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- Tasks: Lead a team in maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces across a multi-site estate.
- Company: Join a respected education organisation with a commitment to sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, benefits package, and a permanent role.
- Other info: Work outdoors, influence sustainability initiatives, and enjoy career stability.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on grounds maintenance while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in grounds maintenance and strong leadership abilities required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Cambridge
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Hays are working in partnership with a large, well-established education organisation to recruit an experienced Senior Grounds Maintenance Supervisor. This is a hands-on supervisory role responsible for the delivery and ongoing development of high-quality grounds maintenance across a busy multi-site estate.
The Role
Reporting to the Grounds Maintenance Manager, you will oversee the maintenance of landscaped grounds and gardens, ensuring outdoor spaces are safe, attractive, and well maintained for staff, students, and visitors. You will lead from the front, combining practical grounds work with people management, planning, and coordination responsibilities.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain grounds and gardens to a high standard across allocated sites.
- Act as a hands-on supervisor, undertaking day-to-day grounds maintenance including grass cutting, hedge trimming, planting, spraying, weeding, and general landscaping works.
- Plan and allocate workloads on a weekly and monthly basis, adapting to weather conditions and operational priorities.
- Supervise a team of Grounds Supervisors, Grounds Operatives, temporary staff, and trainees.
- Provide training, coaching, and practical demonstrations to support staff development and safe working practices.
- Liaise closely with the Grounds Maintenance Manager on plant care, tree maintenance, equipment requirements, and future projects including sustainability and biodiversity initiatives.
- Monitor and report on equipment condition, servicing requirements, and safe storage.
- Carry out site inspections, including tree and plant safety checks following adverse weather.
- Assist wider Facilities teams with day-to-day or project-based works as required.
- Act as lead in the absence of the Deputy Grounds Maintenance Manager.
About You
You will be an experienced grounds professional with strong leadership skills and a proactive, adaptable approach.
Essential Requirements
- Experience supervising work in a team-based environment.
- Proven experience managing staff at both individual and team levels.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of grounds maintenance tools and equipment.
- Knowledge of environmental, sustainability, and biodiversity techniques.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Broad skills and practical knowledge covering a wide range of grounds maintenance activities.
- Recognised horticultural qualification to HNC level or equivalent.
- PA1 and PA6 spraying certificates.
- Full clean driving licence, including towing capability.
- Ability to work in a wide range of environments, including outdoor work in all weathers and attending site meetings.
Desirable
- Sound plant knowledge, including pests and diseases.
- Proficient IT skills, including experience using databases, Microsoft Office, PDAs, or CAFM systems.
- IOSH Health & Safety qualification or equivalent.
- Educated to GCSE level or equivalent.
- Basic tree inspection qualification.
- Forklift licence.
What's on Offer
- A permanent role within a respected and stable organisation.
- A diverse, outdoor-based position with leadership responsibility.
- Opportunity to influence sustainability and biodiversity initiatives.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Senior Grounds Supervisor in Cambridge employer: Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
Contact Detail:
Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Grounds Supervisor in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Get your hands dirty! When you're applying for a role like Senior Grounds Supervisor, show off your practical skills. Share stories about your past experiences in grounds maintenance and how you've led teams to success.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with people in the industry, attend local events, or join online forums. The more you engage with others, the better your chances of landing that dream job through referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to showcase your leadership skills! Prepare examples of how you've managed teams and tackled challenges in previous roles. This will help you stand out as a strong candidate for the supervisory aspect of the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to reach out directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Grounds Supervisor in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Grounds Supervisor role. Highlight your leadership experience and any hands-on grounds maintenance work you've done. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about grounds maintenance and how your background makes you the perfect fit for this role. Don’t forget to mention any sustainability initiatives you've been involved in – we love that stuff!
Show Off Your Qualifications: Make sure to list all relevant qualifications, especially your horticultural qualifications and any spraying certificates. We’re keen on candidates who have a solid understanding of grounds maintenance tools and techniques, so don’t hold back!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re proactive – a quality we value highly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited
✨Know Your Grounds
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of grounds maintenance practices and tools. Be ready to discuss specific techniques you've used in past roles, especially those related to sustainability and biodiversity initiatives. This shows you're not just experienced but also passionate about the field.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Senior Grounds Supervisor, you'll be leading a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Think about times when you provided training or coaching, and be ready to share these stories to demonstrate your leadership style and effectiveness.
✨Plan for Practical Scenarios
Expect questions that require you to think on your feet. Prepare for scenarios where you might need to allocate workloads based on weather conditions or operational priorities. Practising these situational responses can help you feel more confident during the interview.
✨Communicate Clearly
Strong interpersonal skills are key for this role. During the interview, focus on clear and concise communication. Practice explaining complex ideas simply, as you’ll need to do this with your team and other stakeholders. Good communication can set you apart from other candidates.