About the Role
Parks & Countryside Officer (Level 2) – Maldon District Council
Permanent, full‑time position
Location: Maldon
Salary: £28,509 to £31,058 per annum
Role Purpose
Provide a grounds maintenance service across Maldon District and maintain the Council’s parks and open spaces to a high standard.
Accountabilities – Service Delivery
* Work in partnership to achieve high standards of grounds maintenance across 25 parks and open spaces, including flagship sites Promenade Park (Maldon) and Riverside Park (Burnham on Crouch).
* Organise own working methods within guidelines, ensuring safe working and adherence to health and safety procedures.
* Enter weekend and bank‑holiday duties on a rota and provide out‑of‑hours cover for events and civil emergencies.
* Work “annualised hours” – 38 hours per week on average (46 hrs during April‑September, 29 hrs during winter).
* Undertake general gardening and grounds maintenance duties: leaf clearance, bin emptying, sweeping, litter picking, strimming, mowing, bed care, basic glasshouse work, marking sports pitches, pesticide applications and calibrations, basic vehicle and equipment maintenance, litter and bin collection.
* Operate basic machinery and drive vehicle.
* Provide at least two of the following additional elements: tractor driving with specialist implements, use of heavy ride‑on mowers, repair and servicing of equipment, play equipment inspections, specialist glasshouse work, flower and shrub bed maintenance, felling and processing small trees with a chainsaw, fine turf management.
Experience and Qualifications
* NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in Horticulture, Amenity Management or similar, or reasonable experience in grounds maintenance functions.
* OR two or more competency certificates: pesticide spraying licence, brush cutter/clearing saw licence, chainsaw licence (C30/C31), ride‑on/pedestrian mower certificate, amenity tractor with trailer/PTO implements, woodchipper.
* Full UK driving licence and access to own transport.
* Ability to operate machinery including grass cutting and light vehicles; potential for tractor training.
* Good knowledge of care of bedding plants, shrubs and borders, plant identification, pruning to high standard, and health and safety risk assessments.
* Recent experience in horticultural and grounds maintenance functions.
Benefits
* Local Government Pension Scheme
* Generous holiday entitlement
* Flexible and agile working
* Employee assistance programme
* Cycle‑to‑work scheme
* Salary sacrifice car lease scheme
* Discounted local gym membership
* Free parking
Equal Opportunity
Maldon District Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups, including children, young people and adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Disclosure and Barring checks will be undertaken according to the responsibilities of the role. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, culture and experience. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, sex, disability or marital status.
Maldon District Council is a Disability‑Confident Employer and takes actions to successfully employ and retain disabled people and those with health conditions.
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