Job title: Parks Technical Officer
Salary: PO2 £38,626 - £41,511
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Farnley Hall
As a Parks Technical Officer you’ll thrive on working with a diverse range of partners, colleagues and ward members working to improve parks and green spaces across the West of the city.
You will be working on a range of exciting projects that improve green spaces, creating an improved experience for communities across West Leeds. You will work with Parks West Operational teams to deliver projects on the ground along with sourcing funding and project managing the schemes.
The role includes working with many of our passionate green spaces partners and friends groups who help us manage and improve our parks and green spaces.
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 Parks Technical Officer you will bring to the role:
- An aptitude to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
- An ability to plan and manage budgets effectively.
- A fantastic addition to work as part of a team and on your own initiative
- An ability to work to tight deadlines.
- Good knowledge and understanding of land management
About the role
As our next Parks Technical Officer you’ll work as part of a great Parks Technical team based at Farnley Hall and supporting the West Operational team. You will make a substantial difference to the residents of Leeds who use parks and green spaces in the city. Having the best parks and green spaces in the city that are child and older people friendly and support the positive health and wellbeing of all parks users is important for the city.
The role is integral to our Parks Technical Team which are fundamental to Climate Energy and Green Space Service delivering investment, improvement development in line with the priorities of the Parks and Green Space Strategy. The Parks Technical team includes Public Rights of Way, Woodland Creation Team, Sports Facilities management, biodiversity net gain, outreach and training services, to name a few.
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 Vicki Marsden, 0113 3785540 vicki.marsden@leeds.gov.uk or Tony Stringwell 0113 3788167 Tony.stringwell@leeds.gov.uk
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, 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, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Job Purpose:
We are at the forefront of the council’s strategy for a sustainable city. Since declaring a climate emergency, Leeds City Council has invested hundreds of millions of pounds on our plans to end the city’s contribution to climate change and to improve the city’s resilience against future climate hazards.
Working as part of the Climate & Energy team, you will live and model values and behaviours to help us to achieve our ambition to become the best city council in the country.
Your role will be important in supporting the achievement of our Best Council ambitions to: be efficient and enterprising; become more financially sustainable and resilient, safeguarding public funds while achieving value for money; have a modern, efficient, sustainable estate; promote a more competitive, less wasteful, more resource efficient, low carbon economy.
The purpose of the role is to provide technical land management services in support of the objectives of the Climate Energy and Green Space Service. The post holder will be required to maintain effective working relationships with Members and staff at all levels in the Climate Energy and Green Space Service, other Directorates of the City Council and the public.
Responsibilities:
- To assist in the preparation and delivery of funding bids and operational projects in line with the objectives of the Parks and Countryside
- To liaise with key stakeholders in support of projects and development activities
- To provide detailed responses to enquiries from internal and external
- Co-ordinate the activities of contractors and other agencies as
- To assemble and prepare reports on land management, legislative and technical
- To draft and update operational management plans for parks and countryside sites
- To provide support to relevant staff in the management of events and activities to ensure that health and safety and legal requirements are
- To process land acquisition, disposals and encroachment
- To undertake site inspections and investigations as required
- Managing and motivating staff, including ensuring that appropriate staff development is in
- To manage budgets in relation to the functional area for which the post is
- To ensure effective consultation mechanisms in order to develop the work of the Green Spaces
- To compile and provide performance information that is accurate and timely as
- To represent the Green Spaces Service at all appropriate internal and external
- To fulfil duties in line with the Parks and Green Space Strategy and related strategies and service objectives.
- To ensure the procurement of goods and services is in accordance with financial regulations, corporate policy and legal
Qualifications:
The following are essential:
- Degree or relevant demonstrable skills or experience.
Essential Requirements;
- An ability to analyse data and produce effective reports and presentations.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
- An ability to plan and manage budgets effectively.
- An ability to demonstrate good ICT skills (e.g. Microsoft packages;excel; outlook; ArcGIS)
- An ability to manage and motivate staff
- Accurate and methodical approach to work
- An ability to manage a diverse range of service issues
- An ability to operate at a strategic level.
- An ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
- An ability to work to tight deadlines.
- Knowledge and understanding of land management
- A knowledge of local government decision making processes
- Knowledge of current quality systems and procedures.
- Current legislation and issues affecting the provision and development of land based recreational facilities
- Preparation and presentation of information at diverse levels e.g. to
- Members of Parliament, Elected Members, Senior Council Managers and members of the public.
- Provision of high quality detailed responses within short time scales.
- Experience in a relevant managerial role.
- Experienced in managing information and report writing.
- Managing and developing staff.
- Preparation and implementation of strategies and action plans regarding land management/recreational developments
- Implementation of performance and management systems.
- Experience in managing projects and work programmes
- A positive commitment to providing excellence in service provision
- Achievement of equal opportunities in both employment and service delivery and an understanding of the Leeds City Council policy.
- Willingness to take personal responsibility for and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
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.
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
- 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.
