Grounds Person

Grounds Person
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Post Details

Full time
Open ended

The closing date for applications is midnight on Thursday 04 April 2024
Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 16 April and Wednesday 17 April 2024

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

The Post

The post holder as a member of the Grounds Maintenance Division will maintain and further develop the University’s 330 acre estate which is designated within the Inventory of Gardens of Historic Importance. The landscape makes a significant contribution to University life and is used daily by our students, staff and the community for a wide range of academic, research, sporting and leisure activities. This unique landscape contributes greatly to enriching the University campus experience.

The post holder will report directly to the Assistant Grounds Maintenance Manager and will work with other grounds persons and apprentices efficiently, effectively and safely. The post holder should have an excellent understanding of turf management and maintenance requirements for sports facilities both natural and artificial surfaces including football, rugby and hockey pitches, tennis courts, running track and golf course. The post holder should also have experience in garden maintenance tasks including weeding, pruning trees & shrubs, hedge cutting, strimming, mulching borders and tree & shrub clearance. The post holder should also have good communication skills and the ability to work with a team and manage oneself.

Description of Duties

The following list of duties are not an exhaustive list of duties the post holder will undertake but to provide an overview of the type of activities the post holder will undertake on a daily basis:

• Golf course maintenance including grass cutting with pedestrian and ride on mowers, scarifying, aerating, topdressing, seeding, turfing, feeding and irrigating
• Football and rugby pitch maintenance including grass cutting with pedestrian and ride on mowers, scarifying, aerating, topdressing, divoting, seeding, turfing, feeding and line marking
• Maintaining ornamental and amenity grass areas around the campus including cutting, edging and strimming on a weekly basis and seasonal maintenance including scarifying, aerating, topdressing, seeding, turfing, feeding and irrigating
• Garden maintenance of external courtyards, arboretum, garden of time, residential and office block areas, this will include, weeding, planting, mulching, feeding, watering, pruning, hedge cutting, strimming
• Assisting with weekly maintenance of artificial sport surfaces including MUGA, clay tennis courts, running track, 3G football pitch and sand filled hockey pitch
• Assisting with erecting and dismantling football and rugby posts
• Assisting with setting up cross country runs for students and commercial clients
• Occasional plant nursery work including, raising hardy nursery stock plants from seed and cuttings, pricking out, potting on, division of plants, feeding and watering
• Loch and pond maintenance
• Spraying herbicides and algaecides and using biological control
• Maintain the grounds of the Universities external facilities
• Campus autumn & winter maintenance including, leaf clearing, hedge cutting, tree and shrub pruning and removal, re landscaping areas, removing ivy from walls, drainage instillations on sports areas, power washing golf tees and hard landscaped areas
• Winter road, path and car park maintenance including snow clearing and gritting manually and by mechanical means i.e. tractor plough and gritting machines. This will include out of hours winter snow clearance and gritting on a rotational basis
• Daily and weekly maintenance of vehicles and machinery
• Ensure the equipment used is safe and well maintained and report any defects to the Assistant Grounds Maintenance Manager
• Assist other members of the Grounds Maintenance team, the wider Estates and Campus Services team and other University Directorates and Faculties when required
• Assist in preparing for and staffing of events including graduation ceremonies, family welcome days, sports events, conferences, open days etc.
• Other duties will include sweeping, litter picking, emptying bins
• Carry out any other reasonable duties required to contribute to the work of the Directorate

The above duties will be carried out in accordance with all departmental and University health and safety policies and risk assessments for all duties performed daily. The post holder will be required to undertake task specific dynamic risk assessments on a daily basis. Health and safety training will be given as and when appropriate

The Grounds Maintenance Division form part of the Estates and Campus Services Directorate, the post holder during busy periods, events and emergency situations will require to work across the Directorate

Essential Criteria

• Hold a professional qualification to a minimum of level 2 in Groundsmanship, Greenkeeping or Horticulture
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Able to undertake a wide range of tasks due to demanding physical role of the post
• Hold a PA1 & PA6 NPTC spraying certificate
• Hold a current driving licence
• Ability to use a wide range of garden tools, machinery and vehicles including, strimmers, hedge cutters, blowers, pedestrian mowers, scarifiers, aerators, rotovators, utility vehicles with trailers, tractors with trailers and implements, ride on mowers and works vans
• Able to work as part of a team and on your own and be self motivated
• Be flexible to work out of hours
• Work on a rotation system for out of hours winter maintenance i.e. treating of ice and clearing snow on paths and roads
• Have an understanding of Health & Safety legislation including COSHH and Risk Assessments
• Computer literate and familiar with standard desk-top computing (MS Office etc.)
• Physical Effort/Working Conditions

The post requires a high degree of physical effort and an ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions at all times of the year.

