NLGV Driver Operative - Grounds Maintenance

Job Description

Job Title: NLGV Driver Operative - Grounds Maintenance
Salary: £30,219 – £33,819 per annum (pro rata if part-time)
Grade: C
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week

We are seeking a NLGV Driver Operative to join the Grounds Maintenance Team. This post forms part of the new locality-based Clean & Green operational structure, delivering efficient, sustainable, and high-quality grounds maintenance services across the borough of Thurrock.

About the Role

As a NLGV Driver Operative, you will be responsible for:

• Carrying out a range of horticultural and grounds maintenance work ensuring that a high standard of grounds maintenance is achieved in parks, open spaces, housing areas, cemeteries and other council owned spaces supporting biodiversity, waste reduction, and sustainable grounds management.
• Working as part of an integrated Area Team delivering grounds maintenance across a defined locality.
• Providing grounds maintenance duties through daily work scheduling in line with required standards and ensuring compliance with all aspects of health and safety. Vehicles include, but are not limited to, vehicles 3.5t GVW and under including ride-on mowers.
• Working flexibly and as part of a team to provide excellent grounds maintenance services to the community.
• Collaborative working with Street Cleansing, Highways Maintenance, and Waste Collections teams to reflect the new integrated Clean & Green Structure.
• Ensuring that accurate records of work undertaken are maintained using digital systems and data-driven monitoring, e.g., Bartec, in-cab systems, or Power BI for performance management and reporting.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Willing to undertake outside working of a physical nature in all weather conditions
• Ability to work alone when required, with minimal supervision
• Ability to communicate clearly, simply and effectively to a range of audiences
• Good general education, including a good standard of numeracy and literacy
• Basic digital literacy – ability to use handheld or in-cab systems for task recording

Essential Qualifications:

• Category B driving licence
• Ability to drive and operate a range of non-LGV vehicles including vehicles under 3,500kg GVW and ride-on mowers
• Level 2 in Horticulture or equivalent qualification.
• Awareness of manual handling and safe lifting techniques
• Knowledge of basic maintenance and care of plant, equipment and vehicles

DBS Check: Not Required

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 19th November 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 29th November 2026

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Mark Norrington - Clean & Green Area Manager

Mnorrington@thurrock.gov.uk

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

If the Person Specification lists essential qualifications, please ensure you upload copies of your certificates to your application form.

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council