The Role:
The Parks Manager has primary responsibility for Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye Park and 46 satellite parks and open spaces in the South area, ensuring they are safe, well-maintained and provide a range of facilities.
Following a departmental review, an exciting opportunity has become available to join our high- performing and award-winning team who manage parks and open spaces in Southwark.
We achieve high levels of customer satisfaction and have a quality grounds maintenance contract in place. In addition, we have committed to significant investment of over £50m across our parks and leisure facilities, contributing to the wider health agenda for all residents.
We have award-winning parks with 30 Green Flags and are consistently ranked in the top five performing boroughs by Good Parks for London. Corporate business plan priorities include a focus on increasing habitat provision and making nature more accessible, tree planting and delivering services within the context of Southwark Stands Together and declared climate emergency.
The Parks Manager ensures that the parks and open spaces in the operational area are managed to maintain the standards of maintenance and to implement change to meet the developing needs of park users and the Council’s business plan priorities.
About Southwark:
Southwark is a large, ambitious and progressive council with a ‘can do’ attitude and enviable reputation. As a Council, we are successful, passionate and forward-thinking. We are committed to our ‘Fairer Futures for All’ promise which ensures that our residents and businesses are central to everything we do. If you want to make a difference at a local level, apply to Southwark Council today.
About You:
The ideal candidate will be a self-starter, highly motivated, enthusiastic, and committed to managing and delivering high quality public services. You will be a collaborative team player and keen to play your part in shaping the future of the parks and natural environment service with the ability to manage a small team of direct employees, contractual suppliers and consultants to deliver high quality services.
We are looking for candidates with experience of working in and managing major parks and open spaces and with knowledge and experience of horticulture and landscape management. Computer literacy and the ability to use Confirm and data capture in the field is important for this post.
Experience of asset and contract management and monitoring, the ability to manage contract governance and compliance and to be able to write and interpret work specifications is important. Knowledge of maintaining and developing parks through both revenue & capital projects and other development schemes is also important.
The post requires excellent communication, interpersonal and customer engagement skills and experience of being the front line point of contact with the public on site and dealing with complaints and enquiries from a variety of stakeholders including Councillors, key partners and friends of parks groups.
Additional Information:
• This is a full-time, permanent post
• 36 hours Monday to Friday
• The post holder may be required to work outside of normal working hours to meet the needs of the service
• The post holder may be required to work in other operational areas to meet the needs of the service.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Richard Diplock, Group Manager -Parks, Biodiversity and Trees on 07592 117674.
Additional salary details
Benefits and more information:
- https://www.jobsatsouthwark.co.uk/why-us/
- https://jobs.theguardian.com/minisites/southwark-council/life-at-southwark-benefits-and- more/
Recruitment timetable
• Closing Date: 5th March 2023
• Interview Date: 20th March 2023
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
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