Grounds Operative
Grounds Operative | Full-Time | Permanent Post | From September 2025
If you enjoy working outdoors and want to develop your skills and experience in groundskeeping, working with a supportive team, this is an exciting opportunity to join the Grounds Department at St Edward’s.
As a Grounds Operative, you will be working across the School’s large and picturesque 100-acre estate, undertaking routine maintenance work on the School grounds and lawns, residential areas and sports surfaces.
This will include preparing and mowing sports pitches, maintaining hedges and planting, as well as general turf care, pruning and maintaining footpaths and collecting litter.
While prior experience is valued, a genuine interest in grounds work or gardening is essential. It is an ideal position for those looking to grow in the field or transition from a related trade.
Benefits of working at St. Edward’s
- 30 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays (with time off in lieu for any bank holidays worked)
- Closure over Christmas and New Year
- Free membership to the Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Gym
- Free meals during term time
- Support for CPD and further qualifications
- A friendly and inclusive working environment
- Free meals
- Free car parking
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee assistance programme
- Defined contribution pension scheme with Scottish Widows (The standard employee contribution rate is 5% with the employer contributing 8%)
A full job description is available below:
Full job description for the role of Grounds Operative
Application forms can be found in the blue ‘useful links’ box to the right, or below, depending on your device. Completed forms should be emailed to recruitment@stedwardsoxford.org or posted to Recruitment, St Edward’s School, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7NN.
The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 28th July 2025.
We reserve the right to conduct interviews and appoint for the role before the advertised closing date should a suitable candidate be found. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.
St Edward’s does not accept applications from recruitment agencies.
St Edward’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we aim to create and maintain a safe environment for our pupils, where they feel respected and supported. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to become familiar with our policies and procedures for child protection and security. All staff are required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
St Edward’s School is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on age, race, sex, religion, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic. Please see our Equal Opportunities & Dignity at Work policy on our website for further details.
Registered Charity No: 309681