Grounds Person

Durham University owns an estate covering 251 hectares (ha), including woodland and scrub (112ha), farming and grazing land (53ha), amenity grassland (27ha), as well as wetlands and river line habitats. It supports a rich diversity of species and habitats, including many red listed species of conservation concern and numerous areas of species-rich habitat.

As Grounds Person, you will undertake all aspects of gardens and grounds maintenance including college grounds and heritage planting at Palace Green, linking in and working collaboratively with the Biodiversity Team, in line with DU Biodiversity Strategy. You will become a member of a professional, customer focussed team, delivering exemplary standards of grounds and landscape management.

The Estates and Facilities Directorate provides essential services to Durham University and is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure and building fabric of the various campuses.

Working arrangements: Permanent, Full time (35 hours), five days out of seven. There may be some requirement to work evenings and weekends, as business demands. Participation in the on-call rota for out-of-hours emergency situations, particularly in relation to the University's winter maintenance programme. Onsite working only.

Key Responsibilities:

Service Delivery:
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values.
- Provide an excellent and timely gardens and grounds service to students, colleagues and anyone else encountered as part of the role, carrying out tasks using relevant procedures for the maintenance of grounds, woodlands and landscaping.
- Ensure compliance with Health and Safety regulations including correctly wearing any protective clothing or equipment provided, being aware of hazards and risks, and reporting any incidents.
- Use experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve issues relevant to the role and provide information and updates to help the team find solutions.
- Collect, organise and record routine data and information accurately and provide reports as required.
- Use an electronic IWMS system to store work progression.
- Carry out tasks that may require specialist skills and may be physically demanding.
- Operate and maintain specialist equipment and tools such as polesaw, hedge trimmer, ride-on mower, and pedestrian mower.
- Carry out standard tasks and checks according to statutory guidance and procedures, completing logs and records for evidence of compliance.
- Safely use a wide range of hazardous materials, such as flammable liquids, pesticides, herbicides, etc., as instructed and in accordance with appropriate safety instructions.
- Drive University vehicles, transporting equipment around the site including tractor and trailer.
- Follow and provide guidance on health and safety requirements relevant to the role.
- Promote positive wellbeing arrangements which benefit you and your team.
- Explain and demonstrate tasks to others to make sure a wide range of physical equipment and tools are used safely.
- Assist in the recording of flora and fauna discovered on the estate.
- Help monitor and replenish stock levels and carry out stock and inventory checks.

Teamwork:
- Help colleagues to organise and plan workload and deadlines.
- Help colleagues to organise, plan and prepare for annual statutory safety and maintenance checks and contribute to team planning activities.
- Assist with the provision of ongoing on-the-job training and/or coaching for Grounds Maintenance Assistants, Apprentices, external contractors and trainees.
- Resolve queries and respond to requests for information and advice.
- Bring any complex issues to the attention of more experienced team members.
- Help the team provide safe, secure and appropriate grounds and garden spaces across the University.
- Help to carry out and complete risk assessments and safety records.
- Follow established procedures when responding to potentially harmful situations.
- Help to plan and organise a schedule of grounds maintenance tasks to meet compliance and regulatory standards.

Communication/Liaison:
- Seek feedback from students, staff and others on their requirements from the service to ensure reasonable expectations are being met.
- Record information and respond to queries received.
- Liaise with staff in other areas to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way.
- Liaise with external suppliers, contractors, specialists and service providers.
- Any other reasonable duties.

Essential Criteria:

Qualifications/Experience:
1. Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics, or equivalent experience.
2. NVQ Level 2 in amenity horticulture (or equivalent) or significant experience of working in a similar environment.
3. Recognised qualification in tractor and trailer operations.
4. PA1, PA6 Safe Use and Application of Pesticides.
5. Experience of working in a grounds maintenance services.
6. Experience of providing day-to-day guidance, support and instruction to apprentices, trainees, volunteers or less experienced colleagues.
7. Experience of planning, prioritising and coordinating work activities to meet operational deadlines and service standards.
8. Experience of implementing and maintaining biodiversity initiatives and sustainable land management practices.
9. Experience of delivering a range of planned, preventative and reactive grounds maintenance activities across a large or complex estate environment.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:
10. Good spoken and written communication skills.
11. Good digital skills including the ability to use the internet, email and mobile devices.
12. Good knowledge of health and safety guidelines, including the ability to understand and work in accordance with risk assessments and method statements.
13. Good knowledge and skills of biodiversity implementation and management, habitat creation and environmental best practice.
14. Ability to interpret works to be undertaken, as outlined in instructions and specifications, with minimal supervision.
15. Ability to solve problems and resolve straightforward issues yourself and as part of a team.
16. Ability to use and operate the usual range of power/handheld tools and equipment associated with gardens and grounds maintenance, such as electric/petrol hedge trimmer, pedestrian operated lawn mower and ride-on mower.

Desirable Criteria:
1. Committed to continuing professional development.
2. Experience of working in historic landscape environments.
3. Ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of colleagues and customers.
4. Experience of using technological-based job management systems.
5. Understanding of the development, operational and maintenance requirements of a complex green estate.
6. Combined chainsaw maintenance and Tree felling (CS Units 30 and 31) City and Guilds NPTC Certificate and Pole Pruning (CS Unit 48 006) City and Guilds NPTC Certificate or equivalent.
7. Grounds Maintenance and landscaping skills and the ability to undertake, for example, construction of habitat creations, hedge trimming, path laying etc.
8. Experience of the delivery of reactive, cyclical, and planned grounds maintenance, infrastructure projects and new landscape schemes.
9. Full UK driving licence.

Benefits:
- 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 39 days per year, including time off between Christmas and New Year.
- Parking across campus, cycle to work scheme, and discounts with local bus and train companies.
- Exclusive discounts via benefits portal including supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products, eating out and days out.
- On-site nursery rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and holiday camps for children aged 5–16.
- Wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
- Volunteering opportunities to make a difference to the local community.
- Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, among the most generous in the higher education sector.
- Development opportunities from qualifications to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
- Generous pension schemes with varying contribution amounts.