Southend-on-Sea City Council is a unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community.
We employ around 1,800 staff who work alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the council’s vision of being part of a modern, vibrant coastal city that values its heritage. Southend itself is a vibrant place to live and work, offering coastal living alongside excellent and fast transport links into London.

Working for Southend-on-Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovative environment. As a Unitary Authority, we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from regulatory services, transport, public health, and parks through to planning, social services, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Service Manager – Gardens and Horticulture to lead the service in an interim capacity (3 months).

As a service manager, you will lead, develop and manage the gardening and horticulture services, including the golf course and outdoor sports pitches, ensuring high-quality parks and open spaces are delivered efficiently and effectively. You will lead and manage staff undertaking a variety of operational activities across parks and open spaces, including the golf course and sports pitches.

You will provide strong leadership and direction to staff, developing their skills and knowledge, managing performance and encourage a culture of collaborative and customer-focussed working. In this role, you will ensure appropriate conduct at all times and maximise financial and environmental sustainability whilst ensuring compliance and adherence to all relevant health and safety standards, including risk assessments, safe methods of work, and regular testing and maintenance.

Although this contract is offered on a hybrid basis, the post holder will predominantly be out and about visiting various sites.

To be successful in this role, proven experience in managing parks / recreational services / Greenspace service / operation management etc. is essential for this role. It is essential that you possess excellent people management skills and that you are able to foster effective partnerships working with team, the community and key stakeholders.

Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills are crucial to being successful in this role. You need to have extensive demonstrable experience in the management of a similar service within the area of green space and a working knowledge of parks, open space and park ranger service operations, conservation, maintenance and management principles.

Qualifications in horticulture, parks or landscape management or equivalent/commensurate experience are essential for this role.

Your application will not be considered if you do not have a full and clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle, as you will be required to travel across sites.

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV. Please note that applications for this vacancy may close before the advertised date, so you are advised to apply as soon as possible.

The Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age, or religion or belief.