Park Manager - Hadleigh and Marsh Farm Country Parks

Park Manager - Hadleigh and Marsh Farm Country Parks

Permanent, Full Time

£30,815 to £36,254 per annum

Location: Castle Point

Working Style: Operational field-based worker

Closing Date: 27th November 2024

Fantastic opportunity to manage 2 of Essex's leading Country Parks: Hadleigh Country Park and Marsh Farm Country Park.

At Essex County Council we’re already making plans to ensure our long-term economic recovery. We’re taking this opportunity to create a greener, more productive and fairer economy that is stronger and more resilient than ever before.

Economic growth is the number one priority for Essex County Council. We want to establish Essex as a great location for the world’s top businesses and ensure that it’s the best possible place to live and work. Our rich mix of urban, rural and coastal economies, and our growing transport links (including an international airport) mean we’re poised for future success.

The Culture, Heritage and Green Spaces department will deliver exceptional customer experiences, increase resilience against climate change, demonstrating the benefit of Essex’s strategic location, with the objective of developing a financially sustainable operation. And it starts with growing our team.

About the role

The Park Manager is responsible for all operational management responsibilities for Hadleigh Country Park and Marsh Farm Country Park. Contribute to the development of robust business plan and Park Management Plan, ensuring opportunities for new revenue streams, using data to inform business decisions and translating these into day-to-day operational plans.

You will ensure the Country Parks are safe and clean for visitors and users, promoting and monitoring legislation, byelaws, and health and safety, whilst taking into consideration the impact of climate change, good practice green space management, and enhancing the land’s nature conservation and its position as a biodiversity hub.

You will develop and deliver proactive maintenance and health and safety plans and processes, managing and controlling equipment and assets in the parks, and provide insight regarding the status of maintenance and equipment for the parks, as well as ensuring good practices for maintenance are in place.

You will be responsible for managing all day-to-day operations of the Country Parks, ensuring they are managed within budgeted guidelines and to the agreed quality standards. As such, you will be accountable for budgetary control and financial grip for the Parks, ensuring compliance with all financial processes and good practices, and contributing to the submission of grant applications for additional funding.

You will be accountable for the implementation of consistent processes, controls, ways of working and operating practices within the Parks. Achieve the best experience for our customers with the most effective use of both people and financial resources.

As a manager, you will provide guidance to Rangers and other site staff, including recruitment, induction, training, work planning, evaluating performance, managing conduct and disciplinary matters. You will lead, manage and motivate your team to ensure service objectives are met.

As a leader, you will play a critical role in exhibiting the culture and behaviours expected within the team. You will lead change initiatives within the Country Parks to embed the desired culture, managing and motivating staff, ensuring clarity on vision, expectations, standards and objectives.

Collaboration is key in this role as you will manage third party relationships and tenancies, and liaise with and manage partners, stakeholders, other borough and district councils, community groups, volunteer groups, contractors and landlords.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

We’re looking for an excellent leader, with strong communication and people management skills, confident in engaging with public of all ages and abilities. You will have good understanding, knowledge and experience of ecological/habitat management and conservation issues, and an understanding of the ‘Country Park’ ethos and commitment to promoting enjoyment of the countryside

Ideally, you will be educated to degree level in land management, countryside management or equivalent by experience in Country Park management, with evidence of continuing professional development

You will have excellent attention to detail, be confident in using your initiative, with the ability to spot and resolve problems quickly and efficiently. You should be able to evidence your experience of generation income within a Country Park or equivalent.

Above all, we are looking for someone who can demonstrate considerable enthusiasm and energy, together with being highly motivated for what can be achieved, with an understanding and commitment to team working and developing a committed and motivated team.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services

Why Essex?

Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the link.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.

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