Parks Manager - South

This is an important role, leading on the maintenance, development and improvement of our green spaces which are highly valued and at the heart of our communities. The Parks Manager for the South of the borough has responsibility for Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye Park and 46 other satellite parks and open spaces.

Key priorities include: Management and monitoring of the grounds maintenance contract for the South area to ensure a high standard of maintenance: working in partnership with the council’s tree team and contractors in the care and management and delivery of London’s most ambitious tree planting programme; managing internal staff teams and contractors; working with cross-council teams to respond to the climate emergency; driving further improvement across the service; and keeping Southwark at the forefront of London’s green space provision. The role will require significant energy and enthusiasm; you will have the drive to ensure that our parks and green services remain vibrant, enticing, and outstanding.

About You:

Do you share Southwark’s passion for providing top quality green spaces and commitment to caring for the environment and tackling the climate emergency? Do you have the skills and experience to help shape our services so they make a meaningful impact on the quality of our residents’ lives? Are you excited about the potential that these services offer, and are you driven to work together as a team to build on great practice to deliver something outstanding?

We are looking for a dedicated and energetic individual to manage our green space provision in the south of the borough and to help us protect and shape our services for future generations. We want someone who has the drive to build on what’s good and to have a clear focus on how to make it even better.

We are looking for someone who has operational knowledge of parks and practical experience of supporting service improvement in a customer-focused environment.

Ideally, you will be qualified to degree level or equivalent, with direct experience of most of the following services areas – parks operations and contract management, horticulture, tree services, ecology and how all of these can contribute to tackling the climate emergency.

About Southwark

Southwark is a large, ambitious and progressive council with a ‘can do’ attitude and enviable reputation. As a Council, we are successful, passionate and forward-thinking. Extending from the river Thames into South East London, Southwark encompasses some of the capital’s cultural hotspots, vibrant communities and acclaimed greenspaces. Southwark is proud of its diverse communities, with over 120 languages spoken and we are committed to a ‘Fairer Futures for All’ promise which ensures that all residents and businesses are central to everything we do.

With 30 Green Flags, an excellent team and an extensive investment programme there has never been a better time to seize the opportunity to work in this award winning service. With its vibrant, energetic feel, Southwark is a very attractive place to work if you relish the opportunities and challenges of managing award-winning green space services in a fast-paced, dynamic, inner city setting.

Benefits and more information:

In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from our family-friendly policies including flexible working, home working, and a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. You will also be part of a successful and high-achieving development team that is making a real difference to the lives of residents in the borough. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits page.

Recruitment timetable

Application closing Date: Sunday 3rd August 2025
Interview Date: Wednesday 13th & Friday 15th August 2025

*Please note, we reserve the right to close applications prior to the closing date indicated above – please apply as soon as possible – we look forward to receiving your application.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you\’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme . We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Salary Range (Full time equivalent) £48,618 – £55,710

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