Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain and enhance the beautiful landscapes of our Canterbury campus.
- Company: Join a friendly and collaborative team at a leading university.
- Benefits: Enjoy 43 days leave, excellent pension, and healthcare benefits.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on the environment while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in horticulture and a full UK driving licence required.
- Other info: Great opportunities for personal growth and a supportive work culture.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Landscape and Grounds worker? Join our team where you will provide a full range of horticultural services to maintain and improve the soft landscape of our beautiful Canterbury campus.
You will work on turfed surfaces, trees, hedgerows, shrubs and sports facilities to maintain and improve a safe and pleasant environment for our students, staff and visitors and to enhance biodiversity on the campus. We are seeking someone who is keen to work as part of a multi-skilled team and continue learning new skills and improving our Grounds services.
Working hours
The average working hours for this role are 35 hours per week, split into seasonal working:
- Summer: Monday to Thursday 8:00 to 16:30, Friday 8:00 to 14:30 (total 36.45 hours)
- Winter: Monday to Wednesday 8:00 to 15:30, Thursday 8:00 to 15:00, Friday 8:00 to 14:00 (total 31.75 hours)
Responsibilities
- Proactively carrying out work in line with the landscape specification document to ensure annual landscape maintenance occurs in a timely manner
- Driving and operating University owned plant equipment, vehicles and equipment to carry out horticultural tasks around the estate in a safe and compliant manner
- Working effectively with colleagues in the Grounds Team in order to ensure the best use of skills and experience to achieve the team’s objectives
- Carrying out regular maintenance and project work to enhance the biodiversity of the campus and helping to deliver the implementation of the published Environmental Management System.
Qualifications
- NVQ 2 or equivalent qualification/experience in related areas e.g. Horticulture, Sports Turf or Maintenance of amenity facilities
- Full UK manual Driving Licence (you will be driving University vehicles and transporting equipment)
- Proven experience of horticultural maintenance in a medium to large organisation
- Knowledge of maintenance techniques and processes inherent in the upkeep of artificial and natural landscapes.
What we can offer
As a member of our team, you can expect a friendly, open and collaborative working environment and support in your development and wellbeing. You’ll enjoy a range of great staff benefits including:
- 43 days’ leave per year (personal leave, bank holidays and additional days allocated for the Christmas period, pro rata for part-time staff)
- Excellent pension scheme with generous employer contributions
- Corporate employee-funded healthcare plan, in partnership with Benenden Health
For more information about what you can look forward to if you join us, visit our dedicated webpage: Working at Kent.
We are ambitious for our people, our communities and the region we serve – join us in making the world a better place.
Landscape and Grounds Operative in Canterbury employer: Landscaping Matters
Contact Detail:
Landscaping Matters Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Landscape and Grounds Operative in Canterbury
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, do a bit of research on the University and its grounds. Understanding their values and projects will help you connect your skills to what they need.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your hands-on experience! When chatting with the team, highlight specific examples of your past work in horticulture or landscape maintenance. Real-life stories make you memorable!
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to demonstrate your teamwork skills. Since this role involves working closely with others, share how you've collaborated in previous jobs to achieve common goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at the University.
We think you need these skills to ace Landscape and Grounds Operative in Canterbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your previous experience in horticulture or grounds maintenance. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on sharing specific examples of your work!
Tailor Your Application: Take a moment to tailor your application to the job description. Use keywords from the listing to show us you understand what we’re looking for and how you fit into our team.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read, so avoid long-winded sentences and get straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you can find all the info you need about the role and our team there.
How to prepare for a job interview at Landscaping Matters
✨Know Your Horticulture
Brush up on your horticultural knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss specific techniques and processes related to maintaining both artificial and natural landscapes. This shows you’re not just experienced but also passionate about the field.
✨Show Team Spirit
Since this role involves working as part of a multi-skilled team, be prepared to share examples of how you've collaborated with others in previous jobs. Highlighting your teamwork skills will demonstrate that you can contribute positively to the Grounds Team.
✨Safety First
Familiarise yourself with safety protocols related to driving and operating plant equipment. You might be asked about your experience with this, so having specific examples ready will show that you take safety seriously and are compliant with regulations.
✨Passion for Biodiversity
Express your enthusiasm for enhancing biodiversity on campus. Share any relevant experiences or projects you've been involved in that align with this goal. This will resonate well with the interviewers, as they are looking for someone who is keen to make a positive impact.
