Job title: Seasonal Gardening Labourer

Salary: A-Band £24,796 p.a. £13.45 per hour

Hours: 37 (Parks Seasonal Hours)

Contract: Temporary until 31/10/2026

Location: Various operational sites across the city

We manage around 4,000 hectares of green space across Leeds, making the city one of the greenest places to live in Europe. We manage:

Parks
Nature Reserves
Public Rights of Way
Playgrounds
Allotments
Cemeteries and Crematoria
Sports Pitches
Woodlands

We are looking to recruit 30 x Seasonal Gardening Labourer’s based at various operational sites across the city (15 x East, 11 x West, 2 x Roundhay Park, 1 x Lotherton Hall, 1 x Golf Management).

As a Seasonal Gardening Labourer, you’ll thrive on working outdoors to improve the city’s parks and greenspaces through the summer months for the benefit of visitors and residents.

It’s a chance to provide quality and well-maintained spaces where people can relax and enjoy.

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 Seasonal Gardening Labourer, you will bring to the role:

Work well within a team environment
Excellent communicator with park visitors and staff
Ability to work outside in all weathers
Take pride in your work
Produce quality parks which are safe and well maintained

About the role

As a Seasonal Gardener, you’ll be enhancing our parks and green spaces for everyone to enjoy during our varied seasons. The role is integral to our Green Spaces team.

Working with the local communities is a key aspect to our role coupled with working in our parks and open spaces during the summer season whatever the weather!

Helping to undertake gardening tasks such as general park maintenance; digging, establishing plants, seeding, litter clearance and mowing grass, additionally preparation of sports pitches, surfaces and turf.

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 guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Jennie Atkinson, Leading Area Officer (East) on 0113 3788186 or email Jennie.Atkinson@Leeds.gov.uk or Chris Stirk, Leading Area Officer (West) on 0113 3368729 or email christopher.stirk@leeds.gov.uk@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 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 horticultural maintenance within the Leeds City boundaries.

Responsibilities

To undertake manual labouring duties as required, including the lifting, emptying of bins and carrying of materials and tools
To prepare the land for planting by digging and forking
To maintain turf and grassed areas by using all types of mowing machinery to maintain amenity 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 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 Seasonal 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

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 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 maintenance of hard landscape features and surfaces

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.

Experience in the use of hand mowing machines
Experience in the use of ride on mowing machinery
Experience in a horticultural working environment