Job Description

Crematorium and Cemetery Groundsperson

Ref: 140099

Salary: 27,694 p.a. plus benefits

37 hours per week

Permanent

At Swindon Borough Council, we want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that's who we're doing it for - the communities and businesses that make our town great. As part of the Council, you'll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It's all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.


An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated individual to join the Bereavement Services team as a Groundsperson. You will undertake a wide variety of grounds maintenance and grave-digging duties as part of a team involved in the preparation of graves for burial or exhumation, and general maintenance of the crematorium and cemetery grounds, delivering a specialist service as part of a highly client focused team.

Your next role

This position plays a crucial role at the Cemeteries and Crematorium in Swindon. This dedicated team take care of the grounds at Kingsdown Crematorium and Whitworth Road Cemeteries as well as the grave digging at Kingsdown, Whitworth Road and Radnor Street Cemeteries.


The role includes general grounds maintenance, such as mowing, strimming and tidying the cemeteries. You will be dealing with the burial of the deceased and their families also helping members of the community and funeral directors face to face. Most of your time will be spent outside in all weather conditions, the cemetery is a very quiet and tranquil place to work.


You will be trained to use the equipment and machinery required to dig graves, a very important part of the role. You must be able to demonstrate excellent attention to detail, the ability to follow Health and Safety Legislation, as well as an empathetic and understanding manner. The role can be emotionally demanding as well as subject to competing priorities so evidence of your ability to work under pressure and make decisions is essential.

Essential

Full clean driving licence. Knowledge/keen interest of Horticultural Practices.

Preferred

Experience in using all types of excavation/construction & grounds maintenance machinery. Driving licence covering the use of trailers. PA1 & PA6 Pesticides licence. You will be educated to GCSE standard in Maths and English or equivalent, along with a proven ability to deal with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. You should also have a good standard of verbal and written English.

Candidates must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act - for the effective performance of a customer facing role).

Your next package

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.


As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.


For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It's why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you'll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We'll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we'll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you'll be proud to say it was made better with you.


Please see our Vision and Values page for more details. Please see our new Swindon Plan.

Your next steps

Please read the role profile, which is available in the documents section to the righthand side of the page. To submit an application for this role, select Quick Apply


Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don't meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we'd love to hear from you.


As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.


For further information about the role, please contact Matthew Ball, Bereavement Services Manager at mball2@swindon.gov.uk


If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk

Closing date: 28 January 2026

Interview dates: 4 and 5 February 2026