Manchester City Council
Operations Manager - Technical Team (Grounds Maintenance, Arbor, Biodiversity & Play)
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Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week (Some evening and weekend working may be required to support business continuity)
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Additional Payments: Casual Car Allowance
Closing Date: 18 August 2026
Closing time: 11.59pm
Interview Method: Face to Face
Legal Right to Work: Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
This role is subject to -
2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
Qualification - See About The Candidate
Driving Licence - The successful candidate should hold a full clean driving licence as you will be required to drive a vehicle adhering to council regulations.
Casual Car Documentation - The successful candidate will be a designated Casual Car User which means that car journeys may be necessary on an occasional basis, but are not essential to the role. If you do drive, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work, as well as provide all the appropriate documentation. You will receive an allowance per mile of business use.
Shape Manchester’s Green Spaces
Manchester’s 143 parks, 105 play areas, 1.3 million trees and award‑winning city‑centre public‑realm green spaces are central to the city’s wellbeing, identity and climate resilience. Manchester’s parks and green spaces are central to the city’s identity, supporting communities, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the delivery of our Grounds Maintenance Technical Service across the city, covering arboriculture, biodiversity, playgrounds, fine turf and sports pitches.
Reporting to the Operations Lead (Grounds Maintenance, Biodiversity, Arbor Services and Play), this is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring services are safe, compliant, high-quality and responsive to neighbourhood needs.
What You’ll Do
You will lead a multi-disciplinary technical team and take responsibility for the effective delivery of services across the city.
Your Role Will Include
- Operational leadership: Manage and coordinate the delivery of grounds maintenance, sports pitch provision, arboriculture (including tree inspection programme) biodiversity initiatives, playground inspection, maintenance, repair and improvement across the city.
- Strategic Improvement: Develop and implement innovative approaches that improve service quality efficiency and long-term sustainability
- Sustainability & Climate: Embed biodiversity, ecological enhancement and zero-carbon principles into everyday operations
- Inspection & Compliance: Mange inspection programmes for trees and playgrounds following adopted risk management inspection regimes and in compliance with adopted standards.
- Team and resource management: Manage assets, vehicles, plant and equipment, ensuring compliance with statutory and Health and safety requirements. Organise specialised team leads in order to ensure staff, contractors and resources are effectively deployed and meet operational priorities and performance standards.
- Performance and improvement: Monitor service performance against key indicators and drive continuous improvement and long-term sustainability in service delivery.
- Community and neighbourhood working: Work closely with Neighbourhood Teams, residents, elected Members and partners to ensure services respond to local priorities and support clean, safe and green neighbourhoods.
- Partnership and stakeholder engagement: Work collaboratively and build strong relationships with internal services and external partners to support coordinated, place-based delivery and deliver joined-up solutions.
- Budget and financial management: Manage budgets effectively across each area of the service and ensure value for money in line with Council policies and targets.
- Data, systems and compliance: Ensure effective systems are in place and used effectively for data recording, inspection tracking and performance monitoring, supporting compliance and informed decision-making.
- Service development: Identify opportunities to modernise services, support long term sustainability, innovation, and contribute to wider environmental and climate objectives and zero carbon commitment.
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We are looking for a confident and experienced operational leader who can manage complex services and deliver results in a busy, public-facing environment.
Essential Requirements
- Experience and knowledge of delivering and managing effective operational services within grounds maintenance.
- Proven experience (or qualification) in tree management or arboriculture, with strong practical knowledge of operations, surveying, inspection and risk management principles.
- Experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary teams.
- Demonstrate - strong financial and resource managements skills, successful management of budgets forecasting costs and allocation of resources to maximise efficiency and optimal delivery.
- Strong understanding of health & safety and statutory compliance
- Ability to use data and systems to manage performance and inform decisions
- Strong communication, partnership working and political awareness.
- Significant experience in leading similar operations is essential.
Desirable
- Knowledge of UK biodiversity principles and habitat management.
- Experience of playground safety standards (e.g. BS EN 1176/1177; RPII desirable)
- Experience of contract management, procurement and commissioning
- RHS Level 3 (or equivalent) in horticulture or landscape management
- Experience with GIS-based systems and asset management tools
- Project or programme management experience (e.g. PRINCE2, APM)
Why Join Us
This is an opportunity to lead a critical front-line service that directly shapes Manchester’s environment and neighbourhoods.
You’ll Play a Key Role In
- Supporting the city’s biodiversity and climate ambitions
- Improving the quality and safety of parks and green spaces
- Delivering visible, valued services to residents
How To Apply
Please submit:
- Your CV
- An Expression of Interest outlining how you meet the essential criteria
We encourage applications from candidates who meet the essential requirements and are committed to developing further skills.
For an informal discussion, please contact: Maria Lester - maria.lester@manchester.gov.uk
We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.
Working for Manchester isn’t just a job - it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.
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Our Manchester Is Our Vision For a Fairer, Greener, And Healthier City - a Vision Shaped By The People Of Manchester. It Guides Everything We Do At The Council And Is Brought To Life Through The Our Manchester Behaviours
- We take time to listen and understand
- We work together and trust each other
- We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
- We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
- We’re proud and passionate about Manchester
Benefits We Offer
- Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks during our annual leave purchase period.
- A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
- Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
- Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
- Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
- A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
- Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.
Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council
At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.
Support During the Process
- Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
- Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.
Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Requirements
We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:
- 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
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