Group Manager - Parks and Greenspaces

Salary: £58,339 - £63,151 a year
Location: Stores Road
Hours: 37 hours per week
Working pattern: Full Time with occasional Standby/Callout as service required
Closing Date: 01/11/2026
Contract Type: Permanent

The Opportunity
If you have the vision to shape the green heart of a city and want your work to make a visible difference every day, the Parks and Green Spaces Group Manager role at Derby City Council offers a rare opportunity. As Parks and Green Spaces Group Manager, you will play a central part in Derby’s journey towards net zero, climate resilience and more active, healthier communities.

In this role, you will lead an award-winning network of parks, nature areas and community green spaces that directly influence quality of life for residents and visitors. As Parks and Green Spaces Group Manager, you will help ensure these much-loved places are safe, welcoming, inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

You will join a supportive Climate & Active Environments team, working alongside specialists in climate change, active travel, public health and nature recovery. As Parks and Green Spaces Group Manager, you will have real scope to innovate, develop your leadership career and shape the future of green infrastructure across the whole city.

What you'll be doing
As Parks and Green Spaces Group Manager, you will:

• Lead the overall management of parks, open spaces, play areas, sports pitches, allotments, nature reserves and cemetery grounds across the city.
• Plan how green spaces are developed and improved, making sure they support wildlife, reduce carbon emissions and are resilient to a changing climate.
• Manage significant budgets, contracts and resources so that services are efficient, good value for money and financially sustainable.
• Make sure parks and green spaces are safe, well maintained, welcoming and accessible for all communities.
• Work closely with local residents, community groups, volunteers, schools and partners to shape and deliver activities and improvements together.
• Provide clear, supportive leadership to a large and varied workforce, promoting a strong culture of safety, wellbeing, inclusion and high performance.
• Oversee health and safety and emergency planning for parks and green spaces, including responses to severe weather and major incidents.

About you
You will be an experienced leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on operational understanding. You will have:

• Substantial leadership experience in parks and green spaces, environmental services or closely related public realm services, including a strong track record in grounds maintenance and tree management.
• Experience of managing a varied portfolio of sites such as parks, open spaces, play areas, sports pitches and allotments, and the confidence to take responsibility for cemetery grounds.
• Proven ability to lead large operational and technical teams, manage major contracts and projects, and deliver high-quality services on time and within agreed budgets.
• Strong financial skills, including managing significant revenue and capital budgets and making sure services provide good value for money.
• A clear understanding of how parks and green spaces contribute to climate goals, nature recovery, public health and physical activity.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior officers, elected members, partners, communities and volunteers.
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and safe working, ensuring parks and green spaces are welcoming and accessible to all.

You will have a relevant degree or equivalent substantial experience, and a commitment to ongoing professional development, including health and safety training where required. If you are passionate about urban green spaces and want to help create a greener, healthier and more active city, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Who We Are
At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.

Why join Derby City Council?
At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people.
Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards – discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme – a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle
Work-Life Balance
• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities
Learning and Development
• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing
Health and Wellbeing
• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training
Community and Inclusion
• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.

How to apply
If you would like to apply for this vacancy via an application form, please submit an application via the Derby City Council website.

The closing date for this vacancy is specified at the top of the advert. Applications received after midnight on the closing date will not be accepted.

Interview dates: Thursday 19th November 2026
Interview location: Council House, Derby City Council

Applying using your CV
We recognise that people apply for roles in different ways and want our recruitment process to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you would prefer to apply using a CV rather than completing an application form, please complete the attached Declaration Form and send it, together with your CV, to Owen.Swift@derby.gov.uk.

When applying by CV, please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role. We strongly recommend that you also include a supporting statement outlining how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification, as this will help us assess your suitability for the post.

Applications submitted by CV must include a completed Declaration Form to be accepted. The Declaration Form can be found at the bottom of this advert.

We also encourage you to complete the attached Equalities Form and return it to recruitment.team@derby.gov.uk. This is entirely optional and will not affect the outcome of your application.

Important Information
Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are available below.

Before submitting your application, please read our guidance on completing the application form and ensure your supporting statement clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification.

All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the role.

Where a DBS requirement is indicated at the top of this advert, the successful candidate will be subject to the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of our safer recruitment process.

Where a Market Rate Supplement is indicated at the top of this advert, it is paid in addition to the basic salary and is subject to regular review. The supplement may be reduced or withdrawn and will reduce in line with incremental progression and pay awards.

The Council has a legal obligation to consider suitable redeployment opportunities for employees at risk of redundancy. Consequently, this vacancy may be withdrawn before the advertised closing date if it is filled through the Council's redeployment process.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Derby City Council, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we serve.

As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can choose to apply through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

We are also proud to hold the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, recognising our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families. Members of the Armed Forces community, veterans and their close family members who meet the essential criteria are also eligible for our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, including during your application, interview or onboarding, we'll work with you to provide the support you need.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or need assistance with your application, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK: 18001 01332 640844) or email recruitmentteam@derby.gov.uk.

Please see here for Job Description
Please see here for Person Specification
Please see Declaration Form for CV Applications here
Please see Equalities Form for CV Applications here