Job title: Gardener

Salary: B1 £25,185 - £25,989

Hours: 37

Contract: Full Time / Permanent

Location: Various operational sites across the city

This is an exciting job opportunity for 8 x Gardeners based in the East of the city.

As a Gardener working in our Climate, Energy and Green Spaces service, you’ll thrive on working as part of a small team of dedicated staff. Ensuring that the upkeep of our parks and green spaces is undertaken to a high standard.

The Gardeners will be based at various operational sites across Area East:-

4 x Temple Newsam East Operations

1 x Garforth

2 x Cross Flatts

1 x Holbeck

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Gardener, you will bring to the role:

The ability to work as part of a team
A real pride in your work, delivering the best results and the best experience for our customers
A can-do attitude, an ability to use your own initiative
A passion about horticulture and an infectious enthusiasm to deliver results
Good communication with multiple stakeholders and members of the public
The ability to access all required locations across the city

About the role

You will require practical horticultural experience, together Substantial experience on 2- and 4-wheel drive tractors and experience of gang mowing, trailers and dragged equipment with a Level 1 qualification within this field of work or equivalent experience.

Applicants who can demonstrate a substantial period of work experience without formal qualifications will also be considered.

Work includes all aspects of horticultural maintenance, including manual handling such as lifting, digging, hard and soft landscaping, preparation of ground for the planting and establishment of plants, weed spraying, the laying, establishing and maintenance of turf, fencing, the construction and maintenance of landscape features and grass cutting using a range of grass cutting mowers or machinery.

You will have excellent communication skills and be a team player. You will be motivated and a critical thinker with the ability to understand the needs of your customers.

The post may be based at any point within the Leeds City boundaries.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the roles please contact Jennie Atkinson, Leading Area Officer (East) on 0113 3788186 or email Jennie.Atkinson@Leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To undertake all aspects of horticultural maintenance within the Leeds City boundaries

Responsibilities

To undertake manual labouring duties as required, including the lifting, and carrying of materials and tools
To prepare the land for planting by digging and forking
To establish plants when ground is prepared
To maintain turf and grassed areas by using all types of mowing machinery to maintain amenity and ornamental turf
To assist with the construction of basic hard and soft landscape features
To assist with maintenance of hard landscape features and surfaces
To prepare sports areas, marking out and maintenance
To respond to enquiries from parks visitors in an appropriate and constructive way
To refer concerns expressed by visitors to the parks to line managers or supervisors
To undertake such training as is required to meet the needs of the maintenance of the parks and surrounding areas
To undertake other site-related horticultural maintenance duties commensurate with the skill levels expected of a Gardener as directed by senior management
To have the ability to carry out tasks, without direct supervision
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post

Qualifications

Level 1 qualification within this field of work and actively working towards gaining or able to demonstrate practical experience in gardening and horticultural operations.
The post holder should at least hold a provisional driver’s licence to enable them to use ride on mowing machinery as required.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Skills Required:

Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually, in groups and at all appropriate levels
Ability to prepare land for planting
Ability to establish and maintain plants
Ability to establish turf by seed and by laying
Ability to construct basic hard landscaping features and surfaces
Ability to maintain course, amenity and sports turf grass surfaces
Ability to undertake digging, forking and heavy lifting work
Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
To maintain turf and grassed areas by using mowing machinery
To assist with the construction of basic hard landscape feature
To assist with maintenance of hard landscape features and surfaces

Knowledge Required:

Level 1 qualification within this field of work or equivalent experience

Experience Required:

Experience in the use of horticultural machinery

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

PA1 /PA6 spraying certificate
Experience in the use of hand mowing machines
Experience in the use of ride on mowing machinery