Natural Environment Operations Supervisor x 3 in Plymouth

Plymouth City Council is seeking to appoint three Natural Environment Operations Supervisors to join our ambitious and growing Natural Environment Service. These are key frontline leadership roles responsible for supervising operational teams delivering a wide range of natural environment and grounds maintenance activities across the city. You will ensure work is delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard, while supporting staff performance and maintaining compliance with environmental, health and safety, and operational standards.

What You Will Do

• Provide direct supervision, organisation and delegation of work to Operatives and Senior Operatives, ensuring tasks are completed to required standards.
• Lead and coordinate practical site-based activities, ensuring safe working practices and compliance with procedures.
• Undertake and review risk assessments and ensure adherence to health and safety legislation and safe systems of work.
• Support the planning and delivery of work programmes in collaboration with managers and senior staff.
• Monitor team performance and ensure quality assurance of work outputs.
• Manage day-to-day operational issues, including staffing challenges and work schedule disruptions.
• Ensure vehicles, plant and machinery are maintained, available and used safely.
• Maintain accurate records and complete operational, HR and compliance documentation.
• Engage with the public, responding to enquiries and complaints in a professional and timely manner.

You Will Also

• Support the Assistant Team Leader, providing cover when required.
• Promote a strong safety culture and a positive, high-performing team environment.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for experienced, practical and proactive individuals with strong supervisory skills and a background in environmental or grounds maintenance services.

Essential Qualifications & Knowledge

• Knowledge of landscape and natural environment management / grounds maintenance.
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation in an operational environment.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English.
• Relevant qualifications in the use of equipment such as chainsaws, strimmers, hedge cutters and mowers.
• Full UK driving licence (including towing capability).
• Emergency First Aid at Work +F (or willingness to obtain).
• Experience using digital systems (e.g. Microsoft Office / asset management systems).

Skills And Experience

• Experience supervising teams and ensuring work quality and standards.
• Experience in landscape, horticultural or habitat management.
• Ability to carry out and apply risk assessments in a practical setting.
• Experience working in a frontline, customer-facing role.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and respond to operational challenges.

You Will Also Demonstrate

• Strong organisational and leadership skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to use initiative and problem-solve in a fast-paced operational environment.
• A commitment to safe working practices and continuous improvement.

Why Plymouth?

This role will be based within Plymouth City Council’s new Natural Environment Service – consisting of several groundbreaking programmes and teams across the themes of Communities, Trees, Marine, Nature Recovery and Environmental Operations. The new Natural Environment Service enhances Plymouth’s demonstrable leadership as a Nature City with a track record in innovation across Climate, Nature, People and Place programmes – working collaboratively across themes to achieve maximum impact for the city and the wider region. This is a hugely exciting time to join us in delivering our ambitions, most recently published in our Plan for Nature and People.

Additional Information

These are frontline, mobile roles working across Plymouth. The role involves outdoor working and physically demanding activities. You will be expected to respond flexibly to operational service demands.

The Disclosure & Barring Service Check requirement for this post is: Basic Check. We are a flexible employer and provide a variety of working arrangements tailored to the needs of each role. Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years. Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.