Portsmouth City Council
Parks and Open Spaces Service Manager
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Parks & Open Spaces Service Manager
Portsmouth City Council is seeking an innovative and driven Parks & Open Spaces Service Manager to lead the delivery of its parks and open spaces service, ensuring over 100 green spaces—including parks, playgrounds, sports pitches, countryside areas, and allotments—remain safe, accessible, and inspiring for generations to come.
About the Role
Portsmouth City Council is committed to creating a greener, healthier, and more connected city. This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible environmental and community impact, leading projects that support sustainability, biodiversity, and active lifestyles.
Key Responsibilities
As Parks & Open Spaces Service Manager—reporting to the Director of Culture, Leisure and Regulatory Services—you will:
- Provide strategic leadership for parks, open spaces, countryside areas, play facilities, allotments, arboriculture services, and cemeteries, aligning with the city’s Parks and Open Spaces Strategy and council priorities, including plans for Local Government Reorganisation.
- Lead a team of over 40 staff, managing maintenance, improvement, and service delivery across the city’s green spaces.
- Deputise for the Director when required and support directorate management decisions on parks and open spaces matters.
- Allocate an annual budget of £2.4 million, oversee major capital projects, and drive service improvement, sustainability, and innovation.
- Collaborate with residents, councillors, community groups, partners, and council colleagues to ensure effective service delivery and positive community outcomes.
- Champion biodiversity, climate resilience, and community engagement while ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, health and safety, and environmental policies.
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Requirements
Key Qualifications & Experience
A successful candidate will have:
- A professional qualification and/or extensive experience in parks and open spaces management, with knowledge of operational and strategic challenges.
- Experience in managing horticulture, open spaces, heritage assets, nature conservation, and habitat management, ideally within local government.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, senior leaders, elected members, contractors, and external partners—translating complex legislation and policy into clear, actionable guidance.
- Leadership ability to motivate, develop, and inspire a diverse team across multiple sites, fostering a collaborative and solution-focused culture.
- Experience in contract management, procurement, and delivering complex services, alongside specialist knowledge of:
- Planning and development of outdoor recreational facilities (including play and splash parks).
- Legislation compliance (health and safety, finance, HR, procurement, planning, and environmental regulations).
- Ability to manage competing priorities, resolve challenges constructively, and deliver high-profile projects on time and within budget.
- A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (work-related travel required).
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Essential Skills
- Strategic and operational leadership in green space management.
- Financial stewardship with experience managing substantial budgets (£2.4M+).
- Commitment to sustainability, biodiversity, and climate resilience initiatives.
- Professional communication skills—both written and verbal—at all levels.
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is guided by core values: Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Inclusivity, and a People-Focused Approach. These values underpin the council’s commitment to making a positive difference in its community.
Additional Information
- Office attendance is required (flexible, subject to business needs).
- Full UK Right to Work is mandatory.
- No sponsorship will be provided for this position.
- Disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant Gold Standard.
- Recruitment process details available [here](Support for applicants - Careers Portal).
Application success note: Applicants must provide detailed examples in their personal statement demonstrating how their experience aligns with the ‘Who is the Person?’ criteria outlined in the job profile.
For further support with applications, contact: recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 92 616 800.
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