Estates Operative in Watford

Bring your passion for horticulture to a growing housing association as an Estates Operative. You will help keep our estates clean, safe and vibrant across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, creating healthy outdoor spaces our residents can enjoy. Working 42.5 hours per week, this is a great opportunity to grow your horticultural skills while making a real impact in our communities.

The Estate Service team delivers services that affect our land and residents. The team works remotely, often in teams, and delivers grounds maintenance, bulk waste removal and cleaning services throughout Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. This role will involve keeping our estates clean and safe, ensuring our residents have a healthy environment in which to live and spaces that benefit them. You will use your skills and initiative to work both in a team and independently to deliver a proactive and responsive service to our residents and the homes we service.

• Deliver an amazing grounds-maintenance, litter and bulk waste removal service to our customers.
• Services include grass cutting, hedge maintenance, lawn edging, moss clearance, pruning, maintenance of plants and shrubs, spraying and gritting.
• Land clearance of areas plotted for development.
• Removal of bulk waste which will include assisting in finding the culprit so that re-charging can be considered.
• Working with our customers to ensure estate matters are reported.
• Carry out a schedule of inspections and checks to ensure our estates are kept in a safe manner.
• Work closely with colleagues to ensure a brilliant service is offered.
• Ensure work is delivered in a safe manner.
• Other ad-hoc site or customer requirements.

• Experience of grounds-maintenance & estate servicing.
• Experience of Health & Safety at work.
• Capacity to work as part of a team.
• Full Clean Driving Licence.
• Must be physically fit enough to carry out manual handling tasks.
• Be able to identify risks and hazards and carry out emergency planning.
• Be a good communicator.

• Be willing to work towards social purpose goals helping the communities we work in.
• Willing to work extra hours and respond to emergency calls outside of work hours.
• Desire to develop and progress in horticulture and continue to broaden experience.
• Hold PA1 / PA6a Spraying Certification.
• Have experience of towing trailers.

• Hold a recognised horticultural qualification.

At SettleParadigm, we believe in creating an environment where our people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. Our comprehensive benefits and rewards package reflects this commitment:

• Annual salary: £33,767.96 per annum.
• 25 days holiday, increasing with service, plus Christmas closure and buy options.
• Generous pension scheme - up to 9.5% employer contribution via salary sacrifice.
• Family-friendly leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Health cash plan - claim up to £1,800 for everyday health costs (plus free kids cover).
• Life cover and income protection.
• Flexible working - hybrid options, modern offices, free parking & EV charging.
• 30+ qualified Mental Health First Aiders available to support.
• Car leasing via salary sacrifice (for permanent colleagues subject to conditions).
• Funded training, qualifications & apprenticeships.
• 3 paid volunteering days in the local communities.
• Peer-recognition rewards platform.
• Paid professional subscription (one per year).

42.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday 8:00 - 17:30.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce, by reflecting and representing the diversity of the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; people who identify as disabled, neurodiverse, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from underrepresented groups.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and will always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in advance of any suitable arrangements required. Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a basic or enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made. Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.