The borough of Wandsworth has one of the richest varieties of open spaces in central London. Enable is a not-for-profit charitable organisation and the lead contractor employed by Wandsworth Borough Council to manage Leisure and Cultural services throughout the borough including the management and maintenance of 32 parks and open spaces.
The role of Parks Delivery Manager will test your existing skills and experience in contract management, grounds maintenance, ecology, biodiversity and groundsmanship as you deliver the highest quality of green space for residents and visitors to Wandsworth. You will understand the current pressures on urban greenspaces and will be able to contribute proactively to outcomes which support biodiversity, climate resilience and natural recovery.
The portfolio of green space you will be responsible for ranges from small pocket parks, housing sites, allotments, cemeteries, sports pitches, plus sites of regional importance in heritage and biodiversity such as Tooting and Wandsworth Commons and the iconic Grade II listed Battersea Park. You will be expected to oversee operations across this range of spaces, each with their own site-specific challenges while ensuring consistent cost control within set budgets.
You will be a leading member of the Parks team, taking overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of all parks operations including the delivery of the horticultural ground’s maintenance and playground service throughout the borough of Wandsworth.
The ideal candidate for this role will be someone who has a positive and supportive attitude, is action orientated, highly organised and able to manage multiple projects effectively, while also managing longer term strategic objectives.
Main responsibilities and Duties
- Responsible to the Head of Parks for all aspects of the day-to-day management of the Borough’s Parks and Open Spaces, Playgrounds, Cemeteries and highway amenity areas ensuring that horticultural grounds maintenance, litter picking, and sports pitch maintenance are carried out together with grave digging duties and cleaning contractor duties in accordance with the approved contract.
- Day-to-day management of the Parks Operations Team plus the oversight of a team of approx. 90 contracted grounds staff.
- Develop existing relationships with the contractor team, relevant industry bodies, sub-contractors and horticultural and amenity product suppliers to allow strategic leadership on all aspects of managing the horticultural operation and the provision of an exemplar service.
- In collaboration with colleagues you will be responsible for ensuring the management of all water bodies and fishing lakes.
- Carry out routine monitoring of the Horticultural Maintenance and Cleaning Contractors performance ensuring compliance with the contract specifications and the clients’s guidelines.
- Monitor all instructed parks project works through to completion approving sign off where necessary, providing assessments and/or financial reports when required.
- Maintain and develop strong working relationships with the Contractor’s Senior Managers, facilitate and chair regular review meetings to assess operational performance, plan future works, evaluate outputs and implement processes in order to seek service efficiencies and improvements.
- Ensures that customer complaints and queries relating to parks operations are investigated and dealt with promptly, answer Freedom of Information requests and day to day queries from colleagues, clients and the general public.
- Work collaboratively with the Parks Development Team on future improvement projects, providing technical and horticultural advice when required. Assist with the procurement of contractors and materials for improvement projects and assist with project delivery.
- Liaise with external organisations including Network Rail, utility providers, landowners and stakeholders that carry out works on or adjacent to Parks and Open Spaces to ensure minimal disruption/impact and to ensure the safety of users at all times.
- Attend meetings and provide technical advice and support for colleagues in relation to grounds maintenance and protecting green infrastructure where Events and Filming take place within parks and open spaces.
Top 8 deliverables for the role
- Management and leadership of a diverse and skilled team to deliver high quality services in our Parks, Commons and Open Spaces.
- Ensure the cost-effective operation of the Parks, Play and Cemeteries contracts, which have a current value of approx. £3.5m p/a.
- Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability when identifying innovative solutions to the challenges and problems that arise during the day-to-day running of the GM contract and management of Wandsworth’s Parks and Open Spaces.
- Ensure that all park operations observe all established Health and Safety requirements and other regulations ensuring a safe environment for the contractor team, public and park users at all times.
- Provide specialist advice to our client, Wandsworth Borough Council, and provide them with exceptional customer service while supporting the delivery of their projects.
- Overall responsibility to maintain and develop records of the infrastructure in Wandsworth's Greenspaces, and work closely with the Parks Development team to apply for appropriate fundings.
- Have a diverse knowledge of Grounds Maintenance, with an emphasis on biodiversity, horticulture, sports facilities, cemeteries, and sustainability.
- Develop strong working relationships with partners, including stakeholder groups that represent their local greenspaces.
Person Specification
- Qualified to degree level and/or with significant relevant experience in the landscaping and/or horticultural sectors.
- Previous senior contract, operational management or frontline service delivery experience.
- Comprehensive understanding of amenity horticulture, processes and equipment.
- Able to develop excellent working relationships with clients and stakeholders and provide an unrivalled customer experience.
- Experience managing sub-contracted or direct labour in the horticultural, maintenance or landscaping sectors.
- Experience working collaboratively with and providing support to internal departments.
- An awareness of the needs of a range of users, stakeholders and partners in a parks and open spaces setting.
- Commercially aware; able to prepare budgets, forecasts and manage costs.
- Maintain existing and develop new strategic relationships
- A positive “can-do” approach with the ability to manage multiple live projects.
Benefits
- 30 Days Annual Leave (Plus bank holidays)
- Enhanced Maternity / Paternity leave
- Pension Scheme
- Life Insurance
- Eyecare Vouchers
- Free Gym membership
- On-site shower facilities
- Quarterly all-staff social
- Season Ticket Loan
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Reward hub
- Weekly Wellbeing Hour
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