At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain beautiful parks and open spaces across the Maldon District.
- Company: Join Maldon District Council, dedicated to enhancing community quality of life.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holidays, flexible working, and a local government pension scheme.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while working outdoors.
- Qualifications: NVQ level 2 in Horticulture or relevant experience in grounds maintenance.
The predicted salary is between 28509 - 31058 £ per year.
Maldon District Council is working in partnership with Essex Shared Services to support the role of Parks and Countryside Officer (Level 2), a full‑time position.
Role Purpose
To provide a grounds maintenance service across the Maldon District in order to maintain the Council’s parks and open spaces to a high standard.
Accountabilities – Service Delivery
- Work in partnership with others to achieve high standards of grounds maintenance across our 25 parks and open spaces across our District. These include the flagship sites of Promenade Park in Maldon & Riverside Park in Burnham on Crouch.
- Organising own working methods within guidelines to ensure safe working and adherence with health and safety procedures and instruction.
- To undertake weekend and bank holiday duties on a rota and to provide out of hours cover for events and civil emergencies.
- The Parks & Countryside team work “annualised hours” averaging 38 hours a week across the year. This means working 46 hours per week during April to September, with hours lowering down to 29 hours a week during the winter months.
- Leaf clearance; bin emptying; sweeping; litter picking.
- Strimming; rotary and cylinder mowing; use of associated groundcare machinery and implements.
- Care of beds; basic glasshouse work.
- Initial marking and overmarking of sports pitches.
- Pesticide applications and calibrations.
- Basic maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
- Litter and bin collection.
- Basic machinery operation and vehicle driving.
- Tractor driving with specialist implements – e.g. side arm flail, verti‑drain.
- Use of heavy ride‑on mowers and plant.
- Repair and servicing of a range of equipment.
- Undertaking play equipment inspections.
- Specialist glasshouse work – propagation from seed and cuttings etc.
- Preparation and maintenance of flower and shrub beds and borders.
- Felling and processing small trees with a chainsaw.
- Fine turf management.
The Experience You Will Bring
- NVQ level 2 or equivalent in Horticulture, Amenity Management or similar, or reasonable experience in Grounds Maintenance functions and settings OR Two or more competency certificates in the following (or similar work‑appropriate training):
- Pesticide Spraying licence.
- Brushcutter/clearing saw licence.
- Chainsaw licence (C30/C31 equivalent).
- Ride on/pedestrian mower certificate.
- Amenity tractor with trailer/PTO mounted implements.
- Woodchipper.
Full UK driving licence and access to own transport for work purposes. Ability to operate machinery including grass cutting and light vehicles; potential for Tractor training. Good knowledge of care of bedding plants, shrubs and borders. Good plant knowledge and identification skills. Ability to prune trees and shrubs to high standard. Good knowledge of relevant health and safety measures and risk assessments. Recent experience in a range of horticultural and grounds maintenance functions.
Be part of Maldon District Council – Where Quality of Life Matters
Benefits
- The Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Generous holiday entitlement.
- Flexible and agile working.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Salary sacrifice car lease scheme.
- Discounted local gym membership.
- Free parking.
Maldon District Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups including children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Disclosure and Barring checks will be undertaken according to the responsibilities of the role. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, sex, disability or marital status. Maldon District Council is committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. To demonstrate our commitment, we have been accredited as a Disability Confident Employer. As a Disability Confident Employer we take various actions in order to successfully employ and retain disabled people and those with health conditions.
For more information on this position, please email essexsharedservices@essex.gov.uk or joe.poole@maldon.gov.uk / 07432 734493.
If you require a paper application form for this role please contact us using the details below:
Samantha Myddelton, Business Development Lead: 0333 013 0098.
Thea Towers, Specialist Recruitment Consultant: 0333 013 8008.
Essex Shared Services is advertising this role as part of its partnership with Maldon District Council; however, the successful candidate will be employed directly by Maldon District Council.
Parks & Countryside Officer (Level 2) – Maldon District Council in Essex employer: Essex County Counci
Maldon District Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With benefits such as a generous holiday entitlement, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to safeguarding vulnerable groups, employees can thrive in a fulfilling environment while contributing to the maintenance of beautiful parks and open spaces across the district.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Parks & Countryside Officer (Level 2) – Maldon District Council in Essex
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the parks and open spaces in the Maldon District. Familiarise yourself with the flagship sites like Promenade Park and Riverside Park. This will not only help you in interviews but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current employees or others in the field. Reach out on LinkedIn or local community groups. They can provide insider tips about the role and the council, which could give you an edge during the selection process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for practical assessments! Since this role involves operating machinery and grounds maintenance tasks, brush up on your skills. If you have any relevant certificates, make sure to highlight them during your discussions.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Maldon District Council. Don’t forget to follow up after applying to express your enthusiasm!
We think you need these skills to ace Parks & Countryside Officer (Level 2) – Maldon District Council in Essex
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Role:Before you start writing, make sure you understand the role of Parks & Countryside Officer. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and skills mentioned in the job description. This will help you tailor your application to show how you fit the bill.
Show Off Your Experience:Highlight any relevant experience you have in grounds maintenance or horticulture. If you've got those NVQ qualifications or competency certificates, make sure to mention them! We want to see how your background aligns with what we're looking for.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Maldon District Council.
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Counci
✨Know Your Grounds
Familiarise yourself with the parks and open spaces in the Maldon District, especially flagship sites like Promenade Park and Riverside Park. Being able to discuss specific maintenance practices or improvements for these areas will show your genuine interest and knowledge about the role.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Prepare to talk about your qualifications, such as your NVQ level 2 in Horticulture or any relevant certificates. Be ready to provide examples of how you've used your skills in grounds maintenance, like operating machinery or managing flower beds, to demonstrate your hands-on experience.
✨Health and Safety First
Since health and safety is a big part of the job, brush up on relevant procedures and risk assessments. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure safe working conditions and how you’ve handled any health and safety challenges in previous roles.
✨Ask Questions
Don’t hesitate to ask questions during the interview. Inquire about the team dynamics, the annualised hours system, or specific projects you might be involved in. This shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if the role is the right fit for you.
