Parks and Natural Environment Assets Manager

Why This Role? Why Southwark?

Southwark is home to some of London’s most treasured parks and green spaces, with over 100 sites across the borough, including woodlands, cemeteries, recreation grounds, and a marina. We are committed to sustainability, accessibility, and excellence in public service, ensuring our natural environment thrives for future generations. We take pride in our Green Flag Award status, recognising our commitment to high standards in management, environmental performance, safety, and visitor facilities. This is a fantastic achievement, and as our Parks and Natural Environment Asset Manager, you will play a vital role in maintaining and enhancing these outstanding spaces. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the transformation and management of Southwark’s natural assets, ensuring they remain safe, financially sustainable, and welcoming for all. Lead, Innovate, and Deliver Impact

We are looking for an inspiring leader with a passion for environmental asset management and the strategic vision to enhance our parks, marina, and bereavement services. You will be responsible for:
✅ Acting as the landlord to an extensive portfolio of land and property assets, ensuring compliance, financial sustainability, and service excellence.
✅ Driving strategic procurement and negotiations, overseeing contracts, leases, and service agreements.
✅ Leading and developing teams, ensuring the effective delivery of marina and bereavement services.
✅ Ensuring health & safety compliance, delivering robust monitoring frameworks across all assets.
✅ Leading major projects, including the transformation of South Dock Marina Boatyard.

Key Skills We’re Looking For
✔ Leadership & Project Management: Proven experience leading teams and delivering complex and sensitive projects.
✔ Strategic Asset & Property Management: Expertise in managing large-scale land and property portfolios, leases, contracts, and compliance.
✔ Stakeholder Engagement & Negotiation: Strong ability to build partnerships, lead negotiations, and influence key decisions.

What We Offer
- Shape the Future of Southwark’s Green Spaces – Lead innovative projects that enhance our natural environment.
- A Dynamic and Supportive Workplace – Work in a forward-thinking council committed to community and environmental sustainability.
- A Great Place to Work & Live – Southwark’s vibrant culture, excellent transport links, and diverse communities make it an exciting place to be.

How to Apply
Please upload your full employment history CV, highlighting key achievements, along with a supporting statement addressing the shortlisting criteria outlined in the person specification.

Additional salary details

From flexible working to job sharing, we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance.

Rewards & Benefits • 33 days of annual leave (rising to 36 with service) + bank holidays Generous local government pension scheme Cycle-to-work & season ticket loan schemes Flexible working opportunities Wellbeing support, employee assistance, and professional development Ready to Lead the Future of Southwark’s Natural Spaces? If you’re a visionary leader with the expertise to shape Southwark’s parks and environmental assets, we want to hear from you!

Additional, this post attracts an additional JNC financial benefits package of £2,724 per annum (pro-rata, April - March).

This is a full-time role which requires some evening and weekend working.

Recruitment timetable

Closing date: Sunday 27 April 2025
Interview date: Thursday 8 May 2025

Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

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.

Attachments

• Click here to view the Job description and Person specification