NOTE: Grounds staff are required to respond to emergencies outside normal working hours e.g. tree clearing, flood works, snow clearing and gritting. The post holder will be required to carry out these duties and be on a rotation system with their colleagues for early morning and evening winter maintenance duties.

Desirable Criteria

• Hold a chainsaw certificate

About Us

Estates & Campus Services has responsibility for the longer-term development, maintenance, and day to day operation of the buildings and grounds which support and add value to the core activities of the University.  This involves providing professional, customer-focused services spanning the following activities with a view to maximising value and efficiency and ensuring that the quality of the estate contributes to the University’s overall reputation:

• Development of the estate in line with the strategic priorities of the University
• Maintenance of the building fabric, services and grounds
• All legislative requirements
• Energy management
• Grounds and sports facilities maintenance
• Security and the management of car parking
• Provision of reception and lost property services
• Safety, business continuity and environmental sustainability

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 30 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 140 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The University – also home to 1,700 staff – is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world for its campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two). Ranked first in the UK and top five in the world for its sports facilities (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), Stirling is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. Its world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University’s sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

The University is a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and a central partner of the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni

Job number

SERV01886

Contract Type

Open Ended

Posting End Date

04-Apr-2024

Location:

Stirling Campus

Grade

Grade4 £22,681-£24,533 p.a.

Faculty/Service

Estates and Campus Services

Post Details

Full time
Open ended

The closing date for applications is midnight on Thursday 04 April 2024
Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 16 April and Wednesday 17 April 2024

There is an expectation that work will be undertaken in the UK.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship. Applicants require to have existing right to work in the UK.

The University of Stirling recognises that a diverse workforce benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers and welcome applications from those who would contribute to further diversification of our staff and ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is woven into the substance of the role. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds including gender, identity, race, age, class, and ethnicity.

The Post

The post holder as a member of the Grounds Maintenance Division will maintain and further develop the University’s 330 acre estate which is designated within the Inventory of Gardens of Historic Importance. The landscape makes a significant contribution to University life and is used daily by our students, staff and the community for a wide range of academic, research, sporting and leisure activities. This unique landscape contributes greatly to enriching the University campus experience.

The post holder will report directly to the Assistant Grounds Maintenance Manager and will work with other grounds persons and apprentices efficiently, effectively and safely. The post holder should have an excellent understanding of turf management and maintenance requirements for sports facilities both natural and artificial surfaces including football, rugby and hockey pitches, tennis courts, running track and golf course. The post holder should also have experience in garden maintenance tasks including weeding, pruning trees & shrubs, hedge cutting, strimming, mulching borders and tree & shrub clearance. The post holder should also have good communication skills and the ability to work with a team and manage oneself.

Description of Duties

The following list of duties are not an exhaustive list of duties the post holder will undertake but to provide an overview of the type of activities the post holder will undertake on a daily basis:

• Golf course maintenance including grass cutting with pedestrian and ride on mowers, scarifying, aerating, topdressing, seeding, turfing, feeding and irrigating
• Football and rugby pitch maintenance including grass cutting with pedestrian and ride on mowers, scarifying, aerating, topdressing, divoting, seeding, turfing, feeding and line marking
• Maintaining ornamental and amenity grass areas around the campus including cutting, edging and strimming on a weekly basis and seasonal maintenance including scarifying, aerating, topdressing, seeding, turfing, feeding and irrigating
• Garden maintenance of external courtyards, arboretum, garden of time, residential and office block areas, this will include, weeding, planting, mulching, feeding, watering, pruning, hedge cutting, strimming
• Assisting with weekly maintenance of artificial sport surfaces including MUGA, clay tennis courts, running track, 3G football pitch and sand filled hockey pitch
• Assisting with erecting and dismantling football and rugby posts
• Assisting with setting up cross country runs for students and commercial clients
• Occasional plant nursery work including, raising hardy nursery stock plants from seed and cuttings, pricking out, potting on, division of plants, feeding and watering
• Loch and pond maintenance
• Spraying herbicides and algaecides and using biological control
• Maintain the grounds of the Universities external facilities
• Campus autumn & winter maintenance including, leaf clearing, hedge cutting, tree and shrub pruning and removal, re landscaping areas, removing ivy from walls, drainage instillations on sports areas, power washing golf tees and hard landscaped areas
• Winter road, path and car park maintenance including snow clearing and gritting manually and by mechanical means i.e. tractor plough and gritting machines. This will include out of hours winter snow clearance and gritting on a rotational basis
• Daily and weekly maintenance of vehicles and machinery
• Ensure the equipment used is safe and well maintained and report any defects to the Assistant Grounds Maintenance Manager
• Assist other members of the Grounds Maintenance team, the wider Estates and Campus Services team and other University Directorates and Faculties when required
• Assist in preparing for and staffing of events including graduation ceremonies, family welcome days, sports events, conferences, open days etc.
• Other duties will include sweeping, litter picking, emptying bins
• Carry out any other reasonable duties required to contribute to the work of the Directorate

