Overview
Southend-on-Sea is an ambitious, growing city – vibrant, diverse, and proud of its stunning coastline, green spaces, and thriving communities. At the heart of this is our award-winning Parks and Open Spaces service, which frequently attract Green Flag awards. We are now looking for an exceptional leader to take this success to the next level.
Role and Scope
As Head of Parks and Open Spaces, you will have the opportunity to strategically shape service delivery for the city, influencing how green spaces are managed and enhanced through innovative approaches and future-focused planning. This is a role that goes beyond operational excellence – it’s about creating a sustainable legacy for future generations, embedding climate resilience, biodiversity, and community wellbeing at the core of everything we do.
Responsibilities
* Lead a large and diverse portfolio, including parks, allotments, cemeteries, tree management, outdoor sports facilities, and Southend’s own nursery.
* Manage significant budgets and a workforce of around 150 FTE; ensure services are safe, legal, and compliant while driving continuous improvement and innovation.
* Forge partnerships across Essex and beyond through devolution and regional collaboration; influence policy and delivery models that benefit residents, business and visitors.
* Build alliances, mentor teams, and proactively engage with elected Members to achieve strategic outcomes.
Qualifications and Experience
* Progressive, visionary leader with deep expertise in parks and open spaces.
* Strong commercial acumen and a proven track record of delivering high-quality, customer-focused services.
* Ability to combine strategic thinking with operational credibility; passion for sustainability, innovation, and community impact.
Details
* Salary: Up to £79,807 plus generous pension and benefits
* Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 8 February
How to Apply
If you are ready to take on a role where your leadership will shape the future of one of the UK’s most exciting cities – and influence the wider regional agenda – we would love to hear from you. For an informal discussion, please contact Simon Winspear at our recruitment partners, Hays Executive, on 07525 466 357.
Southend-on-Sea City Council is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and particularly encourage applications from female leaders and individuals from multi-ethnic backgrounds, who are currently under-represented at senior levels within our organisation.
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