Maintenance Operative

Maintenance Operative

Location: Doncaster

Salary: £23,795.20 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week (Monday 6:30am-3:00pm, Tuesday – Friday 7:30am-4:00pm)

Our client seeks to employ a Grounds Maintenance Operative to join their enthusiastic, vibrant, and hardworking team.  As one of only two specialist horse racing colleges in the UK, this third sector provider delivers training for people in both racing and other equine industries. 

Located in the scenic grounds of a private estate near Doncaster, it achieved Ofsted Grade 2 for overall effectiveness and Grade 1 for both Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development in December 2022.

The Role

As a Grounds Maintenance Operative your primary responsibilities involve the upkeep of the college grounds, including green spaces, woodchip gallop, fibre sand arena and paddocks. Additionally, you will be expected to be proficient in the operation of various tools and machinery, such as tractors, trailers, strimmer’s, blowers, and pedestrian/ride on mowers. 

The work entails working outside in changing and inclement weather conditions and at times it can be physically demanding.

Key Responsibilities

• To undertake the full range of grounds maintenance duties as instructed by your line manager.
• Horticultural operations, general grass cutting, strimming, and spraying of herbicides.
• Hedge cutting, irrigation, edge reformation.
• Litter picking operations.
• Weed control.
• Fencing repair and maintenance
• Stocking of barns fields with hay straw and haylage.
• Prepare the surfaces of the indoor school, gallop, and ménages (including harrowing and raking) for daily use for training purposes.
• To work as part of a team with the aim of ensuring productive and professional relationships within team, with other employees, managers, clients, and external agencies
• Ensure hand/power tools and grounds maintenance equipment, machinery and vehicles in your charge are secure, in good working order, carry out routine maintenance and refer major mechanical problems to your line manager.
• Undertake regular checking and reporting of the physical infrastructure of the site including paths and facilities surfaces.
• Assist with hard and soft landscaping projects including preparation of land for seeding planting including trees/shrubs and other general landscaping operations where appropriate.
• Report other defects/damage regarding the site to a line manager.
• Attend staff meetings and specific project meetings.
• Participate in on-the-job or other training/development courses to improve ability and effectiveness to carry out duties and completion of training notifications.
• Comply with all company and site procedures and regulations.
• Ensure an efficient and effective response to incidents/emergencies and maintain effective liaison with colleagues and external services.
• Ensure that you observe safety procedures and use safe working practices specifically with regard to COSHH and Risk Assessments, reporting accidents and near misses to your line manager.
• To undertake any other duties that may be required within your area of your responsibility.

This list is not exhaustive.

Skills and Experience

• Knowledge or experience in spraying with PA1/PA6 certification is desirable.
• Completion of a horse handling course in a similar setting (Desirable, but full training can be provided for the right candidate)
• Hold an appropriate ground qualification or have proven grounds experience (at least 1-year)
• Amenity tractor with trailed implements and loader qualification (Or be prepared to work towards and achieve this is essential)
• PA1 & 6 spraying qualifications (Desirable) 
• Full clean Driving Licence

Benefits

• Contributory pension scheme
• An initial holiday entitlement of 25 days plus Bank Holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Life Assurance (2 x salary)

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable company, then please do not hesitate in applying.

The selected applicant will be required to apply for an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. The College meets equality and diversity, health and safety and safeguarding children and young people requirements.