Parks & Open Spaces Project Officer

This is a Full Time, Fixed Term position. This 12 month fixed term role leads the development, planning, funding, and delivery of multiple parks and open space improvement projects across Hull. It ensures projects follow council procedures, meet health and safety requirements, align with the Open Play Strategy, and remain within financial constraints. The postholder manages the council’s in-house Construction Team, external contractors, and liaises with councillors, residents, and partners.

What You’ll Do

• Manage multiple capital projects, from concept and design through to implementation and completion.
• Manage the Construction Team to deliver landscape works for internal and external customers.
• Work closely with residents, councillors, contractors and partner organisations to shape and deliver community focused solutions.
• Prepare project documentation, reports and funding bids to support development and investment.
• Oversee budgets totalling approximately £1.4m, ensuring compliance, value for money and strong performance management.
• Deliver safe, effective projects aligned with the city’s Open Play Strategy.

What We’re Looking For

• HNC/HND (or equivalent experience) in a project related discipline.
• Experience managing complex, multi stream projects.
• Managing staff onsite, both internal and external contractors.
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills.
• Knowledge of parks and open space service delivery, ideally including playground provision.
• Ability to collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To lead and take responsibility for the development and delivery of allocated projects in accordance with robust project planning procedures, procurement rules, health and safety regulations and the councils financial and contract standing orders. To ensure that all projects are developed and designed in conjunction with the Open Play strategy. To advise elected members, internal colleagues, residents and partners in developing final proposal for each project. This will include recommending to members, as well as residents at open meetings what equipment can be used in specific areas, especially around the use of inclusive play equipment. To manage the implementation of the project on the ground with the relevant project manager from the appointed external company. To be responsible officer for sign-off on completion of assigned projects. To ensure that projects meet financial constraints for each identified project moving forward. To be responsible for the development of all necessary project documentation. Bid for and secure funding from a range of sources, both internal and external, in order to take projects forward in line with agreed plans. Help and support the Parks and Open Space Manager in the development and ongoing management of an improvement programme that enables all Hull residents to have access to vibrant inclusive green open spaces.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Customer Focus – To work with elected members, other Council services, Area Coordinators and External Companies to ensure that projects meet resident, Council, stakeholder objectives.
• Performance Management – To ensure that projects meet contractual timelines, in line with tender documentation (start/finish times). To monitor agreed variations to contract. To ensure that project spend is maintained and recorded.
• To use project management processes for the scoping and designing for the delivery of projects that supports the delivery of the Parks Capital Programme and Open Space Strategy.
• To manage the capital budget and all other allocated resources in order to achieve maximum effectiveness and value for money.
• To implement and manage open space development projects as part of the Parks and Open Spaces Strategic Development Programme.
• To develop, actively manage and regularly review timetables for project delivery.
• To actively identify and manage risk throughout the life of projects. To be proactive in dealing with incidents, occurrences, hazards, defects etc, that may compromise the health and safety or interfere with users of the parks and open spaces.
• To prepare reports for Members, senior officers, external funders, partners and others as required.
• Responsible for capital and revenue budget management to include: profiling, regular monitoring, taking corrective action; effective procurement and achieving savings. Budget management should be undertaken in accordance with Council policy and procedures and any specific conditions associated with the project budget.
• To attend meetings with other council services, corporate groups and working parties, the public, voluntary and community organisations and relevant outside bodies and statutory agencies.
• Investigate, analyse and respond to customer, elected members and MP enquiries and take appropriate action to address any procedural and operational deficiencies and ensure that lessons learned are reflected appropriately.

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.