Tractor Driver & Grounds Maintenance Operative

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council’s Street Scene Team delivers street cleansing and grounds maintenance services across Aylesbury Vale.

We are currently recruiting for a skilled and experienced Tractor Driver & Grounds Maintenance Operative.

Salary range: £32,946 - £34,494

The depot is based in Aylesbury with free onsite parking.

Seasonal hours are in line with grass cutting season.

• Summer hours 07.30-17.00 (March to September – 26 weeks)
• Winter hours 07.30-15.00 (September to March – 26 weeks)

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

If you enjoy working outside, have an eye for detail and take pride in your work and the local area, then this could be just the job for you!

You will be responsible for providing front line grounds maintenance services. You will be reliable, have a ‘can do’ attitude and a commitment to working safely. There are excellent training opportunities available and the Council are committed to supporting continuous personal development.

Key Accountabilities

Working as an individual as well as part of a team, you will be competent in delivering a range of general grounds maintenance duties, including (but not limited to):

• Grass cutting – Tractor and wide area rotary mower
• Hedge cutting – with parallel side arm flail
• Sports Turf Maintenance including
  • Harrowing
  • Rolling
  • Slitting/Spiking
  • Fertilising
  • Vert draining
  • Boom spraying
• Ensure that equipment, machinery and vehicles used are thoroughly checked prior to use, any faults or defects are reported with immediate effect and that maintenance logs are accurately and promptly maintained.
• Routinely clean machinery, equipment and vehicles inside and out, and ensure that basic maintenance tasks are regularly undertaken in accordance with local procedures and requirements.
• Maintain routine administration records as required.
• Undertake routine Grounds Maintenance Work when tractor work is unavailable due to workload or weather conditions.

 

 

Fixed

As a ‘fixed’ worker, you’ll spend most of your time in the same location, which will likely be a fixed office or location where your role is performed. Typically, you’ll be based in the same location as the rest of your team, because you provide a particular service from that fixed location or need access to information there.

 

About you

You will be required to have a wide range of Tractor Operator experience, delivering grounds maintenance services. Experience of working on a Local Authority contract, or in house local authority service, is advantageous.

You should have good communication skills; be able to apply initiative to your work; follow instructions; and be a fast learner and a good team player.

An Horticultural qualification such as NVQ Amenity Horticulture would be advantageous as would a Lantra, NPTC or equivalent certification in Tractor driving, use of attachments and PA1 & PA2.

The work is outdoors all year round, and work will take place in all weather conditions. All personal protective equipment and clothing will be provided.

Full UK driving license is essential.

 

Other information

The role pays 40 hours per week but seasonal variances mean that for 26 weeks of the year you will be required to work 45 hrs per week and the other 26 weeks of the year you will be required to work 35 hrs per week (seasonal variances)

Please note the minimum age of a driver must be 21 years old due to insurance purposes.

For more information please contact Wiktor Potempa  [email protected]

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/