Description ABOUT THE ROLE The role involves a wide range of grounds maintenance tasks including grass cutting, edging, weeding, watering, and basic grounds repairs. Responsibilities also include planting, pruning, hedge trimming, and re-landscaping flower beds and garden areas. The operative will sweep roads and pathways, collect litter, empty bins, and maintain external cleanliness including the use of powered equipment as needed. Winter duties include snow clearance and gritting. The role also involves operating and maintaining university vehicles, powered tools, and applying chemicals such as weed killers and fertilisers according to guidelines. Additional tasks may be assigned based on operational needs. Further information is available in the job description. ABOUT THE TEAM The Grounds Team plays a pivotal role in maintaining safe, clean and welcoming outdoor spaces on the University Campuses, as a Groundsperson you'll be part of a supportive and hardworking team that takes pride in their work and the environment they care for. You'll be working 5 days out of 7, which includes weekends on a rota basis, ensuring our grounds are well kept throughout the week. We value teamwork, reliability, and a positive attitude, and you'll have the chance to work alongside experienced colleagues who are passionate about delivering high standards every day. The Grounds Team work within the Facilities and Estates team, we deliver a range of services including grounds maintenance of City Campus and Coach Lane Campus. ABOUT YOU To be successful in the role you will be a hardworking and flexible individual with demonstrable experience in grounds and horticultural services, preferably within a similar environment. The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of plant care, be confident using grounds equipment and vehicles, and hold relevant qualifications such as PA1/PA6 and a clean UK driving licence. Strong customer service skills, a professional attitude, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are essential. Candidates must be willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions, perform physical tasks including lifting, and demonstrate a proactive, safety-conscious approach. Additional qualifications such as NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture, PASMA, or First Aid are desirable. Further information is available in the person specification. If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact david.hunter@northumbria.ac.uk To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'. Your application should include a covering letter and a CV. ABOUT US Join Northumbria University, a research-intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education's University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power. Discover more about us. With over 37,000 students from 140 countries, we offer world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and an outstanding student experience. We empower our exceptional staff, promoting a positive work-life balance and offering great benefits, including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, generous holiday entitlement and more. Our Northumbria Values, co-created by our team, define who we are: Academic Excellence, Innovation, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Ambition. Our Behaviours shape our work culture: We listen and learn, support one another, respect everyone, trust each other, and are bold. Located in Newcastle upon Tyne and London, we are an on-campus organisation with flexibility in hours and location. We pride ourselves on diversity and inclusivity, holding numerous awards for gender and race equality, disability confidence, and research excellence. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers. The University has implemented a range of flexible working arrangements, and we are happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process. Apply now and join a community committed to transforming society and the economy. Explore " Our Exceptional People, Our Values and Behaviours " page to learn more about our commitments and see our for further details.