Groundsperson
The Grounds & Gardens Department
The Grounds team are responsible for the day-to-day management of the sports grounds, preparing pitches for the pupils, old boys of the College, and other external users. The department consists of five grounds staff and four gardeners. The Head Groundsman is responsible for the department and reports to the Estate Bursar who is the Head of Department.
The department is based in Kingsgate Road and maintains a wide variety of sports facilities to a very high standard, including football pitches, cricket squares, grass tennis courts and various artificial surfaces. In addition, the College campus covers many acres of land including fine mown areas, ornamental gardens and lawns, gardens within the boarding houses, and water meadows.
Essential requirements
Enthusiastic and hardworking
A willingness to learn and develop personal skills
At least two years’ experience working in similar role
Experience in the use of a range of grounds machinery and garden tools.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate well with all staff and pupils on an appropriate level.
A commitment to the Safeguarding and wellbeing of pupils.
An understanding of health and safety issues appropriate to school grounds and sports maintenance.
The ability to work as part of a team or on their own
Physically capable of undertaking the work required.
Desirable Qualifications and Personal Qualities
An appropriate qualification such as the level 2 Certificate in sports and amenity turf maintenance or equivalent.
Experience of safe and effective use of fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and insecticides.
PA1 and PA6 spraying certificate.
First aid qualified
Terms of Service
Start Date
As soon as soon as possible.
Hours of Work
Monday - Friday: 40 hours per week, with 60 minutes for lunch and 10 minutes morning break. The Groundsperson will be expected to work some weekends as requested by the Head Groundsman
Salary
Up to £24,000 (gross) per annum. Salary is paid monthly, in arrears, to a nominated bank account in 12 equal payments. Salary levels are reviewed on 1 September annually.
Uniform
Certain items of uniform will be provided, including polo shirts and sweatshirts. All items must be kept clean and in good repair; laundering will be the responsibility of the individual.
Holidays
The College leave year runs from 1 September to 31 August. This role will be entitled to the statutory holiday requirement which is presently 28 days. Any Public Bank Holiday occurring during term time is deemed a normal working day. All leave must be taken by prior arrangement with the Estate Bursar, and for which four weeks’ notice is required. Generally, staff are discouraged from taking holidays during school holidays as the major work load is when the College properties are empty, some exceptions being made when staff have school age children.
Probation and Notice Periods
The first four calendar months of employment will be a probationary period. During this period conduct and performance will be reviewed. The College may extend the probationary period if it is deemed to be required. During the probationary period the notice required to terminate employment will be one week (by either the employee or employer). The notice period will increase to one month upon the successful completion of the probationary period.
Pension and Life Cover
On employment, employees will be auto-enrolled into the College’s pension scheme according to legislative thresholds. Those who are not eligible for auto-enrolment may still elect to join the College’s pension scheme.
Initially, when joining the College’s pension scheme, employees will become a member of the College’s Group Personal Pension Plan (GPP). For this Plan, known as Tier 1, the employee contributes 5% and the employer 3%.
After 9 month’s membership of the Tier 1 plan employees may opt to join Tier 2, which is also a Group Personal Pension Plan and the contributions are 5% from the employee and a 9% contribution from the College.
Employees in Tier 1 automatically qualify for a Life Cover of 2 times salary. On entry to Tier 2 Life Cover changes to 4 times salary.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check
Winchester College is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children at the school. Therefore, this appointment will be subject to a successful Enhanced Disclosure Barring check. This will provide details of convictions, reprimands, warnings, cautions and bind overs as per the DBS filtering guidance. A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, and information about DBS filtering, is available upon request from the HR Department if required. The college may approach previous employers to seek verification, in addition to obtaining references provided by the candidate.