Grounds Supervisor

Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in the United Kingdom is seeking a Grounds Supervisor to oversee the maintenance of gardens and grounds. The role includes supervising a small team, planning daily tasks, and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards. Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills, significant plant knowledge, and relevant qualifications, including a spraying certificate. The position offers a salary range of £27,319 to £31,236 and a full-time commitment.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team.
• Experience managing staff and working outdoors.
• Knowledge of tools, equipment, and environmental techniques.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and work alongside a team to ensure high standards.
• Plan tasks and monitor quality, introducing new processes.
• Assist in seasonal planning and procurement of plants/materials.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Staff management

Biodiversity knowledge

Horticultural knowledge

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

GCSE standard or equivalent

HNC horticultural qualification or equivalent

Spraying certificate PA1 and PA6

IOSH Health & Safety qualification

Tools

PDA

Computer-Aided Facility Management systems

Handheld machines

Ride-on machines

Job description

# Grounds Supervisor*\* Role Introduction/ About the Role:*\*You will support the Grounds Maintenance team in keeping the University's gardens and grounds safe, attractive, and biodiversity-friendly, in line with our Biodiversity Action Plan. You will also contribute to ongoing renewal and refurbishment projects across the estate.**Key Responsibilities:**Supervise and work alongside a team of up to 3 staff, ensuring high standards.Plan and allocate daily tasks, monitor quality, and introduce new processes.Assist with seasonal planning, procurement of plants/materials, and record-keeping.Support induction and training of staff and manage welfare and performance issues.Liaise with departments and external contractors when required.Ensure safe storage and maintenance of tools/equipment and compliance with Health & Safety regulations.Conduct risk assessments and report hazards promptly.**Working Pattern:**This is a full-time, site-based or mobile role (not hybrid).* Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:00 am to 3:00 pm; Friday, 7:00 am to 2:30 pm* Breaks: 10:00 am to 10:30 am and 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm* Additional Requirements: Occasional weekend or out-of-hours work may be required by prior arrangement.**About you:*** For this role you will need strong interpersonal skills, influencing and negotiating skills which will help you with your ability to work within a team, plan and manage work activities, communicate and prioritise workloads.* You are able to demonstrate experience of managing staff, both at individual and team levels. You are able to demonstrate experience, knowledge and understanding of tools and equipment, of biodiversity and environmental techniques.* You will have a considerable plant knowledge and an understanding of pests and diseases. The relevant skills and knowledge across a wide scope of tasks related to grounds maintenance. Proficient experience in using Microsoft office, PDAs and Computer-Aided Facility Management systems (Invida)* Qualifications educated to at least GCSE standard or equivalent. A recognised horticultural qualification to HNC level or equivalent. A spraying certificate PA1 and PA6. An IOSH Health & Safety qualification or equivalent.* Additional requirements will include a full driving licence, including towing capability. Certification of training of various handheld machines and ride-on machines used in the grounds maintenance sector.* The ability to work in a wide range of environments, and highly changeable conditions working outdoors in all weathers, adapting and adjusting working practices to ensure safety of self and others.* The ability to maintain long periods of physically strenuous activity when the task requires it. To have highly detailed and developed skills to undertake precise physical movements involving fine degrees of control.Please be aware that a Full UK Driving Licence is essential for this role (a full EU Driving Licence is acceptable on appointment, but the successful applicant must transfer to a UK Licence prior to confirming a start date).Interviews will be held week commencing 26th January 2026.Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please email Estates Division on [e-mail] quote reference BA48392 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.### Department/location### Salary£27,319-£31,236### ReferenceBA48392### Category### Date published23 December 2025### Closing date13 January 2026