The Vacancy Join Ocean Housing as a Grounds Maintenance Operative Location: Stennack House, St Austell Hours: 40 per week (Mon-Fri) Salary: £27,976 per annum Contract: Permanent Do you enjoy working outdoors, take pride in keeping spaces looking their best, and want to make a real difference to local communities? We’re looking for a Grounds Maintenance Operative to join our friendly and professional team, helping us maintain safe, attractive and welcoming neighbourhoods for our residents. About the role: As a Grounds Maintenance Operative, you’ll deliver high‑quality grounds maintenance across our communal estates. From grass cutting and shrub maintenance to planting and site checks, you’ll play a vital role in keeping our outdoor spaces well cared for all year round. You’ll work both independently and as part of a team, engaging positively with residents, estate monitors and colleagues, while always working safely and to a high standard. Key responsibilities: Carry out grass cutting, strimming, weeding and general horticultural works Maintain and plant shrubs, trees and bedding displays Safely operate and maintain tools, plant and machinery Complete routine vehicle, equipment and site safety checks Identify and report health & safety hazards or estate issues Prepare accurate records, reports and inspections as required Provide a friendly, professional service to residents and stakeholders Work flexibly across multiple sites, sometimes lone working What we’re looking for: You don’t need to meet every single requirement to apply – we’re keen to hear from people who are motivated, reliable and keen to learn. Essential Experience in grounds maintenance or gardening work Understanding of health & safety in a working environment NVQ Level 1 (or equivalent) and English/Literacy qualification Full UK driving licence Ability to work outdoors in a physically demanding role year‑round Good communication and customer service skills Ability to work independently or as part of a team Pride in delivering work to a high standard Desirable NVQ Level 2 in Horticulture or similar Experience using machinery (mowers, hedge cutters, brash cutters) PA1 & PA6 spraying certificates Experience of working in social housing Experience of towing trailers containing heavy mechanical equipment What are our benefits? We offer a supportive, flexible, and forward-thinking work environment with fantastic benefits: 27 days holiday bank holidays Professional membership fees paid Company sick pay scheme Workplace pension with death in service benefit Home office work payment Medicash health plan (including dental & optical) Cycle to work scheme Rewards & recognition programme On-site parking Employee assistance programme Family-friendly policies Key Dates: Closing Date: Wednesday 20th of May 2026 at Midnight Interview Date: Wednesday 27th of May 2026 and Thursday 28th of May 2026 at Stennack House, St Austell Ready to Make an Impact? If you're committed to supporting communities and want a role full of purpose, we’d love to hear from you. Please be aware - we may close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications—so apply soon! The Company Ocean Housing Ltd is a not for profit, charitable registered provider of social and affordable housing, with a stock of over 4,700 properties throughout Cornwall. We are part of the Cornwall Homechoice ‘Choice Based Lettings’ scheme. At Ocean we believe affordable housing is not just about the buildings, but about the people who turn them into homes. We provide a wide range of services to our residents, helping them to make the most of their homes and the communities they live in. Mission Statement “To be an innovative provider of quality homes and services, with residents and staff at the heart of Ocean, and Ocean at the heart of the community.” At Ocean our vision is to be the employer of choice for Cornwall. We want to create a work environment where everyone feels like they belong, can bring their best, authentic selves to work every day and are provided with the support they need to do a great job. Our purpose is to create a modern, dynamic and agile work environment, fit for the 21st Century and one of which all of our colleagues feel included and proud to be a part of. An environment which enables colleagues to provide quality, affordable homes and services for the people of Cornwall. We believe work is what you do, not where you go and therefore colleagues deliver their work where it best suits the need, whether that be in the office, home or around a local area or site using local facilities. Colleagues are agile and work or have meetings in any place to suit the need and task. Benefits Family friendly Committed to Training and Developing our Employees Cycle to Work Values Honest, Enthusiastic and Always Positive Passionate about Customer Service Quality and Value in all we do Innovative, Ambitious and Brave for the future of our Business, Customers and Communities Gallery Previous Next 2022 Award Winner Best Place to Work at Cornwall Business Awards 2022 Sponsored by the Skills Hub “This is a really challenging sector to work in and Ocean Housing Group have really gone above and beyond to support their workforce. They really show strong leadership from above in putting their employees first and the level of engagement they get from everyone in their teams is commendable, with really high number of team members taking part in surveys, consultancy and feedback. The Ocean Housing Group have also invested in the continual improvement of their staff, services and benefits to ensure that staff consistently feel invested in and valued – Well Done!” Documents