Location
Manchester

Hours
35 Hours Per Week

Salary
£47,665 per annum

About the Role
This is an exciting six-month opportunity to take a leading role in shaping the future of Manchester’s parks and green spaces. As an Area Parks Lead, you will play a central part in delivering the ambitions of Manchester’s Parks Strategy by ensuring our parks are clean, green, safe and welcoming for all communities. You will take ownership of a defined geographic area, providing visible leadership and ensuring that high standards of maintenance, customer experience and operational delivery are consistently achieved.

Manchester boasts over 140 parks and open spaces, 43 allotment sites and three river valleys, making this a unique and rewarding environment in which to work. You will help activate these spaces through strong local relationships and by empowering volunteers and Friends groups to contribute to the vibrancy of their parks. This role is perfect for someone passionate about people, place and improving quality of life across neighbourhoods.

The Area Parks Lead is a critical role within the Parks, Leisure and Events Service, directly contributing to how effectively parks are delivered, experienced and improved across the city. You will ensure that facilities, buildings and services meet health and safety and statutory requirements, safeguarding users and protecting valuable public assets.

You will also lead operational delivery in your area—overseeing standards, coordinating daily activity, and ensuring that accurate performance information and reports are produced to support decision‑making. This role forges vital links with communities, Friends groups, internal council teams and partner organisations, helping to challenge and improve how services are delivered while enabling residents to play an active part in their local spaces.

By providing strong resource management, supporting commercial and investment opportunities, and ensuring parks reflect the priorities of the city’s long‑term Parks Strategy, the Area Parks Lead ensures Manchester’s parks continue to be safe, attractive and inspiring places where people want to live, work and spend their leisure time.

This role is full-time, temporary for six months, with a casual car allowance available for occasional business use. A full valid driving licence is required as driving may be necessary adhering to council regulations.

Successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This role is subject to references covering a 3-year history and a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Experience
Experience working within parks, grounds maintenance, environmental services, or a similar operational setting is desirable. Experience in leading, motivating, or coordinating teams in an operational or service‑delivery environment would be advantageous.

About you
You are a motivated, confident and community-minded leader passionate about Manchester’s parks and their role in improving local neighbourhoods. You thrive in a varied, outdoor-focused environment, balancing operational delivery with strong partnership working and a commitment to high standards.

You bring excellent communication skills, able to work positively with residents, Friends groups, volunteers, council teams and partners. You have the ability to analyse information, plan effectively, solve problems and make sound decisions in a fast-paced operational setting. Strong organisational skills are essential, along with the capability to coordinate activity, manage resources and motivate others to deliver great services.

You are proactive, resilient and open to new approaches to improve the park experience. You understand quality, are comfortable challenging poor standards, and inspire pride in the environment. A commitment to Manchester’s values—working together, listening, taking ownership and striving for improvement—is key.

Qualifications
There are no specific qualification requirements stated for this role, but relevant experience and a commitment to continuous learning and development are important.