Grounds Maintenance Operative in Sudbury

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are looking to recruit a Grounds Maintenance Operative to join our team-based role in Sudbury, Suffolk. You will join us on a full-time, permanent basis. The successful candidate will earn a competitive salary of £27,694 - £31,022 per annum (plus contractual overtime – see hours).

About the Role

The Public Realm Team is responsible for the day‑to‑day management of the district councils’ countryside sites and open spaces, including informal recreational sites, local nature reserves, parks and smaller picnic areas. This role is based at our Sudbury depot and plays a vital part in maintaining the cleanliness, tidiness and overall appeal of the joint district and its public open spaces. You will be responsible for delivering a variety of grounds maintenance services, which are practical and physically demanding. These services will be carried out across council-owned parks, play areas, open spaces and communal areas, and will involve the use of specialised vehicles, machinery and equipment. Duties also include litter picking, clearing fly‑tipped waste and other general cleansing tasks. This is a full‑time role of 40 hours per week, worked over five days (Monday to Friday). The position operates on an annualised hours basis, with working hours varying between the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter seasons.

About You

We are looking for someone with experience in grounds maintenance who is passionate about the environment and eager to contribute to making local areas cleaner, greener, and more welcoming for residents and visitors alike. You will enjoy working outdoors, whether independently or as part of a team. To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Experience in grounds maintenance and proficiency in a range of related tasks, or transferable skills that suit the role
• Ability to operate grounds maintenance equipment safely and effectively
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage positively with the public, colleagues and supervisors, and a commitment to good customer care
• A proactive and flexible approach, including a willingness to undertake cleansing tasks to meet operational and seasonal service demands
• Awareness of Health and Safety legislation, practices and personal responsibility
• Basic computer literacy, including the ability to use email and mobile devices
• Ability to maintain accurate records of work completed
• A full driving licence and the appropriate qualification to tow a trailer

About Us

At Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils we are passionate about building communities that people want to live, work, visit and invest in. We serve around 200,000 residents across our two districts and are well known for our collaboration and partnership working across public, private and voluntary sectors. We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work, with 60 conservation areas, two national landscapes and many picturesque market towns. It is no surprise we are ranked among the top 50 places to live in the UK.

Benefits

• Generous leave entitlement (26 days a year, rising to 31 days after 5 years)
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme
• Wellbeing Support and Employee Assistance Programs
• Private Health Care Options
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Paid volunteering days
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (Business needs permitting)
• Great learning and development opportunities

For more information, visit our Employee Benefits page. Our ways of working We believe work is what we do, not just where we go. We work in a hybrid way, with a mix of office, home and remote based working (Business need permitting). Our hybrid working arrangements support flexibility and collaboration, helping our teams to thrive. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, providing opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible services for our residents.

Closing date: 5 pm, 11 January 2026. If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this Grounds Maintenance Operative role, even if you don't meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. 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.