Horticultural Operative

We are looking for enthusiastic and hardworking Garden Maintenance Operatives to join our Repairs & Maintenance Service. As part of our dedicated Voids Team, you will help bring empty council homes back into a safe, clean and lettable condition by carrying out a range of gardening, clearance and external maintenance activities. The role plays an important part in reducing void turnaround times, improving neighbourhood appearance and ensuring properties meet the Council's lettable standards.

As a Garden Maintenance Operative, you will work across the city carrying out garden clearance, vegetation management and external make-safe works to council-owned properties, particularly void (empty) homes and temporary accommodation. Typical duties will include:

• Cutting grass, hedges, shrubs and overgrown vegetation.
• Clearing gardens and external areas of waste, debris and unwanted materials.
• Removing hazardous items and making external areas safe.
• Carrying out basic soft landscaping and garden improvement works.
• Assisting with the removal, chipping and disposal of green waste.
• Supporting colleagues with site clearance and operational activities where required.
• Using and maintaining gardening machinery and equipment safely.
• Working to health and safety procedures, risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Ensuring properties meet agreed lettable and neighbourhood standards.

You will be:

• Reliable, motivated and able to work effectively as part of a team.
• Experienced in grounds maintenance, horticulture, landscaping or a similar environment.
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Capable of undertaking manual handling activities.
• Able to work safely and follow health and safety procedures.
• Organised, self-motivated and able to manage workloads effectively.
• Committed to delivering high standards of workmanship and customer service.

• Experience of gardening, grounds maintenance or horticultural work.
• Ability to safely use gardening tools and machinery.
• Experience of working in a manual outdoor environment.
• Understanding of health and safety requirements.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

• Experience working within social housing, local government or property maintenance services.
• Experience operating wood chippers, strimmer’s, hedge cutters and similar equipment.
• Basic knowledge of grounds maintenance best practice.

• Competitive Local Government pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Training and development opportunities.
• The opportunity to make a real difference to communities across Sheffield.

If you take pride in your work, enjoy working outdoors and want to help improve council housing and neighbourhoods across Sheffield, we would love to hear from you.

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential…