Open Space Team Member - Eastern Region

Role overview

Gympie Regional Council is seeking a full-time Open Space Team Member for the Eastern Region on a fixed-term basis of 9 months to cover maternity leave, with the assignment running through to April 2027. This hands-on position supports Council’s open space program by carrying out maintenance and construction work across a broad range of outdoor assets.

What the role involves

The work is varied and includes horticultural care, turf upkeep, mowing, operating plant and equipment, and truck driving. You will help maintain and improve Council’s open space assets in line with internal policies, procedures, and quality expectations.

The role forms part of a multi-skilled team responsible for the construction, upkeep, and enhancement of parks, reserves, sporting facilities, urban streetscapes, beaches, foreshores, and cemeteries. You will also assist other Open Space work groups when needed to support efficient service delivery across the wider function.

Key responsibilities

• Carry out horticultural maintenance tasks across parks and gardens, including garden beds, planting, pruning, mowing, and landscape construction.
• Apply practical knowledge of plant identification, plant care, garden design, and selection, including tree planting and maintenance.
• Manage turf maintenance activities such as mowing and brush cutting.
• Operate medium-sized plant, horticultural machinery, and other equipment safely and effectively.
• Perform work in a safe, competent, efficient, and timely way while following all Council safety policies and procedures.
• Maintain high presentation and quality standards across Council’s horticultural assets for community satisfaction.
• Support trainees, casual staff, and new employees by sharing guidance and practical information.
• Look for and recommend better ways of working as part of Council’s continuous improvement approach.
• Inspect and help maintain playgrounds, park furniture, and other open space assets.
• Contribute to cemeteries operations when required.

Knowledge, skills, and experience

You should bring solid horticultural knowledge gained from industry experience, along with hands-on capability in parks and gardens maintenance. Experience should include ornamental plant care, landscape construction, irrigation systems, pruning, tree maintenance, and turf management.

Comfort working both independently and as part of a team is important, as is the ability to build effective working relationships with Council staff. Strong communication and customer service skills are also required, along with a genuine commitment to safe work practices and a positive safety culture.

Additional information

The advertised remuneration is an annual salary starting at $74,376 and extending up to $75,342 depending on skills and qualifications, plus superannuation of up to 15%.

Extra benefits include health and wellbeing programs, salary sacrifice options, salary packaging arrangements, a fortnightly rostered day off, long service leave after seven years, access to Fitness Passport for discounted gym access for employees and their families, and an employee assistance program offering confidential counselling for employees and their families.

Applicants should note that only submissions made through Council’s online application system will be considered. Late applications will not be accepted, and applications from agencies that are not invited will not be reviewed.

Successful candidates will be required to complete checks including skills, qualifications, references, a medical assessment, and a national police check.

Gympie Regional Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from suitably qualified people, including First Nations people and candidates from diverse social, cultural, and gender backgrounds.

About the region

Gympie sits in a fast-growing region that reaches from rural valleys in the west to the Cooloola Coast. With links to Noosa, Fraser Coast, North and South Burnett, and Somerset local government areas, the region combines country charm, a strong rural lifestyle, local history, and well-known events such as the Gympie Music Muster. It also offers access to beaches, natural areas, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, and a high quality of life.

Application guidance

Applicants should review the position description, complete the requested details using a personal email address, and upload a resume, cover letter, and one document containing relevant qualifications, licences, or tickets. Candidates are advised to prepare written responses separately, save their work regularly, and keep each response to a maximum of 300 words.

For role-specific questions, contact Council’s Coordinator Open Space Maintenance, Rick Johnston, on 07 5481 0815 or by email at [email protected]. For help with lodging the application, contact Council’s Officer Recruitment, Sue Rossi, on 07-5481 0971 or by email at [email protected].

Values and selection approach

Applicants will be assessed on their understanding of Council values and how they have demonstrated them in previous work. The values are accountability, communication, customer service focus, integrity, teamwork, and collaboration.