Grounds Maintenance Operative (Career Grade)

Do you enjoy working outdoors? Are you looking for a new challenge where you can make a difference every day?

About the Role

As Grounds Maintenance Operative you’ll be part of a friendly team making a visible difference in the local community, helping to keep our parks and open spaces welcoming and well‑maintained for all to enjoy.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll work outdoors in all weather conditions, carrying out a range of grounds maintenance tasks such as

Mowing, strimming and hedge cutting

Weeding, pruning and planting

Litter picking and emptying bins

Tidying shrub beds and planters

Sweeping and cleaning hard surfaces

Supporting basic checks on sports and leisure areas

You’ll also use a variety of tools and equipment (training provided) and help keep our parks and open spaces safe by reporting issues and dealing with hazards where appropriate.

Training & Development

We offer great opportunities to grow, including the chance to

Gain a B1 driving licence

Train as a Play Area Inspector

Develop wider horticultural skills

We have full time opportunities available, working 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, on a permanent contract.

About You

You’ll enjoy practical, hands‑on work and take pride in helping to keep our parks and open spaces looking their best. This is an active, outdoor role that involves working throughout the year in all weather conditions.

You will be able to carry out a range of grounds maintenance tasks, including mowing, strimming, weeding, litter collection, pruning, planting, disease control and weed spraying. Experience in general grounds maintenance is desirable, and training will be provided.

Good communication skills are important, as you will be representing the Council when working in public areas. You should be polite, approachable and professional when engaging with residents, visitors and colleagues.

A full, valid UK driving licence is essential for roles at Grade 4.

About Us

Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy.

We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.

We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.

Our Offer

A range of benefits including

Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities

Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)

Generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy additional leave

Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.

A wide range of flexible working opportunities

Annual flu vaccine

Cycle to work scheme

Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping

Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals

A professional fee payment, if required for the role

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Andrew Jesson, Green Spaces Manager on 01622 602555

Job Description and Person Specification

https://docs.maidstone.gov.uk/jobs/Job-Description-Grounds-Maintenance-Operative.pdf

Interview Date

Friday 19th June 2026

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.