Ground Maintenance Operative

Overview

We’re looking for a reliable and proactive Grounds Maintenance Operative to help keep our parks, open spaces and sports pitches safe, clean and welcoming. This is a frontline, highly visible role where you’ll take pride in representing the Council and delivering a quality service for local communities.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

About the role

You’ll work as part of a team delivering an efficient grounds maintenance service across the Council’s parks and open spaces, completing a range of practical horticultural and seasonal duties.

Key responsibilities:

• Maintain parks and open spaces through tasks such as grass cutting, shrub bed work, hedge maintenance, and keeping sites clean and litter-free
• Carry out seasonal duties including leaf clearance, snow clearance and winter maintenance
• Support the maintenance and preparation of football and cricket pitches
• Operate relevant machinery and equipment safely, completing pre-use checks and reporting faults/maintenance needs
• Follow all health & safety regulations, safe systems of work and PPE requirements at all times
• Drive Council vehicles safely, completing daily vehicle inspections and keeping vehicles clean and in good order
• Complete work schedules as instructed, keeping accurate records/paperwork and escalating issues promptly
• Interact with members of the public professionally and act as an ambassador for the Council

About you

You will be a reliable, practical and motivated individual who takes pride in maintaining high‑quality parks and open spaces for local communities. You will have a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and a commitment to delivering a professional and customer‑focused service.

You will enjoy working outdoors in all weather conditions and be physically able to carry out manual duties such as grass cutting, lifting, bending and prolonged periods of walking. You will be able to follow instructions, work to schedules and complete tasks safely and efficiently, both as part of a team and when working independently.

A strong awareness of health and safety is essential, along with the ability to use machinery and equipment responsibly and in line with training, procedures and risk assessments.

You will have good communication skills and be confident interacting with members of the public in a polite and professional manner, acting as an ambassador for the Council at all times.

Essential requirements

• Experience of outdoor manual work or grounds maintenance (or a willingness to learn)
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Physically fit and able to carry out manual tasks
• Commitment to health and safety and safe systems of work
• Ability to work as part of a team and use your own initiative
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Previous experience in grounds maintenance, horticulture or a similar operational role
• Experience of using grounds maintenance machinery and equipment
• Relevant qualifications or training (e.g. strimmer, mower, PA1/PA6)

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

You will be required to report to Pembroke Road Depot at the start of your working day and will be responsible for maintaining grounds, parks and open spaces within North Buckinghamshire.

Closing date: 6th May 2026

Interview date: TBC

Interview-type / process: In person

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. 

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment. 

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/