Contracts Manager in Gillingham, Kent

Medway Norse is one of the biggest joint ventures within Norse Group, partnering with Medway Council to deliver a growing number of frontline public services to residents, such as Grounds Maintenance, Facilities Cleaning and Maintenance, Transport, etc. We are seeking a proven leader in the Grounds and Greenspace Management industry to join our Management Team.

You will lead the way in delivering all aspects of the Grounds Maintenance Contract to ensure an effective service is provided to our clients. You will support the team of Supervisors with the day-to-day operation of the contract and drive continuous development of our workforce and offering, including the relationship development with our key stakeholders. Your knowledge and passion for Greenspace Management will be central to our development of a positive, robust service offering for both our Council partners and future commercial relationships that you will be actively growing.

Main Responsibilities:

• Leading and managing the Greenspaces Operational services, ensuring productivity, quality standards and statutory requirements are achieved.
• Overseeing the end-to-end contract delivery and implementation, working alongside Senior Management to drive the process of improvement and business change associated with client contract requirements.
• Managing delivery of service budgets including any forecasting and reporting and proactively taking corrective action where required.
• Implementing direct dynamic changes where there is a performance shortfall in service.
• Providing direct line management of the team of supervisors to ensure delivery of the service to the required standard.
• Planning the annual Traffic Management Program for grounds works in the high-speed road Network in collaboration with the waste cleansing crews and Medway councils nominated external highways and tree contractors.
• Leading on contract compliance and KPI reporting, ensuring the supervisors and workshop team complete service reporting to agreed timescales.
• Accountable for all investigations and completion of associated reports - such as accidents / insurance / staff grievances / corporate complaints, ensuring investigations are carried out and meetings are held as required.
• ISO system management.
• Ensuring safe systems of work are in place at all sites, updating and communicating all changes to health and safety procedures, policies, working practice, and legislation to all staff.
• Supporting and actioning any internal or external audits to achieve a pass rate.
• Ensure regular contract reporting and KPIs to the Senior Management Team and the client.
• Ensuring staff development and skills are retained and meet the required standards, in line with the developed Skills Matrix.
• Managing a wide range of stakeholders with effective communication and relationship management skills.
• Ensuring project risks and issues are appropriately recorded, reported and managed.
• Developing and delivering the service business plan, Quality and Performance targets and Performance Review Reports.

Candidate Requirements:

• OSH Managing Safely Certificate (or equivalent).
• Level 5 Management qualification or equivalent (Desirable, alternatively this can be completed within an agreed timescale).
• Degree level qualification in Turf Care, Horticulture or an equivalent greenspaces or ground discipline (Desirable).
• Knowledge of relevant Health & Safety requirements in a grounds maintenance / greenspace service delivery environment, including COSHH regulations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Tools, in particular Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Proven competence in the use of GIS mapping and asset management equipment (Desirable).
• Experience managing the operational delivery of a greenspaces service (or similar service discipline).
• Proven line management experience.
• Experience managing contracted services to a high standard.
• Ability to define written and verbal instructions clearly and concisely to be easily followed and understood by operational teams.
• Ability to lead the delivery of a high level of service within a management role.
• First Aid Certificate.

Our Offer:

• 25 days annual leave.
• The opportunity to obtain Higher education/qualifications.
• Full induction programme, with further training available both in-house and professional.
• Excellent support through a hands-on, approachable management team and other colleagues.
• Flexible working arrangements to ensure a work-life balance.
• The opportunity to develop within a national company, with a clear career progression route.
• Norse Group Sickness Scheme.
• An enhanced DBS check will be required for our successful candidate, payment will be met by the employer.

We are committed to employment practices and behaviours which encourage diversity, promote equality of treatment and eliminate unlawful and or unfair discrimination. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications. If you have not been contacted within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful and will not be progressed to the next stage.