Park Manager

Permanent, Part Time

Up to £32,245 per annum (Full time equivalent)

Location: Brentwood

Closing Date: 1st July 2021

Please note this post will be based at Thorndon Country Park and is on a job share basis (18.5 hours per week) with an existing colleague.

About us

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 Thorndon Country Park, contributing 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 Park is safe and clean for visitors and users, promoting and monitoring legislation, byelaws, and health and safety, whilst taking in to consideration the impact of climate change, good practice green space management, and enhancing the land's nature conservation and historical value, 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 park, 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 Park, ensuring it is managed within budgeted guidelines and to the agreed quality standards. As such, you will be accountable for budgetary control and financial grip for the Park, 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 Park, to 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 Park 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 commercial relationships and tenancies, and liaise with and manage partners, stakeholders, other borough and district councils, community groups, volunteer groups, contractors, landlords and third-party commercial franchises. You will also be working on a job share basis with an existing Park Manager colleague, and working well together will be essential to achieving success in this role.

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.

To apply, please visit our website - www.workingforessex.com