At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor a diverse team in grounds maintenance while ensuring quality service delivery.
- Company: Join L&Q, a leading housing association dedicated to creating safe and attractive communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, excellent pension, generous leave, and lifestyle benefits.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and opportunities for personal growth in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by coaching others and enhancing community spaces.
- Qualifications: Experience in grounds maintenance and strong customer service skills required.
Contract Type: Permanent full time 36.25 hours per week
Salary: From £30,387 per annum depending on experience
Grade: 6
Reporting Office: Manchester, Trafford
Persona: Mobile/Field Based Worker: Contractual hours to be worked from various locations such as resident home, estates etc, with ad hoc office attendance as required
Working Pattern: 8 to 4pm
Closing Date: 9th June 2026 at 11pm
Interviews will be held on 16th June at Clean Start office Trafford Manchester. Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the advertisement and interview earlier than stated.
Benefits include:
- Excellent pension plan (up to 6% double contribution)
- 28 days Annual Leave rising to 31 days with length of service + Bank Holidays
- Westfield Health Cash Plan
- Non-contributory life assurance
- Up to 21 hours volunteering paid days
- Lifestyle benefits
- Employee Assistance Programme
- And many more...
Join our Grounds Maintenance Team at L&Q:
Working as part of our Grounds Maintenance team, you will work alongside other operatives and undertake grounds maintenance services to all contracted sites which include all aspects of hard/soft landscaping such as; grass cutting, spraying for weed suppression, clearing leaf fall and removal of unwanted growth from trees.
This role takes ownership for coaching staff with complex behaviours, building their technical, behavioural and life skill capacity through role modelling and coaching. Operatives under their charge may be inexperienced with employment, suffer from complex trauma, and present with behavioural challenges. Key responsibilities are to support behaviour modification whilst training Grounds Maintenance competencies into Operatives and delivering services to customers. Operational Mentors shoulder responsibility for the team on site performing quality control and ensuring the team meet SLA to prevent service failure.
Your impact in the role:
As an Operational Mentor you will be tasked with leading the local team on site, mentoring volunteers and new staff members with a diverse background and actively developing the team by giving constructive feedback. You will be responsible for ensuring our customer standards are delivered, time on site is recorded and that the customers experience of our service is positive. You will be a proactive member of the team, actively learning from customer feedback to improve the service delivery. We have a very clear mission statement, We create clean, safe and attractive communities, a place which our customer can call home.
What you'll bring:
- Good understanding of relevant health and safety regulations in an Estates environment
- Relevant Grounds Maintenance experience
- Knowledge of recording the use of vibration (HAV) when using machines
- Excellent customer service and communication skills
- Experience of using equipment to maintain green spaces
- Positive can-do attitude
- Flexible approach to working hours, particularly in the summertime
- Full, clean driving licence and ideally hold a PA01 and PA06 pesticide licence
- Knowledge of COSHH law and experience of using mobile devices, such a tablet, is beneficial.
DBS:
For this post the successful candidate will need to apply for or be in possession of an Enhanced plus Adult workforce Disclosure Barring Service certificate (DBS) to enable them to work within the team.
About L&Q:
We’re one of the UK’s leading housing associations and developers. We were founded on a simple belief: high quality housing is vital for people’s health, happiness and security. Everyone deserves a quality home that gives them the chance to live a better life. 250,000 people call our properties ‘home’, and we’re proud to serve diverse communities across London, the South East and North West of England.
People are at the heart of our business and our success depends on employing the best people and getting the best from them. The foundation of everything that we are is built on our corporate values and behavioural framework, which outlines our core expectations and should be demonstrated at all times, and all levels, when representing L&Q.
At L&Q, we know that diversity and inclusion make us stronger – and they’re at the heart of everything we do. When we recruit, we look at what really matters: your skills, experience, and potential. We’re proud to be recognised for creating an inclusive workplace. We’re a Disability Confident Leader (Level 3) and we’ve introduced our own Recruitment Advocate scheme to make sure every step of our hiring process is fair, transparent, and consistent. It’s all part of our commitment to ending discrimination and making L&Q a place where everyone feels welcome.
Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do. We recognise the responsibility we hold as one of the UK’s largest housing associations.
Operational Mentor Grounds Maintenance in Trafford Park employer: L&Q
L&Q is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. As an Operational Mentor in Grounds Maintenance, you will benefit from a comprehensive pension plan, generous annual leave, and opportunities for volunteering, all while making a meaningful impact in diverse communities across Manchester and beyond. Join us to be part of a mission-driven team that values inclusivity and sustainability, ensuring every employee feels valued and empowered.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operational Mentor Grounds Maintenance in Trafford Park
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, do a bit of research on L&Q and their mission. Understanding their values and what they stand for will help you connect your experience with their goals.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. Focus on how your past experiences relate to the role of Operational Mentor and be ready to share specific examples.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! During the interview, let your enthusiasm for grounds maintenance and mentoring shine through. Talk about why you love working in this field and how you can make a positive impact on the team.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your appreciation for the opportunity and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Operational Mentor Grounds Maintenance in Trafford Park
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Operational Mentor. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your qualifications; give examples of how you've used your skills in real situations. Whether it’s your grounds maintenance experience or your ability to mentor others, we want to see how you can make an impact.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through! We value a positive can-do attitude and a flexible approach, so don’t be afraid to share your unique perspective and experiences that demonstrate these qualities.
Apply Early:Remember, early applications are encouraged! We might close the advert sooner than the deadline, so get your application in through our website as soon as you can to avoid missing out.
How to prepare for a job interview at L&Q
✨Know Your Grounds Maintenance
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of grounds maintenance practices. Familiarise yourself with the specific tasks mentioned in the job description, like grass cutting and weed suppression. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
Since this role involves coaching staff with complex behaviours, think of examples from your past where you've successfully mentored or trained someone. Be ready to share how you approached challenges and what techniques you used to help others develop their skills.
✨Demonstrate Customer Service Excellence
Customer service is key in this position. Prepare to discuss how you've handled customer interactions in the past, especially any difficult situations. Highlight your communication skills and your ability to ensure a positive experience for customers.
✨Understand Health and Safety Regulations
Brush up on relevant health and safety regulations, particularly those related to grounds maintenance. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure compliance on site and how you’ve managed safety in previous roles. This will show that you take safety seriously and are ready to lead by example.