Cemeteries Senior Grounds Operatives

Number of Vacancies:

1

Time Type:

Full time

Worker Type:

Regular

Proposed Interview Date:

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Hours of Work:

37

Hiring Manager:

Steve Broadhead

Contact Number:

07850 250479

Job Description Summary:

This is full time, permanent position.
To provide and promote a horticultural service which is customer focussed to the needs of the bereaved in the cemeteries and crematorium. To carry out associated grounds maintenance works.
Undertake grass cutting duties in the cemeteries and crematorium, using pedestrian, handheld and ride on type mowers and perform chemical applications to areas indicated using selective, total control and feeding using both handheld and boom type sprayers to control weed growth.
Perform general maintenance work to rose/shrub beds, including cultivation, removal of litter, weeds, debris and trimming back of bed edges, during spring/winter. Perform pruning of roses/shrubs removing all dead, broken and deceased branches cutting back to outside buds to encourage plants to produce a good crop of flowering buds.
ROLE AND PURPOSE
To provide and promote a horticultural service which is customer focussed to the needs of the bereaved in the cemeteries and crematorium. To carry out associated duties with burials, exhumations, grounds maintenance, and interments of cremated remains.
To provide a personal sympathetic and client focussed response to requests for the Section’s services.
To have an extensive and in depth knowledge of and be able to apply relevant burial, exhumation and cremation legislation, where applicable.
To deputise for senior grounds charge hand. To understand and apply relevant exhumation legislation, where applicable.
To carry out all local and national exhumations, in accordance with relevant legislation as directed.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. To promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people, vulnerable adults and all visitors to the cemeteries and crematorium grounds.

2. Undertake grass cutting duties in the cemeteries and crematorium, using pedestrian, hand held and ride on type mowers and perform chemical applications to areas indicated using selective, total control and feeding using both hand held and boom type sprayers to control weed growth.

3. Perform general maintenance work to rose/shrub beds, including cultivation, removal of litter, weeds, debris and trimming back of bed edges, during spring/winter. Perform pruning of roses/shrubs removing all dead, broken and deceased branches cutting back to outside buds to encourage plants to produce a good crop of flowering buds

4. Undertake planting of annual bedding, shrub roses and trees, all plants to be handled with care and planted using good horticultural practices. Undertake shaping and trimming back of hedges using hedge trimmers, including clearing site after completion of task.

5. To work as a member of the Bereavement Services Team to foster good team working and inform the cemetery charge hand or cemetery supervisor and other personnel of breaches in the rules and regulations appertaining to the cemeteries and crematorium especially memorabilia and unsafe headstones. Enforce the rules and regulations as and when appropriate.

6. To coordinate workload as directed by the cemetery charge hand, or in their absence, and take relevant and appropriate action where necessary.

7. Undertake minor construction work i.e. installing seat bases and seats, erecting fencing laying pavers, small paint and minor tarmacing works.

8. To maintain good working relationships with the clergy, funeral directors, memorial masons and provide a first class customer focussed service for the bereaved.

9. To assist as directed in the committal service by lowering or placing the coffin into the grave. To assist and provide support to parents of deceased child or baby, and support them at the interment. It is important that the post holder is aware of the background of the families ethnicity, mental state of mind, and where legally and operationally possible accommodate special and specific requests made by the family.

10. To keep clean and in good working order all machinery and equipment and ensure that they are kept secure at the end of each working day including the depots and associated buildings.

11. To prepare graves ready for excavation, and assist with the shoring, matting, box sets ready for interment. To be aware of exhausting interments, soil and cemetery conditions as so not to disturb neighbouring graves, existing interments and surrounding memorials. To tidy graves after interment, and ensure the area has been left safe and presentable. When necessary, meet with families to co-ordinate the grave location and any specific religious, personal and special requests.

12. Support, mentor and develop new staff, modern apprentices and various voluntary and work experience placements. Motivate and encourage all team members.

13. There are laid down procedures covering all the main activities, tasks and duties of this job. These instructions do not define the tasks in detail but the post holder is expected to deal with any unexpected problems or situations which arise

14. To carry out exhumations of human cadavers in all stages of decomposition, be able to safely and competently manually handle the deceased with respect. To adhere to safe working practices, be aware of appropriate ppe, health and safety, exhumation legislation and licence conditions, be aware of noxious gases, cross contamination and potential infectious diseases, background information relating to the deceased, soil and cemetery conditions. Understand the family circumstances. at all times and be able to deal sympathetically and support, interact and advise the families and appointed third parties, as required.

15. Assist and provide full operation support and exceptional front line service as directed by the cemetery charge hand, in the event of an emergency to ensure a consistent and uninterrupted services is provided.

16. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation places responsibilities for health and safety on Hull City Council, as your employer and you as an employee of the council. In addition to the Councils overall duties, the post holder has personal responsibility for their own health & safety and that of other employees; additional and more specific responsibilities are identified in the Council’s Corporate H&S policy.

17. To carry out banks man duties, backfill and top up graves as required using the appropriate mechanical machinery and hydraulic shoring, and other equipment as required. To be fully aware of all appropriate health and safety duties, and be aware of exhausting interments, soil and cemetery conditions as so not to disturb neighbouring graves, existing interments and surrounding memorials.

18. Understand and apply when necessary, relevant legislation appropriate to burials, cremations and exhumations. To identify areas of concern and take relevant action accordingly.

19. Deputise for the cemetery charge hand in their absence.

NC1349.Cemeteries Senior Grounds Operative.docx

Working for Hull City Council - Streetscene

Compensation Grades:

GRADES 5.

Pay Ranges:

£26,824.00 - £29,064.00

Job Classifications:

3- Not Politically Restricted - Designated As Not Politically Sensitive (Politically Restricted Posts), Casual - (Travel Allowance Policy), No - (Childcare Disqualification Requirement), No - (Statutory Post)

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:
- A competitive salary
- An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
- Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
- Supportive and forward-thinking culture
- Great career development opportunities

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required.

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.