Area Manager – Parks

Kirklees Metropolitan Council; Kirklees; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Healthcare

Generous pension scheme

Discounts with retailers

Learning and development culture

Job summary

Kirklees Metropolitan Council is seeking an Area Manager to oversee grounds maintenance across the district, ensuring safe, high-quality parks and greenspaces. You will lead the team, collaborate with colleagues, and drive innovative ways to service delivery while maintaining a professional standard.

The role requires robust leadership with experience in operational management, horticulture, or grounds maintenance, and flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and management skills in grounds/green space contexts.
• Experience in horticulture or grounds maintenance.
• Ability to influence and negotiate in a politically sensitive environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage grounds maintenance services across the Kirklees district.
• Lead teams to deliver safe, high-quality parks and green spaces.
• Develop innovative ways of working and ensure compliant service delivery.
• Work evenings and weekends as required.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Horticulture

Grounds maintenance

Negotiation

Change management

Education

Operational management background

Job description

At Kirklees we want to be innovative and creative in the way we work to deliver our services to our communities and we are always looking for better and smarter ways to work. The Parks and Greenspace service work together to manage and maintain the councils parks, greenspaces, play areas and trees. We are looking for an Area Manager to support the services Ground Maintenance team in its goal to ensure that every area of the Kirklees district has access to safe, welcoming, high-quality parks and green spaces.

As Area Manager you will be responsible for the management of our grounds maintenance services across the Kirklees district. The grounds maintenance team carries out works on Parks, recreation grounds, sports pitches, schools, cemeteries, highway verges, public open spaces and council house gardens. You will be required to work at all times in a professional and safe manner and to ensure that all works carried out by your teams are undertaken without risk to the public or themselves.

The successful candidate will collaborate with colleagues to lead forward and develop new and innovative ways of working to ensure that we provide an efficient and safe service delivery model. You will have robust leadership and management skills and the ability to work in a politically sensitive environment. We would welcome applications from innovative individuals who are able to take the lead in the management of change and who have a demonstrable record of influencing and negotiation, as well as ensuring that outcomes are being delivered to the quality and standard that is expected. Ideally you will have a background in operational management, Horticulture, Grounds Maintenance or a similar field and experience or passion for green space management.

Some of the staff benefits we offer in return include:

• Employee Healthcare
• Generous pension scheme
• Discounts with local and national retailers
• An organisational culture dedicated to learning and development

As part of your work pattern, you may be required to work some evenings and weekends.

Closing date

25 October 2026, 12:00 PM

Company: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Salary: £46,579 – £48,738

Location: Kirklees, West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire

Sector: Highways

Sector: Streetscene

Sector: Housing

Job Role: Manager