Operational Landscape Technician

EFM Landscape Services provides high‑quality landscape services throughout our external spaces. The diverse external green spaces present a significant opportunity to enhance the reputation of our world‑class estate, create a positive first impression of the University, and provide opportunities to improve wellbeing. The successful candidate will provide effective, wide‑ranging and technical operational delivery throughout our external estate. Your flexibility and diverse skill set will be an asset to the university as you will be part of a team that implements a multi‑skilled landscape service at locations across the central campus and wider locations. The successful applicant will have a positive attitude to change and continuous improvement, evidencing commitment to Integrated Management System (IMS) principles. You will work closely with the EFM landscape strategy, management plans and biodiversity action plan. The substantive role is operational, active, and physical, requiring regular manual handling, use of power tools, vibration‑causing equipment and driving TUOS vehicles. You will be a good communicator and be able to form positive working relationships with a wide range of people during your working day.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Landscape Supervisors with effective seasonal and scheduled landscape operations.
• Work alone and alongside other landscape operational technicians, providing maintenance activities including mowing, strimming, blowing, hedge cutting and a variety of soft landscape management operations.
• Work throughout UOS locations and conduct lone independent work as required.
• Monitor and review works conducted by yourself and others.
• Be competent and proficient in using standard and specialist landscape equipment, including vibration‑causing, powered and hand tools.
• Demonstrate competent use of landscape equipment or willingness to undertake further training.
• Promote the landscape services by consistently striving to improve standards and levels of service delivery across the green spaces.
• Comply with current health and safety legislation when conducting tasks across all locations of the University.
• Always represent EFM positively and professionally.
• Provide care and consideration for plants when requiring species‑specific care, including watering, deadheading, division and pruning.
• Respond effectively to customer queries using your knowledge and experience, and assess when to involve more experienced team members.
• Report any site‑related health and safety issues to your operational supervisor as soon as reasonably practicable.
• Ensure all mandatory training is conducted in line with IMS compliance objectives.
• Ensure all University policies and procedures are correctly pursued in all tasks.
• Assist other Landscape Service Teams as required and appointed by the Landscape Operations Manager via the weekly rota.
• Play a proactive role in the effective delivery of the cold weather programme.
• Perform other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your experience does not match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

• NVQ 2 or equivalent in a landscape‑based subject or evidence of operational landscape experience.
• Hold a Full UK driver’s licence or be willing to gain.
• Evidence of current health and safety knowledge within the landscape industry.
• Experience in using and maintaining a range of specialist Landscape equipment.
• Experience in recording and logging work tasks to support information procedures.
• A basic working knowledge of IT systems, including the use of recording data software.
• Attention to detail to solve plant health‑related problems.
• Ability to work unsupervised with a scheduled amount of work to a predetermined standard.
• Willingness to work flexibly across TUoS Main Campus and all satellite locations.
• Motivation to work in all weathers, including the winter clearance programme.
• Willing to undertake continuous professional development and training.

Benefits

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (e.g., Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• A range of generous family‑friendly policies: paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies, support for those going through menopause, paid time off and support for fertility treatment and more.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.