Job Purpose
Providing leading professional technical expertise in grounds, horticulture, and biodiversity, resulting in a clean, attractive, safe and sustainable campus environment which supports the University's core objectives.
Provide highly specialist, professional management and leadership to the Grounds and Gardens Operations staff and external contractors across the University sites in the provision of cost-effective, high quality, planned and reactive grounds, gardens, and hard landscaping maintenance services.
Deputise for and support the Head of Operations by contributing to strategic planning, policy development and complex Facilities/Grounds related projects.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and Management
Effectively manage the Grounds and gardens staff ensuring the delivery of the day-to-day operation. Responsible for leadership of operational staff including the Lead Horticulturalist, Lead Biodiversity/Arboriculturist Gardeners, Assistant Gardeners and Apprentices and through establishing performance indicators to ensure best practice processes, procedures and equipment are being utilised.
Proactively support the Facilities Services leadership team with the development and delivery of strategic and operational goals and objectives for Facilities Services and, Grounds and Gardens teams, which align with departmental and wider University plans.
Plan and organise individual and team activity for the long-term, ensuring plans and actions complement broader operational/strategic plans.
Develop and support the Lead Horticulturist and Bio Diversity Lead to confidently operate in line with University HR policy and procedure including recruitment, selection, induction, managing and supporting individual and team performance, attendance, disciplinary, grievance and performance and development reviews to embed a culture of continuous development and improvement.
Ensure the continuing training and development of the team across the range of grounds and gardens services, tailored to both individual and business requirements.
Maintain awareness of all current horticultural, landscaping, biodiversity and environmental updates. Benchmark trends where appropriate and make recommendations for improvements to the service by preparing and presenting fully detailed and costed reports for the Head of Operations and Director of Facilities Services.
Play a leading role in the strategic development of Facilities Services through a proactive and innovative approach to the initiation and management of change, planning and setting the Grounds team targets and actively contributing to the Senior Leadership Team.
Operational Management
Lead role in ensuring the grounds and gardens are maintained and developed through working closely with Facilities Managers, coordinate maintenance work, including external contractors; assist and facilitate planning to minimise disruption to clients/building occupiers, within the zone. Assess and review priorities, resolve conflicts and issues to meet agreed performance standards ensuring the availability of staff, materials, tools and transport to facilitate the work schedule whilst adapting programmes of work to accommodate seasonal conditions.
Maintain a high-profile presence, liaising with key stakeholders from Colleges and Schools to respond to and/or address requests, and resolve any conflicts which may arise in relation to demand versus resource.
Responsible for the completion of all annual planned maintenance programmes of the University's grounds assets in accordance with agreed standards. Assess and determine jobs which will be undertaken by the in-house team and/or external Contractors, ensuring priorities are met and that excellent standards of productivity and workmanship are achieved in the delivery of works and that all works are carried out in compliance with relevant health and safety regulations, codes of practice and the University’s policies and procedures.
Identify service shortfalls, identify/implement solutions, drafting relevant business cases to submit to the Head of Operations for approval to maximise service quality, delivery, efficiency, and continuity.
Manage allocated budgets to ensure the provision of a cost effective service that delivers maximum value in relation to resources deployed for reactive and planned grounds maintenance. Monitor expenditure against forecast, ensuring expenditure is planned and managed in accordance with finance and purchasing regulations.
Lead Estate wide arrangements for snow clearing/winter gritting, including the training of Facilities Services staff, ensuring a risk-based approach to the provision of pedestrian and vehicular access during significant weather events.
Responsible for the procurement and control of registered insecticides used within the Estate in compliance with statutory legislation. Responsible for the procurement of Grounds vehicles and grounds equipment; identifying suitable replacements and negotiating with supplier. Ensure there is an asset register in place with a continued financial forecast for replacing equipment.
Contribute to the effective management of the University's waste management arrangements.
Compliance and Risk Management
Lead on quality assurance and compliance management for grounds and landscaping management; ensure consistent service provision and compliance with all statutory & legislative standard, protocols and procedures. Implement a programme of audits and inspections to confirm standards of services.
