Grounds Maintenance Manager

Grounds Maintenance Manager

An excellent opportunity for a practical, organised and hands‑on manager with a background in landscaping, grounds maintenance or soft landscaping to take ownership of maintenance, aftercare, site quality and client reporting across the South East.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you:
Landscape Maintenance Manager, Landscaping Maintenance Manager, Grounds Manager, Landscape Manager, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, Soft Landscaping Manager, Landscaping Supervisor, Grounds Supervisor, Maintenance Manager, Landscaping Manager

SALARY: £38,000 - £42,000 per annum

BENEFITS: Company Vehicle + Fuel Card + Mobile + Laptop or Tablet + Pension + Training and Development + Opportunity to grow with an expanding landscaping division

LOCATION: Traveling to sites in Essex / South East

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent

This is an exciting opportunity for a Grounds Maintenance Manager to help manage and develop landscaping maintenance and aftercare operations for the company.

Working across both office and site, the Grounds Maintenance Manager will plan maintenance programmes, coordinate labour and resources, lead site teams, monitor quality and plant establishment, maintain clear client communication and ensure works are delivered safely, professionally and to the required standard.

During the main growing season, the Grounds Maintenance Manager will focus on routine maintenance, watering, aftercare, plant health, remedial works and client reporting. During quieter maintenance periods, you will support the wider landscaping division with soft landscaping packages, replacement planting, small works and general project delivery.

Your duties as the Grounds Maintenance Manager include:

• Maintenance Planning: Develop, manage and regularly review annual landscaping maintenance and aftercare programmes
• Site Scheduling: Prepare clear site-by-site schedules covering routine visits, watering, seasonal tasks, establishment activities and remedial works
• Resource Coordination: Coordinate labour, subcontractors, vehicles, plant, tools, materials and access requirements to support efficient delivery
• Team Briefings: Brief site teams before work begins, ensuring they understand the specification, programme, risks and expected standards
• Site Inspections: Visit sites routinely to inspect workmanship, progress, presentation and compliance with specifications
• Plant Health: Manage watering, establishment and aftercare requirements for planted areas, including lawns, shrubs, hedges and trees
• Remedial Works: Manage defects, remedial works, replacement planting and completion of outstanding items
• Team Leadership: Provide day-to-day leadership, instruction and support to operatives, supervisors and subcontractors
• Health and Safety: Ensure works are planned and delivered in accordance with procedures, risk assessments, method statements and client requirements
• Client Reporting: Ensure visit reports, photographs, inspection records and completion evidence are accurate, complete and issued to clients promptly
• Commercial Support: Identify additional works, variations and out-of-scope requirements, recording evidence and notifying the relevant manager promptly
• Project Support: Support quotations, work planning and delivery of soft landscaping, remedial, replacement planting and small works packages during quieter periods

• Experience in landscaping, grounds maintenance or soft landscaping
• Good plant knowledge and understanding of maintenance standards
• Experience managing teams or subcontractors
• Strong planning and organisation skills
• Good communication skills with clients and site teams
• Good commercial awareness
• Ability to identify problems early and follow them through
• Full UK driving licence
• Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office / Excel

• SMSTS, First Aid, towing or plant tickets would be beneficial but are not essential