Leading Estate Officer - Req24510

Job title: Leading Estate Officer 

Salary: £37336 - £40221

Hours: Your working week is 37 hours spread, 5 days over 7

Contract: Permanent 

Location: Based in the City Centre Aire Park Offices, but could be based anywhere within Leeds

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Parks and Countryside service of Leeds City Council for a Leading Estate Officer, based at Aire Park in the City Centre. 

Working as part of the Climate, Energy and Greenspaces team, you will demonstrate the council values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country. 

You will manage the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the City Centre Park. Manage the relationships, assets, and infrastructure to exceptional standards and in line with the agreed site management plans.

Flexibility and cross team working is required to support wider team workloads and future service developments.

The role will oversee all aspects of site management and health and safety, leading teams to deliver high quality work; you must have a proven ability to work to tight deadlines and able to prioritise your workload. This post is responsible for volunteers, the gardens and grounds team, and regular close working with our active community groups, key stakeholders and partners to ensure seamless delivery of events, projects and schemes.

The successful candidate will be a flexible, highly motivated individual who possesses excellent communication skills and a commitment to providing the highest level of service. Practical horticulture experience is preferred. 

A full, driving licence is essential and some lone working may be required.  You must be willing to work evenings or weekends where required, particularly when staging events.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Leading Estate Officer you will bring to the role:

• Experience of successfully managing and motivating employees and enabling them to deliver to their full potential. 
• An ability to plan and manage budgets effectively
• Knowledge and understanding of horticultural and grounds management
• Experience of identifying and managing risks and developing safe working practices 
• Experience of working and communicating with a broad range of people including ward members, businesses, and community groups 

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. 

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Isobel Smithy, Senior Estate Manager on Isobel.smith@leeds.gov.uk 

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
 
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job purpose 

Working as part of the Climate, Energy and Green Spaces team, you will demonstrate the council values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country. 

You will manage the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the City’s Estate Parks. Manage the relationships, assets, and infrastructure to exceptional standards and in line with the agreed site management plans.

Flexibility and cross team working is required to support wider team workloads and future service developments.

Responsibilities 

• To assist in the preparation and implementation of site management plans and oversee a programme of improvement works at the City’s Estate Parks 
• To develop and manage high quality and efficient horticultural maintenance and management operations
• To provide an on-site presence, manage the relationships and ensure day to day liaison with key stakeholders (including Safer Leeds, Leedswatch, City Centre Management, Cleansing, Events, Police, external partners, landowners, neighbouring businesses, community groups, volunteers and the public).
• To manage the assets located on site, and infrastructure to exceptional standards and in line with the agreed site management plans.
• To ensure the delivery of horticultural maintenance and improvement works in accordance with service priorities, priorities agreed with stakeholders and expressed by users, and service level agreements. 
• To assist in identifying, coordinating, and promoting new and innovative opportunities to develop the service for the future including alternative methods of service delivery, external funding and partnership working.
• To support on developing, embedding and ongoing delivery of a flexible operational model for the Greenspaces service, aligning corporate and community priorities and facilitating change that is progressive and affordable. 
• To assist and undertake a key supporting role for the Senior Estates Manager when appropriate.
• To manage resources to maximise efficiency, manage day to day repairs and resolution of issues and oversee subcontractors to ensure quality.
• Take responsibility for health and safety, quality and environmental matters and other statutory requirements of the Greenspaces service. 
• To represent the service at meetings and public forums in matters relating to issues within the area.
• To provide on-site support for events and activities and ensure that health and safety and legal requirements are met.
• Managing and motivating staff, including ensuring that appropriate staff development is in place.
• To manage operational area budgets, income generation and animation through events, and provide financial performance information that is accurate and timely as requested.
• To ensure effectiveconsultation mechanisms to develop the work of the Greenspaces service.
• To represent the Greenspaces service at all appropriate internal and external meetings.
• To fulfil and deliver in line with the Greenspaces Strategy, Green Flag standards and related strategies and service objectives. 
• Perform all functions and duties effectively and in accordance with the following:
• the Council’s Policies and Codes of Practice.
• the Council's Constitution, including Contracts and Financial Procedure Rules.
• the Council’s Values, service objectives and relevant quality procedures
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade  
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

As per employee specification

Personal Specification

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following: Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.  

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

There is a requirement for regular duty weekend working on a rota basis.

Skills Required 

• An ability to manage an operational front-line service 
• Effective written and oral communication skills with a wide range of people e.g. Ward Members, Senior Council Managers, and members of the public
• Ability to make appropriate and timely decisions.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent organisational skills.
• An ability to plan and manage budgets effectively
• Ability to manage small projects to agreed timescales, quality and budget 
• An ability to manage and motivate individuals and teams 
• An ability to prioritise and organise work schedules often to tight deadlines 
• An ability to manage a diverse range of service issues 
• To be able to work as part of a team, collaboratively across teams and on own initiative 
• An ability to develop and write relevant management and maintenance improvement plans 
• An ability to respond to ever changing work circumstances 
• An ability to demonstrate good ICT skills (including use of Microsoft Packages) 

Knowledge/Qualifications Required 

• Knowledge and understanding of horticultural and grounds management
• Knowledge of the management of estate or park facilities
• A knowledge of local government decision making processes
• Knowledge of staff development and performance management 
• Knowledge of current Health and Safety requirements.
• Knowledge of the systems and processes used to prepare estimates and quotations.
• Knowledge of current operational, managerial and performance management systems.
• Current legislation and issues affecting the provision and development of land based recreational facilities
• Knowledge of events management including health and safety requirements
• A degree or equivalent level of experience
• Hold a valid UK driving licence 

Experience Required 

• Management experience within a comparable organisation and service activity
• Experience of producing and delivering service or management plans 
• Experience of delivering positive outcomes in a timely way.
• Proven success in maintaining and delivering an efficient and effective service.
• Experience of financial management including prioritisation of resources 
• Experience of successfully managing and motivating employees and enabling them to deliver to their full potential. 
• Experience of managing budgets 
• Experience of working and communicating with a broad range of people including ward members, businesses, and community groups 
• Experience of producing high quality, detailed responses to a variety of stakeholders within short time scales.
• Experience of delivering multiple projects to tight deadlines 
• Experience of identifying and managing risks and developing safe working practices within a service or across events 
• Experience in use of Microsoft Office

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics 

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. 
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates. 

• Experience of managing gardens and grounds
• Experience of working in a politically sensitive environment 
• Knowledge of current legislation and issues affecting the provision and development of land based recreational facilities
• Knowledge of local government decision making processes
• Trained as a Green Flag Judge