Cemetery Seasonal Worker in Gateshead

Bereavement Seasonal Worker

Monday-Thursday 7:30am-3:30pm, Friday 7:30am-3:00pm

Contract running from 30th March 2025 – 31st October 2025

Work outdoors. Work with purpose. Work with pride.

Who we are and what we stand for:

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might just be the perfect match. We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time. We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward‑thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi‑time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Help us protect and enhance our shared spaces. Our Environment & Fleet Management team provide a wide range of integrated services to help keep the environment in which the people of Gateshead live, work and spend their spare time in a clean, safe and attractive condition. This includes parks and green spaces like our beautiful Saltwell and Watergate Parks, as well as other green spaces and countryside management.

We’re also responsible for vehicle and fleet management across the Council, keeping the fleet on the road and enabling much wider programmes of work, as well as several other areas of responsibility.

A hands‑on role that keeps Gateshead moving. Do you enjoy working outdoors, take pride in your community, and want a role where your efforts have real impact? This is a great opportunity to contribute to a cleaner and greener Gateshead. As a Seasonal Bereavement Worker, you’ll play a vital role in keeping Gateshead Cemeteries and Crematoria clean, welcoming, and well‑maintained for everyone who visits here.

Working as part of a friendly, hands‑on team, you’ll support the day‑to‑day delivery of essential frontline services including street cleansing, and grounds maintenance. From helping maintain our cemeteries, green spaces to ensuring our streets stay safe and tidy, your work will make a visible difference across the borough.

What you’ll get to do:

• Manual sweeping, collection and removal of litter, leaves and weeds etc.
• Litter Picking.
• Grass‑cutting in areas using pedestrian grass cutters.
• Carrying out work including grass cutting, strimming, hedge trimming, pruning, planting and assisting grounds maintenance staff in their work across all Cemeteries and around existing memorials.
• General labouring duties as required and assisting in the day to day operational duties within Cemeteries and Crematoria.
• Be responsible for the use and operation of a range of associated tools and equipment including powered hand tools and light plant as required.
• Communicating with members of the public during the provision of the service.
• Other duties appropriate for the grade of the post.

Ride‑on Grass Cutting Role:

• All roles above but including the use of ride‑on mechanical grass cutting machinery.
• Full drivers licence required.
• Daily checks, user maintenance and defect reporting of ride‑on mechanical grass cutting machinery.

What you’ll bring:

• Self‑motivation to work independently and take initiative when needed.
• Ability to follow clear instructions and deliver work to a high standard.
• Working as part of a team to get the job done.
• Flexibility and adaptability, ready to take on a variety of tasks across the service.
• Great communication to build positive relationships with colleagues and the wider community.
• Confident customer‑facing skills, with a friendly and professional approach.
• Full drivers licence required for all roles requiring the use of ride‑on mechanical grass cutting machinery.

Areas of work you could get involved in:

• Grounds Maintenance – using grass‑cutting equipment and related machinery.

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary – we invest in your future too.
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions – a cost‑effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services – plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you:

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. At Gateshead Council we are an employer who embraces, and welcomes diversity, who’s truly inclusive and who demonstrates equality for all. We’ll go the extra mile so that our approach is representative of the communities we serve and each other. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

How to apply:

You can apply online using the link below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications. We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying. If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via recruitment@gateshead.gov.uk.

Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high‑volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application. Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.