Job Description
Job title: Head of Service – Public Realm
Grade/Salary: Band Hay 1 (circa £85,000)
Contract Type: Full time, Permanent
Hours: 37 hours
Location: Sandwell Council House, Oldbury (Hybrid)
Sandwell Council’s Environment & Public Protection Division is seeking a Head of Service – Public Realm to join its established team. As Head of Service, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for designated service areas, ensuring delivery aligns with the Council Plan and wider corporate priorities. You will lead service planning, performance improvement and transformation, manage significant budgets, and provide high‑level professional advice to senior officers, Cabinet Members and elected members. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will contribute to corporate strategy, lead cross‑council initiatives, and deputise for the Service Director as required to ensure effective, efficient and customer‑focused service delivery.
In this role you will:
* Provide high‑level professional advice to the Council, Cabinet Members and senior leaders on public realm, grounds maintenance and countryside services, preparing and presenting clear, evidence‑based reports.
* Lead the development and maintenance of the Council’s public realm, maximising resident enjoyment and utility while minimising antisocial behaviour.
* Deliver a consistent, reliable and cost‑effective grounds maintenance service, ensuring agreed and published standards across public realm, open and green spaces.
* Ensure the high‑quality maintenance of parks and open spaces, supporting safe, welcoming and attractive environments for residents and visitors.
* Lead the management and development of the Council’s countryside services, including responsibility for waterbodies and natural assets.
* Ensure effective integration between the Council’s internal grounds maintenance services and the Integrated Waste and Street Cleansing Contract, maintaining high standards of street cleanliness.
* Ensure the Council’s tree stock is managed effectively, balancing public safety, environmental sustainability and long‑term asset health.
* Maintain the visual presentation of the borough through the prompt clearance of fly‑tipping, working closely with Public Protection colleagues to reduce incidents through improved enforcement.
* Manage external commissions for assigned services, including those delivered with Housing colleagues, ensuring services meet agreed standards and are fully recharged.
* Act as the Council’s professional lead on greening and rewilding, identifying, delivering and communicating opportunities that support biodiversity and climate ambitions.
* Work with senior colleagues to deliver capital improvement projects in parks and open spaces, ensuring projects are delivered robustly to time, cost and quality.
* Promote and maintain the highest standards of animal welfare across the Council’s open spaces and visitor attractions.
* Lead and support managers through effective performance management, adopting a high‑support / high‑challenge approach that drives accountability and improvement.
* Ensure robust financial and resource management, delivering agreed outcomes and performance targets on time and within budget.
* Represent the Council externally, strengthening partnerships, sharing best practice and enhancing the Council’s reputation regionally and nationally.
* Champion health, safety, wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion, modelling the highest standards of public service leadership at all times.
Attributes that you would bring to the role:
* Senior leadership experience within public realm, grounds maintenance, environmental services or open‑space management in a complex operational environment.
* A strong understanding of public realm operations, asset management and the delivery of services that balance community use, safety and environmental sustainability.
* Proven experience of managing outsourced and commissioned services, including contract performance, integration and value‑for‑money delivery.
* Knowledge of tree management, countryside services or green infrastructure, with a commitment to biodiversity, greening and rewilding agendas.
* Experience of delivering capital projects and service improvements within tight governance, budget and performance frameworks.
* Confidence and credibility in advising elected members and senior leaders on operational, financial and reputational issues.
* Strong financial and performance‑management capability, with experience of managing budgets, resources and outcomes.
* A collaborative leadership style, with experience of working across services and with partner organisations to deliver shared outcomes.
* A people‑focused approach, with a proven track record of engaging, developing and motivating managers and teams.
* High levels of professional integrity, resilience and judgement, reflecting the standards expected of senior public office holders.
* A clear commitment to the Council’s values, the ‘One Team’ culture and being a visible champion for change and continuous improvement.
Why Sandwell Council?
At Sandwell Council, our work has a real impact. We are proud to be a values‑led organisation that supports its employees with excellent benefits, a competitive remuneration package, and a strong focus on development. By joining us, you’ll play a key role in delivering services that make a real and lasting difference to thousands of people across the borough.
To find out more, please visit our careers page: We Are Sandwell – We Are Sandwell
Please submit a CV and supporting statement to Sukhy Lall on sukhy_lall@sandwell.gov.uk
Click here to find out more about our One Team Framework: Values and Behaviours
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a high number of applications be received. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
If you are an internal candidate and currently at risk, please let the recruiting manager know.
We place equality, diversity and inclusion at the core of who we are and how we lead, where every voice matters. At Sandwell, we recognise and value the richness that comes from diverse lived experiences, perspectives, backgrounds and identities. This diversity makes us a stronger and more effective council.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, are treated fairly, and have the opportunity to thrive. Creating an environment where colleagues feel respected, supported and able to contribute fully is central to our culture and the way we work. We are committed to ensuring that all applicants and employees have equitable access to opportunities. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process and within the workplace so that everyone has the support they need to perform at their best and succeed in their role.
If you have any questions relating to equality, diversity, and inclusion, you can contact the EDI Team at EDI_Team@sandwell.gov.uk.
If you wish to apply as Care Leaver or a Disability Confident candidate, please make sure to state this when submitting your CV.
If you have a disability and require assistance in submitting your CV, please contact sukhy_lall@sandwell.gov.uk