Grounds and Maintenance Manager
Rufford Abbey Country Park up to £40,000
Rufford, North Nottingham area
This is an outstanding career opportunity with a market leader committed to providing a diverse and meaningful range of leisure and culture-related activities for the local communities in which we serve.
Rufford Country Park is a beautiful country park in Nottinghamshire steeped in history, we are seeking an innovative, committed individual with boundless energy to take this `Jewel in the Crown in Nottinghamshire to the next level in terms of Grounds Maintenance standards and build upon the successes already implemented since Parkwood Leisure took over the contract in 2017.
The Opportunity This is an exceptional career opportunity to lead a strategically significant contract, overseeing the full spectrum of grounds and maintenance services at Rufford Abbey Country Park. The role primarily focuses on ensuring the highest standards of Grounds maintenance and care across the park's extensive grounds and infrastructure.
Key Responsibilities

• Grounds & Maintenance Operations: Oversee and manage all grounds maintenance activities, including grass cutting, strimming, pruning, weed control, road sweeping, water and sewage system maintenance, and perimeter checks. Ensure timely and effective repairs of potholes, fences, pest damage, and minor facility repairs.
  
• Team Leadership & Management: Lead, manage, and coordinate the Grounds & Maintenance team, including creating and implementing work schedules, setting performance standards and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
  
• Health and Safety - take the lead for all health and safety aspects relevant to the role.
  
• Training & Development: Provide ongoing training for the team in best practices, safety standards, and operational procedures. Deliver Toolbox Talks to maintain high standards of service and safety.
  
• Asset Management: Ensure the security, maintenance, and optimal use of all site assets, including vehicles, machinery, equipment, and support units.
  
• Stakeholder Engagement: Liaise with internal staff and external stakeholders to ensure seamless support and maintenance of the site to the highest possible standards.
  
• Event Support: Coordinate and manage event-related tasks, such as the setup and breakdown of equipment, security barriers, mobile support units, and more.
  
• Reporting & Documentation: Maintain accurate records of all activities, including job completion, equipment maintenance, and training logs. Manage contract accounts and produce regular reports on performance and outcomes.
  

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in managing grounds maintenance contracts and teams, with a strong ability to drive productivity and deliver quality services. You should be capable of driving continuous improvement and identifying operational efficiencies along with appropriate qualifications for the role experienced in Horticulture and a proven supervisory track record in a historic garden/heritage site. Naturally, you will possess an excellent knowledge of plants, shrubs, and trees and all aspects of maintenance, and a keen willingness to learn more. We are looking for a skilled horticulturist with a great eye for detail.
This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring active monitoring of team progress on-site and swift, effective decision-making to maintain high standards of productivity and client satisfaction. You will be fully accountable for contract performance, including financial oversight and reporting.
We are looking for a well-organised professional with strong people management skills and a passion for horticulture, conservation, and the natural environment. A horticultural qualification, IT proficiency, and experience in regulated sectors with multiple stakeholders are highly desirable.
You should demonstrate a strategic approach to achieving short-, medium-, and long-term objectives, with a commitment to championing continuous improvement.
What Parkwood Offers

• Competitive salary
  
• Generous annual leave entitlement
  
• Free gym membership for you and a designated partner
  
• Employee health cash plan
  
• Access to an employee discount portal, offering savings on travel, high street shopping, cinema tickets, and more
  
• Cycle to work scheme
  
• Pension scheme
  
• Company sick pay
  
• Genuine opportunities for career progression
  
• Continuous professional development
  

Parkwood is a well-established and growing company that values and invests in its people. Successful applicants will join an organisation that offers not just a job, but a pathway to a fulfilling career.
How to Apply
If you feel like you could bring some fresh ideas to the table we want to hear from you. Please apply with a letter of application and CV to (url removed)

About Parkwood Leisure
Parkwood Leisure was established over 20 years ago and is now one of the UK's leading operators of publicly owned leisure facilities. Working with Legacy and Lex Leisure, we're a company that's proud to deliver a first-class service to each of the facilities we manage and is committed to working with local communities to make a difference and provide a healthier and happier lifestyle to the communities we serve.
For more information visit (url removed)
Follow us on Twitter @ParkwoodLeisure
Please note in the event of a large volume of applicants we reserve the right to end the closing date earlier than stated. Interviews will take place prior to the closing date so we recommend applicants apply early.