Public Realm 24/7 Service Manager in England

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values. Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there; we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

Hackney is seeking two exceptional, highly-motivated Service Managers to take the helm of our integrated Environmental Operations. These roles carry ultimate responsibility for ensuring the cleanliness of our streets, public spaces, and housing estates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as arranging the collection of waste and recycling from our residents and businesses, and other ancillary services.

The Challenge: Lead a Critical 24/7 Service

You will be accountable for a comprehensive suite of operations and a significant workforce, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement. This role offers incredible scope, covering everything from routine operations to critical, high-profile functions:

• Maintain ultimate accountability for up to 150 frontline staff and 6 Supervisors, directly managing the Assistant Service Manager and driving the strategic vision for the service unit.
• Take full operational responsibility for all street and estate cleansing, domestic and commercial refuse and recycling collection, markets management, and graffiti removal.
• Manage and oversee the entire Gully Cleansing operation to proactively prevent flooding.
• Play a leading role in developing strategies for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, challenging existing practices, ensuring strict contractual compliance, and supporting waste enforcement action.
• Be the accountable figure for the rigorous management of all service-related complaints, investigating root causes, implementing sustainable corrective measures, and engaging directly with residents and local councillors on-site.
• Take rigorous responsibility for budget preparation, proactive financial management, and accurate forecasting for all services under your control.

What you will bring:

• A proven, successful track record as a Service Manager within the Waste Industry or Environmental Sector, ideally within the public sector.
• Demonstrable ability to strategically plan, lead the vision and direction for large teams, and attract, develop, and motivate an operational workforce.
• Highly developed communication skills and a personal style that generates credibility and respect among colleagues, senior management, and stakeholders.
• A strong desire to succeed and position Hackney’s service as a national benchmark for excellence.

If you are a dynamic, assertive, and resilient leader ready to manage the complexity and scale of a vital 24/7 service, we encourage you to apply. Join us to shape an innovative future for our public realm, delivering exceptional environmental quality for every resident, business, and visitor.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation. If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CVs. To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency-based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 23 July 2026 (22:59)

Interview date: 06 or 07 August 2026

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud. In order to achieve this, we are seeking individuals who embody our “PROUD” values: Purpose and Respect, Ownership, Unity and Diversity. Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently underrepresented in our workforce.