Parks Operative (Driver)
📍 Location: Ballyearl / Antrim Area 

💷 Pay Rate: £13.69 per hour
🕒 Hours: Full-Time, 37 hours per week
📅 Working Pattern: Monday to Thursday, 8:00am – 4:00pm | Friday, 8:00am – 3:30pm
📄 Duration: Temporary positions available from June to August 2026 (with one position available until September 2026)
🚀 Start Date: ASAP

⏰ Application Deadline: Monday 8th June 2026 at 5:00pm

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for a number of Parks Operative (Driver) positions on behalf of a large public sector organisation.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a busy Parks Service team, helping to maintain and enhance parks, open spaces, sports facilities, cemeteries, woodlands, and public areas across the Borough. The successful candidates will undertake a variety of grounds maintenance, horticultural, and driving duties while contributing to the delivery of high-quality public services.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out grounds maintenance and horticultural work across parks, open spaces, sports pitches, cemeteries, and recreational facilities.
• Operate and maintain a range of vehicles, machinery, tools, and plant equipment safely and effectively.
• Undertake grass cutting, hedge trimming, planting, pruning, seeding, turf laying, watering, spraying, and fertiliser application.
• Perform routine maintenance activities including litter collection, sweeping, leaf collection, gritting, snow clearance, and general site upkeep.
• Conduct daily vehicle and equipment safety inspections and complete required records.
• Assist with maintenance of synthetic sports facilities and Council-owned grounds.
• Support cemetery operations as required.
• Provide support for Council events and community activities.
• Engage professionally with members of the public and respond appropriately to enquiries.
• Adhere to all health and safety procedures and Council policies.

Essential Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate:

• A full current driving licence and willingness to obtain C1+E entitlement within 9 months of appointment (funded by the organisation), or a provisional licence with willingness to achieve a full licence and C1+E entitlement within 9 months.
• A Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification card, or willingness to obtain this within 9 months (funded).
• An NVQ Level 1 in Amenity Horticulture, or willingness to achieve this within an agreed timeframe (funded).
• Experience working as part of a team.
• At least 3 months’ experience dealing with queries from members of the public.
• Knowledge of grounds maintenance techniques and health and safety requirements.
• A flexible and positive approach to work.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and undertake physically demanding duties.

Desirable Criteria

• C1+E driving entitlement.
• Qualification in professional grass-cutting equipment.
• PA1 and PA6A pesticide application qualifications.
• Road management or traffic control qualification.
• NPTC chainsaw certification.
• At least 6 months’ experience in horticultural or grounds maintenance work, including planting and flowerbed maintenance.
• Knowledge of horticultural materials, shrubs, bedding plants, and landscaping techniques.

What You’ll Receive

• Full-time hours with an early Friday finish.
• Funded training and qualification opportunities.
• Valuable experience within a public sector environment.
• Opportunity to work across a variety of outdoor locations and facilities.
• Weekly pay.
• Paid annual leave.

If you wish to apply or would like to find out more, please email your CV to Julie at julie.skelly@applerecruitment.com as soon as possible.

Please note that only applicants who meet the essential criteria will be considered. Apple Recruitment Services is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.