Ground Maintenance Operative in Guildford

Reporting to our local Estate Services Manager you will be expected to deliver a consistently high-quality gardening and grounds maintenance service. You will be provided with tools and machinery to help you undertake your tasks and we will supply you with a new uniform, safety boots and personal protective equipment. You will need to have the ability to work outside in all weathers and be able to undertake physically demanding work.

The location: This is a mobile role covering Chertsey and surrounding areas.

What you'll be doing:

• Carry out a range of tasks required for grounds maintenance including, but not limited to, weeding, dead heading, hoeing, planting, pruning, cutting, and watering communal beds.
• Cut and maintain lawns and grass areas to a variety of finishes (fine to rough meadow type) using a variety of machines, including pedestrian operated, tractors & ride-on mowers, strimmers and brush cutters, and including fertilizer and pesticide application.
• Use and operate a variety of tools, machinery, and equipment, in accordance with Group and manufacturers guidelines, in order to fulfil duties.
• Plan and execute small scale landscaping operations, as directed, to enhance the appearance of our communal grounds.
• Remove leaves, moss and snow as required, and apply salt/ grit as directed.
• Respond promptly to acts of vandalism, including graffiti, and report all incidents to the neighbourhood hub.
• On the job supervision and coaching of apprentices / trainees from time to time as directed.
• Report any repairs or defects in communal areas to maintenance department/ line manager and follow up actions as required.
• Report suspected breaches of the tenancy agreement / lease to the Housing Services Manager e.g., anti-social behaviour, subletting, rubbish dumping, items left in communal areas etc.
• Provide cover in the absence of other colleagues.
• Be a point of contact for residents, assist where possible or refer enquiries to colleagues.
• Be aware of vulnerable customers and, where appropriate, highlight their needs to your line manager/Housing Team.
• Act in a friendly, polite, and professional way at all times, even when challenged by residents or visitors to the estate.
• Understand your responsibilities as an employee under Health and Safety legislation.

What you'll need:

• Experience of undertaking gardening/ground maintenance duties.
• Experience of working in small teams.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of health and safety considerations as they apply to this role.

In your supporting statement, it is important that you address how you meet the above criteria providing examples.

Closing date: Sunday 14th June 2026 at 23:59pm. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of applications.

About us: At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we give over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own! We also understand the difference that safe, secure, and affordable homes can make to people's lives. A career at Southern Housing will allow you to make a difference every day you come to work. Working in the housing sector with us will bring fresh challenges and give you the opportunity to grow and develop, too.

What's in it for you:

• Pension
• Life assurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• Eyecare & dental
• Birthday leave
• Retailers discounts
• Cycle to work
• Buy & sell annual leave
• Season ticket loan
• In-house academy & career development
• Flexible working

Inclusion and Diversity: Qualifications, skills, and all relevant experience needed for this role can be found in the full description below. We work hard to create a diverse and inclusive culture and environment where people are respected for who they are. Encouraging inclusion is not just about protected characteristics, it's about celebrating differences of thought, opinion, experience and perspective of each individual. We're all different in our own way and we want our colleagues to feel comfortable, that they belong, and are safe to be themselves at work, without fear of being judged or excluded, but valued for their contribution to our One Team approach.