Senior Executive Parks and Landscapes Officer

publicjobs; Leinster; On-site; EUR 73,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Wicklow County Council is seeking a Senior Executive Parks and Landscapes Officer to lead the management of parks and green infrastructure within the Climate, Environment, Recreation and Amenity Directorate.

The role requires seven years+ post-graduate experience in relevant areas, strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and budget management skills, with a focus on delivering high-quality public spaces.

Qualifications

• Qualification in Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Arboriculture, Natural or Environmental Science (level 8+)
• Seven years post-graduate experience in planning, design, development and management of Parks/Open Spaces/Green Infrastructure
• Ability to work on own initiative and in a senior executive team, managing multi-disciplinary teams
• Good interpersonal skills to communicate with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven ability to manage financial resources within a strict budgetary control framework
• Proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget, including procurement
• Demonstrate capacity for innovation and problem solving
• Ability to develop policies, strategies, reports and technical documents with regulatory knowledge

Responsibilities

• Develop open space/green infrastructure strategies, policies, masterplans and development management.
• Engage with Municipal Districts to support operation of Parks and Open Spaces.
• Plan, procure and manage parks/open space projects from inception to construction.
• Contribute to strategic planning of Parks/green infrastructure and public realm.
• Provide landscape input into County Development Plan, Local Area Plans and Environmental Assessments.
• Prepare reports for Council meetings and committees.
• Engage with public representatives and community groups for consultations.
• Assess and implement new policy developments and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee delivery of green space projects and ecological systems.

Education

Horticulture / Landscape Architecture / Arboriculture / Natural or Environmental Science degree (level 8+)

Job description

Job title: Senior Executive Parks and Landscapes Officer

Employer: Wicklow County Council

Location: Wicklow

Closing Date: 3pm, Thursday, 29th October 2026

Starting Salary: €80,680

About the Employer

Wicklow County Council is the Local Government Authority for County Wicklow and is responsible for the delivery of the full range of services. Wicklow County Council seeks to enhance the county’s attraction as a place in which to invest, work, and live, and takes the lead role in shaping the strategic vision of the county. It provides a diverse, multi-layered and evolving range of services to both citizens and visitors to County Wicklow, which include the provision of housing, planning, development, environmental, roads and traffic, leisure and community services. It also has an enhanced role in leading out economic and community development in the County. The Council works in partnership with other state, public and private bodies in the delivery of critical infrastructure and shared services.

Wicklow County Council has an elected body comprising of 32 elected members and employs a workforce in excess of 900 employees, currently covering 5 Municipal Districts – Bray, Greystones, Wicklow, Arklow and Baltinglass. Our employees work in a dynamic and progressive local authority which promotes training and development of our employees who are our most valuable resource.

About the Role

This is a senior position within the Council reporting to the Senior Engineer/Senior Executive Officer and/or other employee nominated by the Director of Services or Chief Executive.

The Senior Executive Parks and Landscape Officer will be responsible for the efficient management of their prescribed work area within the Climate, Environment, Recreation and Amenity Directorate. As a senior manager they will be responsible for the delivery of the Local Authority’s vision and objectives. The Senior Executive Parks and Landscape Officer will have a strong track record of innovation and will have proven expertise in the operation of the various IT systems available for the effective day to day management of budgets, procurement, design, facilities, and parks management.

• Working within a team on the development of open space/green infrastructure strategies, policies, open space planning, masterplans, development management and taking in charge.
• Proactive engagement with the Municipal Districts to assist them in their operational role in the management of Parks and Opens Spaces, including sports facilities, playgrounds and procedure relating to Taking in Charge.
• The planning, procurement and management of projects from inception to construction relating to parks, open spaces, public realm, play, sports & physical activity, recreation and other green infrastructure.
• Contributing to the strategic planning, design and management of Parks and green infrastructure and public realm in the Local Authority.
• Providing professional landscape input into the County Development Plan, Local Area Plans, Environmental Assessments, green infrastructural strategies and Council departments on green space planning and development.
• Meeting attendance, replies and reports on these matters for the appropriate meetings and Committees of the Council.
• Engage and meet with public representatives, community groups and residents for public consultation or local area development needs.
• Considering new and emerging European and National policy, assessing implications for the Council, planning and overseeing its implementation and responding to these proposals as required.
• Managing, supervising and co-ordinating green space projects including the development of new and upgrading of existing active and passive sporting, recreational and play facilities and the development of ecological systems within the green areas.
• Establishing agreed milestones and timescales, setting achievable targets and indicators for relevant projects.
• Overseeing and managing the delivery of the ASDP (Annual service delivery plan) assigned tasks.
• Reviewing and helping other functions on planning, design or project issues or revisions.
• Preparation and management of both capital and revenue budgets annually.
• Seek funding opportunities, communicate and engage with relevant stakeholders and undertake and lead funding applications as they arise.

About You

Candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of application forms, hold a qualification in Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Arboriculture, Natural or Environmental Science (level 8 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications).

Candidates shall also:

• a) have not less than seven years post graduate satisfactory experience of planning, design, development and management of one or more of the following: Parks, Heritage Landscapes and Gardens, Open Spaces, Green Infrastructure, Public Realm and Urban Design, Urban Forests, Sports Grounds, Recreation and Play Facilities, Burial Grounds, Community Gardens and Allotments;
• b) have the ability to work on their own initiative and as part of a senior executive team, managing and motivating multi-disciplinary teams to achieve corporate objectives;
• c) have good interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders including interest groups and public representatives;
• d) have proven ability to manage financial resources within a strict budgetary control framework;
• e) have a proven ability to manage the delivery of projects on time and within budget, including dealing with procurement, contractors, professional consultants, stakeholders.
• f) demonstrate a capacity for innovation and problem solving;
• g) demonstrates the ability to develop policies, strategies, best practice guidance and the preparation of technical reports as required; and
• h) have a good working knowledge of the legal regulatory standards that apply to local authorities, including health and safety.

Further information including details on how to apply for this position is available on www.publicjobs.ie.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 3pm on Thursday, 29th October, 2026.

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and encourage applications under all nine grounds of the Employment Equality Act.