Contract Manager - Lee Valley

Parkwood Holdings Limited; Epping Forest; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established green space management provider seeks a Contract Manager to oversee grounds maintenance and soft services in the Lee Valley Regional Park. The successful candidate will have strong people management abilities, a horticultural qualification, and a proven track record in leadership roles. The position offers competitive salary, performance-related bonuses, and significant career progression opportunities.

Benefits

Performance-related bonuses

Company vehicle

Relocation support

Annual leave

Free gym membership

Employee health cash plan

Employee discount portal

Cycle-to-work scheme

Pension scheme

Company sick pay

Career progression

Continuous professional development

Qualifications

• Experience managing grounds maintenance teams.
• Strong strategic and operational oversight.
• Ability to work in a regulated sector with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage grounds maintenance and soft services.
• Ensure client satisfaction through performance monitoring.
• Manage financial aspects including budget and performance reports.

Skills

People management

Contract management

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Horticultural qualification

Tools

IT skills

Job description

The Opportunity

We seek an experienced, highly motivated Contract Manager to lead and manage all grounds maintenance and soft services across the prestigious, 26-mile Lee Valley Regional Park, from Broxbourne to the Olympic Park.

Based at our Waltham Abbey Depot, the successful candidate must have a robust track record managing grounds maintenance teams. This is a hands‑on leadership role demanding a strategic outlook to drive high productivity, operational efficiency, continuous improvement, and consistently deliver an exceptional, client‑exceeding service. The role requires significant on‑site time to monitor performance, quickly address issues, and ensure client satisfaction.

Full financial accountability for the contract, including budget management and preparing comprehensive weekly/monthly performance reports, is essential.

The Person

Candidates should be well‑organised, and have skills and experience in people and contract management, with a passion for horticulture, conservation & the natural environment. Above all, they need to be flexible and possess excellent leadership ability, enthusiasm, people management, and communication skills. A horticultural qualification and a good understanding of IT and previous experience in working in a regulated sector involving numerous stakeholders would be preferred.

You should have a strategic outlook to meet short, medium, and long‑term objectives and champion continuous improvement.

What can Glendale offer you?

• Competitive salary, with performance‑related bonuses, company vehicle, and relocation support
• Generous annual leave with service
• Free gym membership for you and a nominated person
• Employee health cash plan
• Employee discount portal - discounts on travel bookings, high street vouchers, gift cards, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities and your day to day spending
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Pension scheme
• Company sick pay
• Genuine career progression
• Continuous professional development

Glendale is a well‑established business that is continuously growing. Successful applicants can look forward to joining a company that can offer career prospects and believes in investing in its people. The average service of our managers in the South is 10 years.

Closing Date

31st December 2025

About Glendale

Glendale is one of the UK's largest green space management service providers and a pioneer in the sector for nearly 35 years. We specialise in grounds maintenance, tree care, and landscaping. For more information visit www.glendale-services.co.uk.

If you are interested in applying for this role, we suggest you do so at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as interviews will be held throughout the process. Please note that if you have not received correspondence within 21 days then please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.