Grounds Team Operative

| Croydon Council

Location: Croydon

Salary range: Grade 5 (£33,012- £33,987) p.a.7

Full Time: Permanent

Closing Date: 12/04/2026

---

Job Description

Croydon Council is very proud of the service it provides through its Crematorium and 3 three Cemeteries .To help further improve our standards we are seeking to recruit to the following post: 

You will be joining a small and busy team. The main purpose of this role is grave digging either manually or by using mechanical excavators. You will be using large vehicles, trailers, heavy plant, hand tools, and other numerous types of equipment daily. Therefore you must be hardy and willing to work in all weather conditions 

Other responsibilities include the memorial safety programme of checking, testing, recording, repairing of memorials, assisting in the reclamation of graves and any other related horticultural maintenance duties.

This is a busy and highly manual role. Attention to detail is paramount in the provision of exceptional planning for our burial service; you must be fit and able to carry out grave digging and all other duties of the role; adopting safe working practices in everything you do. Using your initiative as needed and taking the lead as well as working as part of a team. 

In house training is provided, full commitment is expected with a view 

to successfully undertaking training and obtaining the ICCM (institute of Cemeteries Management) Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme (COTS) or equivalent, unless already attained.

You will also be required to assist and advise visitors throughout the cemeteries and crematorium service. You will be working in a flexible team of 4 Grounds Team Operatives and 1 Team Leader and will work at each of our three different sites. In Thornton Heath, Croydon and Warlingham.

A full UK driving license is essential, with C1 & C2 certification desirable; in order to drive larger vehicles with a trailer. Applicants without a driving licence will not be considered.

When applying online it is essential that you answer all the questions (1 to 22) in the job specification as this forms the application.

To view the Grounds Team Operative role profile please click here.

About Us

Croydon Council’s priorities

The Council balances its books, listens to residents, and delivers good sustainable services

• Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable
• Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities and businesses
• Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors
• Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice
• Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities

Key business plan outcomes:

• Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning
• Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential
• Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to call home
• People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer
• Croydon Council’s new ways of working

Equal Opportunities Statement

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.

Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.
The Successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.

How To Apply

To apply, please follow the link below. Good luck!