INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: Craft Gardener

Salary: B3 £26,403 - £28,142

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent / Full-time

Location: Roundhay Park Golf Course

As a Craft Gardener, you’ll thrive as part of the team at Roundhay Park Golf Course in delivering a high quality, Green Flag standard Golf Course.

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 yo
You will require considerable practical horticultural experience, together with an NVQ2 or equivalent in Amenity Horticulture/Fine Turf, although applicants who can demonstrate a significant period of work experience without formal qualifications will also be considered.

Work includes all aspects of Golf Course and horticultural maintenance, including lifting, digging, hard and soft landscaping, golf course preparation to include bunker raking, weed spraying, the laying, establishing and maintenance of turf, fencing, and grass cutting using a ride-on mower. In addition, the Craft Gardener will assist in the mentoring and training of the new Green Keeper Apprentice Green Keeper in golf course maintenance, horticultural methods and practices and in the specific machinery use.

As a Craft Gardener you will bring to the role:

The ability to support and work as part of a team.
Relevant skills to maintain a top quality golf course.
Embrace the Council Values.
Treat people fairly and with respect.

About the role

This post is based at Roundhay Park Golf, Leeds, where the team are responsible for all aspects of golf course maintenance and general grounds maintenance.

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 role please contact

Allan Cooper Allan.cooper@leeds.gov.uk 07891 270766

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 visaroute 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 and Golf Courses.

Responsibilities

To prepare land for planting
To undertake the planting and aftercare of annual, biennial and perennial plants
To repair and maintain ornamental and amenity turf areas
To undertake basic hard and soft landscaping construction and aftercare
To prepare sports areas, marking out and maintenance
To undertake other manual labouring duties as required
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 Craft Gardener as directed by senior management
To have the ability to carry out tasks, without direct supervision
To undertake mentoring and on-site supervision of gardeners and gardening apprentices
To interpret and work on complex plans
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 a substantial number of years practical experience in gardening and horticultural operations/Fine Turf.
Minimum provisional driving licence required on appointment
Chainsaw Certificate - Desirable

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

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, complying with manual handling
Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
Experience in amenity horticulture
Experience in the use of ride-on 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 Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and 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
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
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.

Candidates will be expected to undertake training to achieve a PA1 / PA6 spraying certificate.
Full UK driving licence.

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