Starting salary: £27,740
Contract type: Permanent
Grade: 01
Location: Dirleton Depot, Dirleton Castle, Dirleton, East Lothian, EH39 5ER
Working Hours: Monday - Friday 1820 annualised hours
Interviews: To be held in person at Dirleton on Week Commencing Week commencing 20th July 2026
Thank you for your interest in the post of Grounds Maintenance Operator with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) that will be based in the Dirleton Castle Depot. This is a permanent and pensionable position.
You will be joining a dedicated team where you will contribute to the grounds maintenance of historical monuments under the care of Historic Environment Scotland at Dirleton Castle and in the surrounding areas.
Benefits of joining us at Historic Environment Scotland
Key Responsibilities of this role
The post involves general grass maintenance and gardening duties within the grounds maintenance team. You will be expected to work under the instruction of the Property Maintenance and Compliance Manager. You will ensure an excellent customer experience by maintaining HES properties and grounds to a high standard.
Due to the nature of this role, you will work mainly outside in variable weather conditions.
You will be required to comply with and promote HES Health and Safety Policies.
From time to time you will be required to attend training courses identified to assist the work, or to comply with health and safety legislation (this may require travel and overnight stays away from home). You will be required to complete IOSH Working Safely when starting in post.
Key duties of the Ground Maintenance Operator post include:
- Grass cutting and strimming at various sites using numerous types of machinery
- Garden maintenance
- Minor maintenance of plant and equipment
- Hedge maintenance
- Fencing repairs
- Minor drainage works
- Tree works
- Dry stone wall repairs
- Planting and weeding
- Litter removal
- Carry out maintenance works e.g. painting etc. throughout the area
Key requirements of the role:
In order for you to be successful in this post, we will be looking for you to complete a cover letter which addresses:
1. Why you are interested in the post with Historic Environment Scotland
2. How you can meet each of the essential and desirable criteria (in up to 800 words), using examples of where you have used these skills in the past.
Please ensure that you provide real life examples for each of the criteria to be considered for this post. You can use examples of how you have met this criteria from your work life, home life, education or volunteer experience.
Essential Criteria:
- Demonstrable experience of carrying out grounds maintenance in estates, local authority environment or historic landscape management
- Knowledge of the following: Health and Safety at Work Act, Risk Assessments, Method Statements
- Competent in the use of various grass cutting machinery e.g. strimmers, flail mowers, ride on mowers, cylinder mowers, hedge trimmers etc.
- Competent knowledge of estate management e.g. fencing, drainage, dry stone walling, use of pesticides etc.
- Knowledge of small plant and equipment maintenance
- Full UK Driving License or if non-UK driving license holder a willingness to convert within first 12 months of employment. Willingness to work towards a D1 + E Entitlement if not already obtained.
We are dedicated to building a workforce which is reflective of diversity within Scotland. We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, gender or gender identity, religious beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or neurodiversity. In support of our Gaelic Language Plan, we welcome applications from Gaelic speakers.
We want every candidate to have the best chance to succeed during the recruitment process. If you require your application in an alternative format, please reach out to us via email a t [email protected] or call our Head Office at 0131 668 8600 and speak to a member of our People Team.
Please note that, at this time, we are unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship as part of the recruitment process, therefore you must have current right to work in the UK to be considered for a post.
