Job Details

Job introduction

Are you keen to have a positive impact on the future of urban parks and green spaces? Are you able to lead a team, focussed on efficiency and driven to achieve quality standards? Does the combination of working both indoors and outdoors appeal to you?  

This is an exciting opportunity for self-motivated individuals with initiative to experience working in the parks department of a vibrant, diverse and iconic city. 

We are seeking experienced team leaders who are dedicated to improving green spaces within an urban environment and to be key players within the Cityparks department. The right candidates will have a tenacious attitude to embrace their role, excellent communication, competent IT skills and the ability to lead and support amenity gardening teams.  Their roles will require real drive to enhance the quality of green spaces in Brighton & Hove. 

About the role

The city of Brighton & Hove has approximately 147 parks and gardens (covering 1,200 hectares), including seven award-winning Green Flag parks, that promote a positive image of the city.  The city’s parks and public open spaces are immensely popular with residents and tourists alike. 

The council’s City Parks department is responsible for maintaining all those public open spaces to a highly professional and safe standard. In addition, City Parks manages a number of grounds maintenance contracts for the council’s Housing, Highways, Schools and Cemeteries departments. 

Successful candidates will be one of seven Team Leaders each responsible for a section of the city.  

Within the city of Brighton & Hove the Parks department is responsible for maintaining 45 Parks and 250 green spaces, in addition, current contracts include highway verges, cemeteries, school playing fields & Housing.  

We are seeking to appoint three Team Leaders to take responsibility for managing a team of gardeners and planning and successfully implementing a programme of grounds maintenance works. 

Team Leaders work closely with and report to Operations Managers.  They will be required to follow instruction and corporate guidance but be able to lead their teams independently. 

Qualifications in Amenity Horticulture are essential and in staff management desirable. 

Experience in leading a team in a horticultural environment is essential. 

An ability to assess risk, have a competent understanding of Health & Safety and ensure the teams are following safe systems of work. 

The role requires a working knowledge of plants - identification, conditions and pruning management.  A working knowledge of lawn care, the ability to identify pest and disease and appropriate treatments. 

The role requires an experienced user of horticultural machinery to an extent that they can train staff in correct usage, working safely as a team when undertaking tasks involving machinery and maintaining equipment. 

The successful candidates will be efficient, organised & personable. Skilled in prioritising workload, delegating according to SMART objectives.

There is an element of administration & a need for good written skills to communicate via email.  Team Leaders are expected to use IT systems to: input data, evidence H&S monitoring, training & staff development forms - the selected candidate will be confident in basic computing including Excel & Word. Training will be offered for inhouse systems. 

Post holders will be expected to uphold the council’s policy of dignity & respect and be an effective role model in behaviours relating to equalities, ensuring staff are aware & adhering to the policy. The Team Leaders liaise with: contractors, Council colleagues, elected members, Friends groups & volunteers. It is expected that communication is diplomatic and respectful. 

Although this is a team leading role the post holders must be prepared to work outdoors alongside staff in all weathers and be able to demonstrate resilience in challenging conditions. 

Candidates are required to hold a full UK driving licence. 

Contracted working hours are 37 per week, Monday to Friday. 

Contract: permanent, full-time 

Interview date: TBC

For an informal discussion, please call 01273 294751 or email cityparks@brighton-hove.gov.uk and leave a message for an Operations Manager to contact you. 

As part of your application, you will need to complete your education and work history and provide answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as they will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (Shortlisting questions guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk)) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

Work Permits: We may be able to obtain a Work Permit for this post but this is subject to meeting the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Points-based Immigration System. Please see Gov.uk for more information on the Skilled Worker Visa.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, male or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

We welcome applications from all sections of the community but particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, LGB, female or trans as these groups are currently under-represented in our Directorate workforce.

Files

• Gardener Team Leader - Job Description & Person Specification
• Applicant Cover Letter