• The Gardener plays a key role in maintaining and enhancing public green spaces across the city by delivering high standards of amenity horticulture.

• Reporting to the Team Leader, Supervisor or Grounds Manager within the Environment & Leisure team (Street scene & City Services), the postholder is responsible for carrying out a wide range of horticultural duties including grass cutting, planting, pruning and soft landscaping.

• They are expected to work independently or as part of a team, operate various horticultural machinery, and ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations.

• The role contributes directly to the appearance, safety and usability of parks, sports fields and other communal outdoor areas.

• Carry out all aspects of horticultural operations to the standards outlined in the Grounds Maintenance Specification, including:

• Grass cutting, strimming, hedge trimming, and clearing leaves/litter

• Planting bedding plants, shrubs and trees

• Maintaining and pruning shrub beds, including seasonal renewal and division

• Applying pesticides, herbicides and other horticultural chemicals in line with safety standards

• Soft landscaping such as cultivation, topsoiling and seeding

• Setting out, marking and maintaining sports pitches and facilities

• Operate a variety of tools, vehicles and machinery such as pedestrian mowers and strimmers, ensuring they are maintained in a safe and serviceable condition

• Undertake daily vehicle checks and report any faults or defects to the line manager

• Uphold all Health & Safety at Work obligations and report incidents, accidents or near misses

• Carry out duties outdoors in all weather conditions and in any city location

• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of the gardening service and team

• Ensure punctuality, reliability, and flexibility in working hours (including overtime when required)

• Practical experience using a range of horticultural tools and machinery (e.g. mowers, strimmers)

• Experience in soft landscaping and amenity horticulture

• Basic mechanical knowledge or willingness to undertake training

• Knowledge of Health & Safety at Work regulations

• Ability to work independently and to tight deadlines

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• Willingness to undertake further training and learn new skills

• Stamina and physical ability to undertake demanding outdoor work in all weather conditions

• Flexible, positive attitude with the ability to support and work collaboratively with colleagues

• NVQ Level 1 in Horticulture or equivalent, or a minimum of two years' practical experience in grounds maintenance

• Full, current UK driving licence