Grounds Operative - Landscaping

About the Team

Southampton City Council manages numerous play areas, outdoor fitness stations, and public open spaces enjoyed by children, young people, families, and communities citywide. This role is vital in ensuring these amenities are secure, well-kept, and inspected according to appropriate standards. As part of the Green City and Infrastructure service, you will assist in the inspection, reporting, and oversight of play equipment, surfaces, ancillary assets, and public realm infrastructure.

Role Overview

The main duties include performing routine and recorded inspections of play zones, outdoor fitness equipment, and related public spaces across Southampton. You will identify defects and potential hazards, taking immediate action to secure equipment where needed and ensuring timely and accurate reporting of issues. Maintaining detailed inspection logs and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, industry expectations, and Council procedures is critical. Collaborative working with operational teams, contractors, and managers is essential to prioritize repairs, track progress, and continuously improve play area conditions. Acting as a professional and visible site representative, you will manage inquiries from residents, colleagues, and stakeholders with tact and responsiveness.

Candidate Profile

To excel in this position, candidates should have hands-on experience inspecting, maintaining, or managing play areas or similar outdoor facilities. Independent working skills, sound on-site risk assessment, decision-making capabilities, and accurate record keeping are needed. While holding a recognized play inspection certification like RoSPA or RPII is preferred, substantial relevant experience combined with eagerness to pursue further training will be considered. Excellent communication, a positive and practical attitude, and ability to handle a demanding inspection schedule at multiple sites are important.

Compensation and Benefits

The role offers a Grade 6 salary starting at £28,792 with annual incremental increases. It involves 39 working hours per week, Monday to Friday, with 2 hours accrued as Time Off in Lieu (TOIL), allowing flexible time management aligned with service needs.

The Council offers various benefits including:

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• Death in service payment equal to three times annual salary and optional additional voluntary contributions via salary sacrifice
• Annual leave ranging from 25 to 31 days depending on position and department
• Flexible working arrangements subject to role
• Supportive family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared/unpaid parental leave, and dependent leave
• Ongoing training, development opportunities, coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing resources such as Employee Assistance Program, mental health first aiders, menopause support, and staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer honoring the Armed Forces Covenant
• Access to retail discounts, fitness center memberships, and sustainable travel incentives like low emission car schemes and cycle-to-work programs
• Employee volunteering scheme offering 2 paid volunteering days annually

Contact Information

For informal enquiries regarding the team or the opportunity in Southampton, please contact Matthew Lovell at 07880474733.