Contracts Officer (Grounds Maintenance)

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council; City Of London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in the UK is seeking a Contract Officer to manage grounds maintenance contracts and ensure the quality of parks and open spaces. This role requires a Diploma in Horticulture or Arboriculture, along with leadership in community engagement and contract management. Candidates should have excellent communication skills and a passion for maintaining green environments. Opportunities for professional growth and collaboration within a dedicated team await the ideal candidate.

Benefits

Annual salary increases

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years' experience managing grounds and/or tree maintenance services.
• Experience in planning, monitoring and directing maintenance programmes.

Responsibilities

• Oversee grounds maintenance contracts, ensuring high standards.
• Manage contract budget, monitor expenditures and ensure value for money.
• Resolve resident queries regarding grounds maintenance.

Skills

Contract management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Budget management

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Diploma in Horticulture or Arboriculture

Job description

Overview

Help shape and protect the borough's green spaces, ensuring quality, care and pride in every park and garden.

As a Contract Officer, you'll be responsible for maintaining the beauty, biodiversity and usability of Kensington and Chelsea's open spaces. You will manage major grounds maintenance contracts, engage with residents about local planting projects, and ensure our green spaces thrive for everyone to enjoy.

What you'll be doing

• Take ownership of the borough's grounds maintenance contracts – overseeing performance, managing budgets and ensuring every green space meets our high standards.
• Lead the day‑to‑day management and administration of the grounds contract, carrying out planned inspections, holding regular performance meetings with contractors and taking swift action where needed to maintain quality and value for money.
• Act as the main point of contact for residents and estate staff, resolving grounds maintenance queries and complaints with professionalism and empathy, diagnosing planting issues and recommending practical improvements.
• Engage the community by organising planting days, running Garden Clubs and Vegetable Garden initiatives, and supporting residents in shaping their green spaces.
• Hold technical responsibility for arboriculture inspections using the Council's tree management system, specifying and commissioning works as part of the three‑year cyclical programme and handling necessary planning applications for trees in Conservation Areas.
• Manage the contract budget, monitoring expenditure, forecasting costs and ensuring projects stay within agreed limits.

What you'll bring

• A Diploma in Horticulture or Arboriculture and at least three years' experience managing grounds and/or tree maintenance services.
• A strong track record in contract management, including planning, monitoring and directing complex maintenance programmes.
• Knowledge of plants, trees and horticultural practices backed by excellent communication and negotiation skills, enabling confident work with residents, contractors and colleagues.
• Analytical thinking and financial awareness, as you will manage budgets and monitor performance data.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and digital systems, with clear report writing and presentation skills.
• A proactive mindset, commitment to improving green environments, and a genuine passion for creating spaces that benefit both people and wildlife.

Why join us

We’re all in – investing in our people, our communities and our future. This role lets you play a leading part in managing the borough’s award‑winning open spaces, including 11 nationally recognised Green Flag parks. Work in a team that values collaboration and community engagement, gain experience across departments, and make a tangible contribution to our greener, safer and fairer vision. We’re all in – are you?

About us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough. As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work, ensuring services are delivered with care and competence, listening to residents, acting with integrity and building a greener, safer and fairer borough for all. This role exemplifies our ‘we’re all in’ mindset, balancing technical, operational and community aspects of open space management.

Interview details

Interviews will be held in person on the week commencing 1st December 2025.

Basic DBS check is required.

Equal opportunity

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning, subject to the volume of suitable applicants. We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer – committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

Pay and benefits

We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range. Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale and any agreed cost‑of‑living pay rises.