Mobile Gardener

Job Title

Gardener Caretaker 1st Class (GC1)

Operations, UKNA

Contract Type:
Permanent

A GC1 is an experienced horticulturist who usually works in a mobile role or at a static site and is responsible for the maintenance of a number of specific plots within a geographical region. A GC1 carries out gardening maintenance and renovation work to the standards of excellence as set by the Commission, and according to horticultural policies and procedures. This is a practical role, requiring maintenance craft skills to undertake a wide range of duties.

These include turf culture, headstone border maintenance and planting, pest control, machinery operation and maintenance, tree care, and the care of ornamental features.

• Job Band: B2
• Reports to:
  
  Head Gardener
• Direct Reports: N/A
• Other Key Contacts:
  Regional Operations Coordinator, Regional Manager, Head Gardener/Senior Head Gardener (if applicable), UKNA Technical Supervisor (Hort), UKNA Head Office staff, Local authorities, maintenance contractors and suppliers, professional partner organisations, Volunteers and members of the CWGF
• Financial Responsibilities:
  Day to day operational purchases
• Location:
  
  Harrogate Mobile Group, North Region

• Summer
  
  Hours:
  
  Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 12:30, 13:30 to 17:00;
  Friday 08:00 to 12:30, 13:30 to 16:00.
• Winter
  
  Hours:
  
  Monday to Friday 08:30 to 12:30, 13:00 to 16:00.
• Occasional overtime/out-of-hours work may be required, with time off in lieu granted.

Must be willing to travel within the UK and overseas, sometimes at short notice. Valid passport and full UK car driving licence required.

Must have right to work in the UK.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Our work commemorates the war dead, from building and maintaining our cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries to preserve our extensive records and archives. Our values and aims, laid out in 1917, are as relevant now as they were 100 years ago.

• Undertaking practical horticultural maintenance, renovation work and caretaking duties. This includes mowing, edging, hedge cutting, weeding, pruning and pesticide application.
• Planning and organising daily workload, appropriate to each site. This includes compiling stock order for plants, chemicals, fertilisers, PPE and machinery.
• Responsible for the safe operation, care, day to day maintenance and repair of all work equipment to a set standard, including team vehicles.
• To report to line management any structural defects noted, any development in the surroundings or environment of cemeteries and memorials observed during maintenance duties.
• To observe the Commission’s safety procedures and safe working practices, ensuring that PPE is used appropriately, and that the Commission’s H&S policies, procedures and safety instructions are adhered to at all times.
• Undertake H&S risk assessments in accordance with CWGC processes and priorities.
• Familiar with, and competent in undertaking a number of routine administrative duties. This includes the use of IT, smartphones and tablet-based technology.
• Undertake any other duties which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of the role.
• Cross function work within the region; working with Skilled Maintenance Crafts person (SMC) on renovation work.
• Representation of the Commission at ceremonies.
• Provision of advice/direction and other information to Cemetery visitors/members of the public, helping them locate war graves.

• Supporting the GC1iC with the execution and co‑ordination of Horticulture Standards in the cemeteries, plots and memorials, and in other countries UKNA operations, if required.

• Identify and present solutions to problems, knowing when to escalatre when necessary.

• Awareness of how role integrates into the team, region and Area.

• UKNA, primarily North Region.

• Able to communicate effectively with…