The above duties will be carried out in accordance with all departmental and University health and safety policies and risk assessments for all duties performed daily. The post holder will be required to undertake task specific dynamic risk assessments on a daily basis. Health and safety training will be given as and when appropriate

The Grounds Maintenance Division form part of the Estates and Campus Services Directorate, the post holder during busy periods, events and emergency situations will require to work across the Directorate

Essential Criteria

• Hold a professional qualification to a minimum of level 2 in Groundsmanship, Greenkeeping or Horticulture
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Able to undertake a wide range of tasks due to demanding physical role of the post
• Hold a PA1 & PA6 NPTC spraying certificate
• Hold a current driving licence
• Ability to use a wide range of garden tools, machinery and vehicles including, strimmers, hedge cutters, blowers, pedestrian mowers, scarifiers, aerators, rotovators, utility vehicles with trailers, tractors with trailers and implements, ride on mowers and works vans
• Able to work as part of a team and on your own and be self motivated
• Be flexible to work out of hours
• Work on a rotation system for out of hours winter maintenance i.e. treating of ice and clearing snow on paths and roads
• Have an understanding of Health & Safety legislation including COSHH and Risk Assessments
• Computer literate and familiar with standard desk-top computing (MS Office etc.)
• Physical Effort/Working Conditions

The post requires a high degree of physical effort and an ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions at all times of the year.

NOTE: Grounds staff are required to respond to emergencies outside normal working hours e.g. tree clearing, flood works, snow clearing and gritting. The post holder will be required to carry out these duties and be on a rotation system with their colleagues for early morning and evening winter maintenance duties.

Desirable Criteria

• Hold a chainsaw certificate

About Us

Estates & Campus Services has responsibility for the longer-term development, maintenance, and day to day operation of the buildings and grounds which support and add value to the core activities of the University.  This involves providing professional, customer-focused services spanning the following activities with a view to maximising value and efficiency and ensuring that the quality of the estate contributes to the University’s overall reputation:

• Development of the estate in line with the strategic priorities of the University
• Maintenance of the building fabric, services and grounds
• All legislative requirements
• Energy management
• Grounds and sports facilities maintenance
• Security and the management of car parking
• Provision of reception and lost property services
• Safety, business continuity and environmental sustainability

The University

The University of Stirling is committed to providing education with a purpose and carrying out research which has a positive impact on communities across the globe – addressing real issues, providing solutions, and helping to shape society. Stirling is 4th in Scotland and 43rd in the UK for research impact, with 87% of its research having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society – and more than 80% rated either world leading or internationally excellent (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

The University of Stirling is ranked among the top 30 UK universities for student satisfaction (National Student Survey) and top 30 in the UK for postgraduate student experience (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey), and has an overall five-star rating in the QS Stars University Ratings.

More than 17,000 students study with the University of Stirling globally, with over 140 nationalities represented on its scenic central Scotland campus alone. The University – also home to 1,700 staff – is ranked first in the UK and top three in the world for its campus environment (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two). Ranked first in the UK and top five in the world for its sports facilities (International Student Barometer 2022, wave two), Stirling is Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. Its world-class facilities provide the perfect training environment for the University’s sports scholars – many of whom compete at the highest level, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games – and for students, staff, and the wider community.

The University has twice been recognised with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize – the first for its Institute for Social Marketing and Health (2014) and the second for its Institute of Aquaculture (2019).

The University is a signatory to the £214 million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal and a central partner of the Forth Valley University College Health Partnership.
www.stir.ac.uk @stiruni

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