Foreperson Plant Operator Grave Digger - REQ000162

Job title: Foreperson Plant Operator Gravedigger

Salary: C3 £29,777 - £31,364

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Cemeteries (2 x Vacancies)

As a Foreperson Plant Operator Gravedigger, you’ll thrive on leading a highly skilled team of dedicated Plant Operators / Gravediggers and be part of the wider diverse council where you will have prospects to succeed. Best City Ambition

The successful candidate will be a highly flexible, well-motivated self-starter who possesses excellent communication skills and a commitment to providing the highest level of service to the bereaved. This post will include evening and weekend work on a rota as overtime to provide an out of hours burial service.

As a Foreperson Plant Operator Gravedigger, you will be responsible for training, mentoring, and managing staff as well as operating a range of plant, vehicles, and other machinery, dealing with the public and Funeral Director enquiries.

Post holders will be expected to achieve ICCM Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme (COTS) part 1, part 2a and 2b as part of workplace development. The applicant must have previous experience in in the use of excavator machinery, JCB 2CX or similar. Experience in the use of powered plant and equipment and related health and safety requirements, Due to the sensitive nature of the post, the post holder will need to be able to display a calm and sympathetic attitude, particularly when dealing with the bereaved.

It is also essential that the post holder can work flexibly across different work locations in all weathers and areas as appropriate. Some of the duties may include showing people around cemeteries and may involve walking on undulating terrain, including occasionally supervising burials. Some lone working may be required.

It is essential that the post holder is willing to travel and work at any of the 24 cemeteries within Leeds.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Foreperson Plant Operator Gravedigger, you will bring to the role:

The ability to supervise a small team of staff to create a culture that reflects our core values.
To prioritise the workload and respond to changing circumstances, to create an excellent working environment for your team, allowing them to provide a first-class service.
As a team player you will demonstrate compassion and the desire to make a difference every day as part of a team and on own initiative without direct supervision
You will play a major role in the hands-on day to day operation to locate and organise the preparation of graves for excavation
To use plant, vehicles, and other machinery safely.

About the role

As our next Foreperson Plant Operator Gravedigger, you’ll, be part of a larger team responsible for providing an outstanding front line customer service delivery to the bereaved and our stakeholders.

You will work closely with contractors, stakeholders and other employees of Leeds City Council and create close working relationships with all.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.

A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please Jason Kaye, Principal Bereavement Services Officer Call 01133786002 or email bereavementservices@leeds.gov.uk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL - Job Description

Job Purpose:

To assist in the provision of an efficient bereavement service to the public of Leeds, through the digging and backfilling of graves using excavator machinery or hand digging methods and to undertake other duties to support the maintenance of cemeteries.

Responsibilities:

To liaise with the Assistant Bereavement Service Officer and Principal Bereavement Services Officer on the funerals booked and ensure that the graves are prepared for this time.
To assist with the programming of works to be carried out.
To locate and organise the preparation of graves for excavation.
To issue work instructions to Plant Operator Grave Digger staff.
To supervise Plant Operator Grave Digger staff to ensure tasks are completed when required and in accordance with the Health and Safety policies.
To prepare sites and undertake the digging and backfilling of graves, working to specified tolerances using excavator machinery or by hand, often without direct supervision and without damaging adjacent memorials, headstones and graves.
To operate a range of plant, vehicles, and other machinery safely, in line with training and safe systems of work and be responsible for any of these allocated resources including daily vehicle/plant inspections, required routine operator maintenance (for example adjusting oil and water levels) and cleaning.
To ‘dress’ graves for burials and assist with graveside services and the disposal of cremated remains as required.
To carry out exhumations including all grave preparation and removal of interred remains.
To safely load and drive a vehicle and trailer combination when required (non-HGV).
To be available on a rota basis for an out to of hours burial service.
To keep accurate clerical and digital records of work undertaken.
To undertake grounds maintenance and manual labouring duties including litter clearing, removal of waste and floral tributes, topping up and levelling sunken graves and other duties as may be required to assist in the maintenance of cemeteries to the required standard.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

A full manual driving licence with BE entitlement
CPCS or NPORS or other certification in relevant excavator and plant types
Post holders will be expected to achieve ICCM Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme (COTS) part 1, part 2a and 2b as part of workplace development.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Ability to supervise a small team of staff.
Ability to prioritise workload and respond to changing circumstances.
Ability to use plant, vehicles, and other machinery safely.
Ability to undertake precision mechanical and hand digging in tight areas.
Ability to prepare areas for grave digging and backfilling.
Ability to drive a vehicle with a trailer (non-HGV)
Ability to undertake user maintenance of machinery, plant and equipment.
Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually and in groups and all appropriate levels.
Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative without direct supervision.
Ability to keep accurate clerical and digital records.
Ability to display a calm and sympathetic attitude, particularly when dealing with the bereaved.
Ability to undertake manual labouring duties.
Ability to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Knowledge of excavator machinery control mechanisms.
Knowledge of plant, vehicle, and other machinery maintenance and care.
Knowledge of current UK regulations in relation to towing and loading for road going vehicles.
Experience in the use of excavator machinery or JCB 2CX or similar.
Experience in the use of powered plant and equipment

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

Committed to continuous improvement.
Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.
To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development.
Understand and embrace our values, behaviours, and codes of conduct.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

ICCM Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme (COTS) part 1
ICCM Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme (COTS) part 2a and 2b
Experience in staff supervision
Experience driving with trailers and towed equipment.
Experience in the use of dumpers.

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