Job Description

Grounds Person

(

Job Number:

25001083

)

Estates and Facilities
Grade 4: - 24,843 - 26,093 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time

Contracted Hours per Week

35

Working Arrangements

Onsite working only

Closing Date

24-Aug-2025, 5:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement

Not Applicable.

Job Title

: Grounds Person

Department

Estates and Facilities DirectorateEstates Operations

Grade:

Grade 4

Salary range:

24,843-26,093

Working arrangements:

PermanentFull time (35 hours)
Five days out of seven
Some requirement to work evenings and weekends, as business demands
Participation in the on-call rota for out-of-hours emergency situations, particularly in relation to the University's winter maintenance programme.
Onsite working only

Closing date:

24 August 2025

The University

At Durham University, we are proud of our people, because they are at the heart of our globally outstanding institution, which is a key part of our local community. We inspire our people to do extraordinary things and we invite you to join our fantastic team.


Across the University, we have a huge variety of roles and responsibilities, which together make us one large and successful community. Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.


At the University we promote and actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion. It is crucial that everyone can be themselves and can flourish in an environment where everyone respects each other and is treated fairly. We want our people and wider community to feel happy, secure and proud to be a part of Durham. We are looking for the same values in you.


We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. For more information on our EDI strategy and values, click here.

The Role and Department

Durham University owns an estate covering 251 hectares (ha), including; woodland and scrub (112ha), farming and grazing land (53ha), amenity grassland (27ha), as well as wetlands and riverline habitats.


It supports a rich diversity of species and habitats, including many red listed species of conservation concern and numerous areas of species- rich habitat.


As Grounds Person, you will undertake all aspects of gardens and grounds maintenance including college grounds and heritage planting at Palace Green linking in and working collaboratively with the Biodiversity Team, in line with DU Biodiversity Strategy,


You will become a member of a professional, customer focussed team, delivering exemplary standards of grounds and landscape management.


The Estates and Facilities Directorate provides essential services to Durham University and is responsible for managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure and building fabric of the various campuses.


Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University, you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

27 Days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days per year, including time off between Christmas and New Year. No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. Discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions. An onsite nursery is available and children's clubs in the summer holidays. Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme. The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering. Family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers). If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships. Generous pension schemes.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply

To be considered for this role, here are the skills/experience we're looking for:

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Experience

1. Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent experience.
2. NVQ Level 2 in amenity horticulture (or equivalent) or significant experience of working in a similar environment.
3. Full driving licence.
4. Experience of working in a team including apprentices, trainees, or volunteers
5. Experience of managing time to meet deadlines.
6. Experience of working within an organisation that proactively promotes and delivers biodiversity initiatives.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

7. Good spoken and written communication skills.
8. Good digital skills including the ability to use the internet and email.
9. Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve straightforward issues.
10. Ability to follow health and safety guidelines, including an understanding for risk assessments and method statements.
11. Ability to interpret works to be undertaken, as outlined in instructions and specifications.
12. Knowledge and skills including best practice of biodiversity implementation.
13. Ability to use and operate the usual range of tools and equipment associated with gardens and grounds maintenance, such as electric hedge trimmer, pole saw, pedestrian operated lawn mower, ride on mower, and tractor and trailer.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience of working in historic landscape environments.
2. Ability to provide advice and guidance to a range of colleagues and customers.
3. Experience of using technological-based job management systems.
4. Understanding of the development, operational and maintenance requirements of a complex green estate.
5. Combined chainsaw maintenance and Tree felling (CS Units 30 and 31) City and Guilds NPTC Certificate and Pole Pruning (*CS Unit 48 006) City and Guilds NPTC Certificate or equivalent
6. Grounds Maintenance and landscaping skills and the ability to undertake, for example, construction of habitat creations, hedge trimming, path laying etc.
7. Experience of the delivery of reactive, cyclical, and planned grounds maintenance, infrastructure projects and new landscape schemes.

How to apply

We prefer to receive applications online. When you apply you need to submit a CV and/or a statement that tells us your experience and gives examples of how you meet the criteria above and/or submit the application form and include the information within the form.
We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

Who to contact for more information

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role or if you are struggling to complete the application process, Jonny Briggs jonathonbriggs@durham.ac.uk would be happy to speak to you.

Typical Role Requirements

Here are the kind of activities that you'll be asked to undertake and ways in which you'll be expected to operate.

Service Delivery

Provide an excellent, responsive gardens and grounds service to our students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role, by carrying out your tasks using the relevant procedures (which we will provide training for), for the maintenance of our grounds, woodlands and landscaping.
Ensure compliance with Health and Safety regulations including correctly wearing any protective clothing or equipment provided, e.g., safety shoes, being aware of any hazards and risks and reporting any incidents. Assist with the provision of ongoing on-the-job training and/or coaching for Grounds Maintenance Assistants, Apprentices, external contractors and trainees. Carry out tasks that may require specialist skills or be physically demanding. Operate and maintain, specialist equipment and tools such as polesaw hedge trimmer ride on mower, pedestrian mower. Carry out standard tasks and checks according to statutory guidance and procedures, completing logs and records for evidence of compliance. Safely use a wide range of hazardous materials, such as flammable liquids, pesticides, herbicides, etc., as instructed and in accordance with appropriate safety instructions. Drive University vehicles, transporting equipment around the site including tractor and trailer Use your experience and problem-solving skills to investigate and resolve day-to-day issues with things relevant to your role and source background information to help your team find solution. Follow and provide guidance on health and safety requirements which are relevant to your role. Log and record any routine information. Use an electronic Planon system to store work progression. Assist in the recording of flora and fauna discovered on the estate. Help monitor and replenish stock levels and carry out stock and inventory checks.

Teamwork/Liaison and Supervision

Help and cooperate with the rest of your team, including the completion of annual statutory safety and maintenance checks. Supervise and delegate tasks to other members of the team and ensure they have been completed. Help your colleagues to organise and plan workload and deadlines. Prepare for events/meetings and contribute to team planning activities to ensure the smooth running and timeframe of the service. Assist team members with the review and update of risk assessments, method statements and any other health and safety-related documentation. Help to move, set-up and maintain any equipment or tools. Learn new skills and practices from more experienced colleagues. Bring any problems to the attention of more senior colleagues. Help your colleagues when required with other key activities undertaken within your service.

Communication/Personal

Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values. Respond to routine requests for information using initiative to assess the work and prioritise for completion, escalating as appropriate. Use digital devices and apps (such as email) to communicate with students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role. Liaise with staff in other areas to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way. Liaise with external suppliers, contractors, and professional specialists, to pass on information. Any other reasonable duties.

Please note that, in submitting your application, Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement, https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.


When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.