Gardener/Groundsperson in Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

The Role

We are looking for enthusiastic, positive individuals to join our dedicated grounds team to assist in the maintenance and development of the gardens, grounds and sports facilities with the aim of providing an attractive, clean and safe environment for all to work and live in. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors and takes pride in maintaining tidy and well-presented grounds.

This is a full time role working 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday. To ensure full cover across our core hours, we operate a staggered start and finish system. Your working day will begin between 7am and 8.30am and finish between 3pm and 4.30pm depending on which team you are in. Occasional overtime may be required during peak periods. You may be based at either Cochrane Park Sports Ground or the City Centre Campus.

We welcome applicants who bring a positive outlook and a strong sense of teamwork.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• A friendly, polite, and courteous manner
• A strong work ethic and willingness to learn
• The ability to work effectively within a small team
• Enjoyment of outdoor work in all weather conditions
• A tidy, organised approach to tasks and pride in creating well-kept environments

Experience in a similar role is helpful, but not necessary. If you bring enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, we will support you with full training. If you're someone who thrives outdoors and enjoys hands-on work with immediate visual impact, this role could be a great fit. Full UK driving license is essential, a DVLA declaration and health surveillance will be required.

Key Accountabilities

• General grounds maintenance tasks such as grass cutting, litter picking, hedge trimming, weeding and planting.
• Assist in winter maintenance program by clearing snow and ice from paths and roads in winter by hand and by machine.
• Drive a range of University vehicles across multiple sites.
• Empty external litter bins when required.
• Select and safely use a range of powered machinery to carry out daily tasks.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills on a daily basis.
• Ensure of a clear understanding of general and in-house health and safety rules and regulations.
• Complete all mandatory and specialist training courses identified by the Grounds Manager to facilitate safe working to the required standards.

The Person (Essential)

• Full UK drivers’ licence that allows a wide range of vehicles to be driven including vans.
• Personable with good communication skills.
• Experienced user of horticultural machinery OR Willingness to learn (training available provided you have a Full UK driving licence).
• Understanding of legislation relating to Health and Safety e.g. risk assessments and COSHH assessments.
• An understanding of plant ID knowledge.

(Desirable)

• Level 2 qualification in horticulture or landscape management.
• NPTC PA1 and PA6.
• NPTC in Chainsaw, Maintenance and Cross Cutting.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams.