Public Realm Operative

The Role

Do you see yourself maintaining and enhancing Southwark’s parks and open spaces?

Can you use your multi-skilled trade experience to deliver high-quality repairs and installations?

If yes, we have the perfect role for you!

Our Parks Repairs and Maintenance Team is looking for a passionate and experienced Public Realm Operative to help maintain and improve Southwark’s public spaces.

About the Role:

As a Public Realm Operative, you’ll play a vital role in keeping Southwark’s parks, open spaces, and public assets safe, functional, and welcoming. You will:

• Inspect, repair, and install fixed play equipment in accordance with ROSPA and European/BSI standards
• Carry out multi-trade maintenance including carpentry, plumbing, brickwork, fencing, drainage, and metalwork
• Perform planned preventative maintenance and responsive repairs to public realm furniture, surfaces.
• Identify required tools, materials, and resources, maintaining stock and records efficiently
• Use mobile technology to record work and manage asset inventories
• Work safely in line with H&S legislation, method statements, risk assessments, and PPE guidelines
• Provide immediate repair or make-safe responses to urgent public safety issues
• Support and mentor trainees, apprentices, and work experience students
• Deliver excellent customer service to residents, stakeholders, and colleagues

You will work across a variety of locations and projects, contributing directly to the appearance, safety, and usability of Southwark’s public spaces.

About You:

We are looking for an experienced, reliable, and versatile tradesperson with excellent communication skills. You will have:

Essential:

• A relevant trade qualification (e.g., Carpentry, Plumbing, Bricklaying)
• At least 5 years’ experience in repairs, maintenance, or general multi-trade work

• Experience assessing repairs, minor adaptations, and estimating works
• Ability to order materials and manage resources efficiently
• Strong customer-facing skills and professionalism

Desirable:

• Experience inspecting and maintaining fixed play equipment
• ROSPA accreditation or willingness to gain it
• Experience working with public realm or council assets

You will also be safety-conscious, flexible, and committed to delivering high-quality work to agreed standards and deadlines.

About the Team:

The Asset Management Services Team sits within the Traded Services Division, delivering a wide range of services that positively impact residents and communities. Our team is responsible for:

• Maintaining public spaces, play equipment, and borough infrastructure
• Ensuring compliance with regulations and industry standards
• Supporting income generation through efficient, high-quality service delivery
• Promoting community engagement and accessibility across the borough

We value collaboration, professional development, and practical skills. This is an opportunity to work within a skilled team, gain new experiences, and contribute to Southwark’s ambition to deliver excellent public services.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Perry Hazell at perry.hazell@southwark.gov.uk.

Additional Information:

• You will need a relevant trade qualification (e.g., Carpentry, Plumbing, Bricklaying)
• ROSPA accreditation or willingness to gain it

Benefits and more information:

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Recruitment timetable

Advert close date: 11:59pm on 6th March 2026

Shortlisting date/s: 9th March 2026

Interview date/s: 17th March 2026

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Attachments

• JD - Public Realm Operative.docx