will need to demonstrate

• Your grounds maintenance experience and level of proficiency in a range of tasks (or demonstrate skills you have that could transfer to this role). Ability to operate some grounds maintenance equipment.
• The ability to communicate well with members of the public, colleagues and supervisory staff as well as understanding and practicing good customer care.
• A pro-active approach and a flexible attitude including undertaking cleansing tasks to meet the operational requirements and seasonal demands of the service.
• Awareness of Health and Safety at Work Act, practice and responsibility.
• Computer literacy and ability to use email and mobile devices.
• Ability to maintain accurate work records.

You must hold a full driving licence and hold the relevant qualification to tow a trailer.

Whilst we welcome applications from those with the qualifications and skills outlined in the Person Specification, we will also consider applications from those with some experience in the grounds maintenance field who are able to demonstrate a strong desire to learn and develop.

About us

Working together across our councils and with our partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors, we provide excellent services to our 190,000 residents across Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

We are proud of the role we play in creating the environment, economy, and communities for our districts. We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work. With picturesque market towns, 60 conservation areas and with two National Landscapes within our districts, it is little wonder that we are consistently within the top 50 places to live in the UK.

Benefits of working for us

• Great opportunities for learning and development
• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 26 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme
• Wellbeing Support Program
• Employee Assist Program
• Health Care Options.

For more information, visit our Employee Benefits page (suffolkjobsdirect.org) and view \\\’ The best things about working for Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils (youtube) \\\’ to find out what our employees say about working for us.

Our ways of working

We are committed to supporting equality and diversity, Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils provide opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible service for our residents.

For more information

For more information or an informal discussion please contact the Public Realm Team by emailing .

Closing date: 5pm, 11 March 2025.

Interview date: 21 March 2025.

How to apply

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification (pdf) before applying for this job opportunity.

• Applications can be made by attaching a CV and completing a supporting statement.
• In your application, please ensure your statement indicates how you meet each of the criteria in the ‘Person Profile’ section of the Job Description/Person Specification. In particular please tell us which Grounds Maintenance skills you have undertaken in previous roles.
• Please attach your completed supporting statement to your application.

We will also accept CV’s and supporting statements by post. These should be sent for the attention of Stephanie Christou, Operations Manager to the following address: Creeting Road Depot, Creeting Road, Stowmarket, IP14 5AT. Please mark the envelope private and confidential.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.