About the Role
Aircare is looking for a practical and reliable Grounds Maintenance & Site Operative to join our team. The role will primarily involve providing commercial grounds maintenance services at client sites, alongside site clearance, vegetation management, tree and woodland work and general outdoor maintenance activities. This is a varied, hands-on position and would suit someone with experience in commercial grounds maintenance, landscaping, horticulture, estate maintenance, arboriculture, forestry, site clearance or a similar outdoor role. The successful candidate should be comfortable working independently as well as alongside other members of the Aircare team. The work will range from routine grounds maintenance through to clearing overgrown areas, woodland, trees and redundant structures.
Key Responsibilities
Typical duties will include:
- Commercial grass cutting, strimming and edging.
- Hedge cutting, pruning and general vegetation management.
- Weed control and application of appropriate pesticides/herbicides where qualified.
- Brush, scrub and overgrown vegetation clearance.
- Woodland maintenance, management and clearance.
- Tree pruning, crown lifting and removal of dead or damaged branches where trained and competent.
- Felling and processing of small trees from ground level where appropriately qualified.
- Chainsaw operation, where appropriately trained and competent.
- Cutting and removal of fallen or redundant timber.
- Identifying and reporting potentially dangerous, diseased or damaged trees requiring further assessment.
- General site and grounds clearance.
- Removal of accumulated waste and redundant materials.
- Loading and moving waste, timber and other materials.
- Assisting with the dismantling and clearance of redundant sheds, small outbuildings and similar structures.
- Operation and routine maintenance of grounds maintenance equipment.
- Use of equipment such as pedestrian and ride-on mowers, strimmers, brushcutters, hedge cutters and leaf blowers.
- Assisting with other general site and facilities maintenance activities when required.
- Maintaining equipment, vehicles and work areas in a safe and tidy condition.
- Completing basic work records and reporting defects or issues identified on client sites.
- Working in accordance with Aircare's health, safety, environmental and quality procedures.
Experience
We are looking for someone with practical experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Commercial grounds maintenance.
- Landscaping or horticulture.
- Estate or grounds management.
- Tree surgery or arboriculture.
- Forestry or woodland management.
- Vegetation management.
- General outdoor maintenance.
You do not need to have experience in every area listed above. We are particularly interested in candidates with a good practical background, a willingness to undertake varied work and an ability to learn.
Qualifications & Training
The following would be desirable:
- Commercial pesticide applicator certification, such as PA1/PA6 or equivalent.
- Level 2 qualification/certificate in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting, or equivalent.
- A relevant horticultural qualification gained or applied within a commercial setting.
- Appropriate chainsaw/tree felling qualification or certification.
- Additional arboricultural or tree surgery qualifications.
- Brushcutter/strimmer training or certification.
- Woodchipper training or certification.
- First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work.
- Manual handling training.
- Experience or certification in the use of ride-on grounds maintenance machinery.
- CSCS card or equivalent site experience.
- Trailer towing experience/entitlement.
- Mini excavator or other small plant experience.
Applicants are not expected to hold all of the above qualifications.
Relevant practical experience will be considered alongside formal qualifications, and additional training may be provided for the right candidate.
What We're Looking For
The successful candidate should:
- Be practical and comfortable undertaking physical outdoor work.
- Be able to work independently and use their own initiative.
- Take pride in leaving sites clean, tidy and well maintained.
- Be comfortable undertaking a varied workload rather than performing the same task every day.
- Be able to use grounds maintenance tools and equipment safely.
- Have a sensible and safety-conscious approach to work.
- Be reliable, punctual and professional when working on client premises.
- Be willing to undertake further training where required.
- Be comfortable working outdoors throughout the year.
- Be able to work effectively as part of a wider maintenance team.
Driving Licence
A full UK driving licence is essential due to travel between Aircare and client sites. Experience driving vans and towing trailers would be advantageous.
What Aircare Offers
- A varied role across commercial client sites.
- Training and development opportunities.
- Opportunity to gain additional industry qualifications.
- Company-provided tools, equipment and PPE.
- Company vehicle/transport for work activities as appropriate.
- Generous holiday entitlement.
- Workplace pension.
- The opportunity to develop the role as Aircare's grounds maintenance and facilities services grow.
The Person
Formal qualifications are useful, but they are not the only thing we're looking for. We would particularly welcome applications from experienced grounds maintenance, landscaping, horticulture, estate maintenance, forestry, arboriculture or similar operatives who are practical, dependable and capable of taking responsibility for maintaining a client site to a good standard. If you don't hold every qualification listed above but have relevant experience and are willing to undertake further training, we would still encourage you to apply.
Pay: £26,500.00-£28,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