Support the Head of Frameworks and Contracts and colleagues in the management of framework agreements and term maintenance contracts for grounds maintenance, materials and equipment. Where required act as technical lead in procurement exercises.
Undertake sample audits; provide feedback on contractor performance against relevant KPI measures and ensure value for money is being delivered on all specialist grounds and gardens contracts.
Manage works in accordance with Health and Safety requirements in terms of the management of staff and their day-to-day activities and in the delivery of a safe campus environment ensuring appropriate leaf and snow clearance and the provision safe pedestrian and vehicular surfaces.
Develop and implement safety management arrangements including risk assessments for services tasks. Identify risks, implement risk reduction and control measures and support business continuity plans to provide reliability and resilience of all services.
Other
Deputise for the Head of Operations to support and contribute to directorate and University-wide initiatives/projects from a grounds and wider facilities perspective, including strategic planning and policy development.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge /Qualifications
Essential:
A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills in a similar or number of different roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9,10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a management role(s).
A2 Technical and professional knowledge and understanding of specialist work practices, processes, and procedures relevant to grounds maintenance management, including broader sector awareness.
A3 Authoritative knowledge of Horticulture and Arboriculture best practice and standards.
A4 Extensive knowledge of relevant health and safety policies and procedures relative to the role, and the quality outputs and standards required.
Desirable:
B1 Recognised management qualification.
B2 Evidence of CPD training relevant to the role.
Skills
Essential:
C1 Proven management capability and skilled in managing large staff groups with demonstrable ability to develop staff through pro-active coaching, mentoring and staff development plans.
C2 Able to evidence examples of positive changes made in work practices and having embedded continuous improvement.
C3 Proven high level written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact and engage effectively and clearly explain and discuss matters of detail with a wide range of stakeholders, discussing specialist matters with non-specialists.
C4 Excellent planning, organisational and time management skills with the ability to understand work requirements, work to deadlines, prioritise and operate effectively under pressure.
C5 Highly effective interpersonal and team-working skills with the ability to quickly develop and maintain effective relationships and contribute positively within a range of teams.
C6 Proactive with proven ability to proactively use initiative and sound judgement to resolve issues independently.
C7 Highly-developed IT skills including use of standard desktop applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook and with the capability to develop further IT skills to utilise specialist IT applications.
C8 Proven well developed analytical and problem-solving capability with the ability to prioritise complex and competing priorities.
C9 Clean and current driving license.
C10 Well developed project and/or people management skills.
C11 Proven high level communication skills, obtained through representational influencing and/or negotiating activities.
C12 Demonstrable ability to manage resources/budgets within allocated area, to ensure maximum value is delivered.
Experience
Essential:
E1 Significant experience of managing an operational team delivering grounds and gardens maintenance provision in a customer focused environment.
E2 Proven experience motivating, developing and managing performance and attendance to enable staff to deliver to their full potential.
E3 Experience of managing difficult / unforeseen situations.
E4 Significant experience of ensuring compliance with statutory and mandatory standards, particularly in respect of grounds and landscaping maintenance; including in respect of checking the service provided by external contractors.
E5 Demonstrable experience of planning and progressing work activities within general guidelines, using initiative and judgement without recourse to others.
E6 Significant experience in stakeholder engagement and working in a business partner capacity.
E7 Evidence of strong problem solving and solution-focussed creative thinking.
E8 Experience of managing and supporting projects of varying sizes and complexity.
Desirable:
F1 Experience in the operation of contracts and framework agreements.
F2 Experience of working in Higher Education or a similar complex environment with multiple stakeholders.
How to apply:
For full information on this role or to apply with your CV and cover letter please contact Roddy McCallum at Morgan Hunt on roddy.mccallum@morganhunt.com. Morgan Hunt is an external recruitment company retained on this assignment.
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 8, £47,047 - £54,421 per annum.
This post is full time (35 hours p/w) and open ended.
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.
2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.
3 A flexible approach to working.
4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.