NLGV Driver Team Leader - Grounds Maintenance

Job Description

Job Title: NLGV Driver/Working Team Leader – Grounds Maintenance (3 posts)
Salary:  £33,531 - £38,052 per annum (pro rata if part-time) 
Grade: D
Contract Type: Permanent 
Working Hours: 37 hours per week 

About the Department 

The Clean & Green Service is responsible for maintaining and improving Thurrock's parks, open spaces, housing areas, cemeteries and public realm. Working within the new locality-based operational structure, our teams deliver high-quality environmental services that support cleaner, greener and safer communities.

This role forms part of an integrated service working closely with Street Cleansing, Highways Maintenance and Waste Collection teams to provide an efficient and responsive service across the borough.

About the Role 

As an NLGV Driver/Working Team Leader – Grounds Maintenance, you will be responsible for:

• Leading and motivating a locality-based team of grounds maintenance operatives.
• Ensuring high-quality grounds maintenance standards are achieved across parks, open spaces, housing estates, cemeteries and council-owned land.
• Allocating, monitoring and rescheduling tasks to ensure work is completed efficiently and within agreed timescales.
• Carrying out practical grounds maintenance duties including grass cutting, strimming, hedge maintenance, tree work and winter maintenance activities.
• Conducting quality inspections and ensuring compliance with service standards.
• Promoting and maintaining a strong health and safety culture across the team.
• Ensuring daily vehicle, equipment and PPE checks are completed and accurately recorded.
• Using digital work management systems to schedule work, record inspections and report completed tasks.
• Acting as the first point of contact for operational issues raised by staff, residents, councillors and partner services.
• Working collaboratively with other Clean & Green, Street Services and Waste Collection teams to deliver integrated environmental services.

This role offers the chance to make a real difference by helping to create and maintain attractive, safe and sustainable green spaces for residents and visitors across Thurrock.

What We’re Looking For 

We're looking for someone who has:

• Previous experience in grounds maintenance operations.
• Experience leading or supervising grounds maintenance, environmental or operational teams.
• Strong communication and motivational skills.
• The ability to allocate work, monitor performance and carry out quality inspections.
• Experience using grounds maintenance machinery and equipment, including ride-on and pedestrian mowers, strimmers, and hedge cutters.
• Competence in using digital or mobile systems for work scheduling and reporting.
• A proactive approach to health and safety and staff wellbeing.
• The ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• A flexible approach and commitment to excellent customer service.

Essential qualifications: 

• Full Category B Driving Licence. 
• Level 2 Horticulture qualification (or equivalent). 
• Chainsaw certification. 
• Woodchipper certification

Desirable qualifications: 

• Level 3 Horticulture qualification (or equivalent).
• PA1/PA6 Herbicide Application certification.
• First Aid qualification.
• Formal supervisory or leadership training (e.g. ILM Level 3 or equivalent).

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): 18th August 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 30th August 2026

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed 

Additional Information 

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

James Gatton, Acting Operations Manager  

[email removed]

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

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications. 

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