Due to the continuing growth of our busy Grounds and Gardens department, we have vacancies for two Grounds and Gardens Operatives. The department is responsible for the maintenance of 76 acres split between the Upper School, Prep School, Pelican School, Porson Road sports field, and the Perse Playing Fields at Abington. Using the department vehicles, the team works flexibly across all sites. The role will involve maintaining the day to day upkeep of the hard and soft areas of the grounds and gardens, ensuring that the sports pitches are safe and fit for use and that all areas appear well maintained at all times, across all sites. This will include work on flower beds, pots, baskets and any other planted areas.

Grounds and Gardens Operative

These roles can be offered as full time or part time, and an apprenticeship is available, along with CPD training opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintenance of the sports turf including cutting, rolling, strimming, scarifying, aerating, watering, seeding, top dressing etc
• Assisting with gardens work including planting, weeding, pruning, watering etc
• Marking out of the pitches including erection of goals/nets, corner flags and boundary markers in line with the School calendar
• All aspects of cricket pitch preparation, maintenance, marking and renovation
• Maintenance of paths, borders, hedges and roadways
• Leaf clearance and removal
• Early morning clearance of snow and ice from the pathways, pavements and roadways to ensure safe access for pedestrians and vehicles
• Early morning and late afternoon gritting and salt application
• Maintenance of artificial all-weather surfaces
• Minor machinery maintenance
• Trees/shrub planting and maintenance as required
• Maintenance of bark chipped areas including reapplication and sweeping
• Keeping records up to date as required by the Head of Grounds and Gardens

Benefits

• Competitive salary of up to £30,915 (dependent on skills and experience)
• Membership of a Group Personal Pension Scheme with employer contributions of 13.75% of pensionable salary
• Death in service benefits of three times salary
• Free staff lunch provided during term time and certain periods of the school holidays
• Free access to the school gym and swimming pool with certain time restrictions

The Perse School Cambridge is one of the country’s leading independent co-educational day schools for children aged 3-18.

Our aim is to be a leading employer of choice. This means we strive to be a school where staff say they are proud and excited to work, and feel valued, respected and motivated.

We are committed to providing a very competitive salary and benefits scheme at the same time as offering a wide range of opportunities for personal and professional development. We want our staff to feel engaged and purposeful so that they, in turn, help pupils to be happy and successful.

Further details including how to apply can be obtained from our website: https://www.perse.co.uk/work-with-us/

Closing date: Tuesday 24^th March at midday but applications will be considered as they are received; The Perse School reserves the right to make an appointment before the closing date.

The School actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

Safer Recruitment

The Perse School recognises that an important element in safeguarding our pupils is a robust recruitment process that incorporates measures to deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children, or who are otherwise unsuited to work with them. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including: references from previous employers, a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level, as well as eligibility to work in the UK (in compliance with UK immigration regulations). All work carried out at the School on a regular basis amounts to regulated activity.  This role is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. The School is committed to acting in the best interests of the child so as to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The School requires everyone who comes into contact with children and their families to share this commitment. Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates’ suitability to work with children.