Landscape Manager

Are you ready to make a real impact on the natural and built environment of one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities? Leicester City Council is seeking an experienced, creative, and driven landscape designer to join and lead our dynamic Landscape Development team. Working with a range of stakeholders including senior management, elected members, community groups and the general public, you’ll be responsible for leading and implementing a range of landscape development projects across the council, with the chance to shape a greener and more sustainable future for the city.

Managing a small team of landscape designers and professionals, you’ll be the overall lead providing advice, guidance and support across a whole range of projects. You’ll be managing a range of soft and hard landscaping works including planting schemes, play area works and other landscape related works. You’ll also be responsible for consulting on and liaising with Planning colleagues on developer contributions for our parks and green spaces and managing the portfolio of works. This role is permanent, working 37 hours per week with opportunities for hybrid and flexible working.

What you’ll need:

• Experienced landscape designer or Landscape Architect with a formal qualification (ideally CMLI) and substantial experience in delivering complex landscape projects from concept to completion.
• A passion for innovative and sustainable design and a strong understanding of a range of relevant legislation, policies and technical standards.
• Significant experience of working in a landscape design related setting.
• Excellent communicator with project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and up to date horticultural, technical knowledge.
• Able to work without direct supervision as well as leading your team, managing your time effectively to ensure projects are delivered within scope and budget.
• Full clean driving licence for visiting sites across the city checking on progress and undertaking site assessments.

What you’ll bring:

• Extensive landscape design experience and an ability to thrive in complex environments.
• A passion for sustainable, innovative design and a strong understanding of relevant legislation, policies, and technical standards.
• Excellent understanding of the UK’s planning system and how developer contributions can be used for landscape projects.
• Strong planting knowledge, proven experience in writing specifications, maintenance and management plans and designing to budgets.
• Experience in project management, either leading projects or working in a project team delivering landscape-related schemes.
• Organised and able to prioritise work independently and work to strict deadlines.
• Creative design skills and an eye for detail.
• Confident influencing leaders, negotiating outcomes and steering direction.
• Enjoys leading change and spotting opportunities for innovation.
• Writes brilliantly and communicates with clarity and impact.
• Demonstrates inclusive, people-centred leadership whilst enjoying working as a team, self-motivated and engaged.
• A wide range of IT skills including programmes such as AutoCAD and Sketchup.
• Experience in contract management.

What we can offer you:

As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve thousands of lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. You’ll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working. We’ll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from a number of flexible benefits, including discounts on city buses and trains.

Join us:

We’re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly-talented workforce as we continue to build a council that is fitting and representative of our great city. That’s why we’ve designed our recruitment process to put you at your ease, make you feel welcome and bring the best out of you. We’ll do all we can to make our recruitment process as fair as possible. To help you with your application, take a look at the ‘our approach to recruitment’ page. If you’d like to have a chat before applying, feel free to contact Brian Stafford, Head of Standards & Development, via email to brian.stafford@leicester.gov.uk.