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Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in the above post. Please find enclosed in this application pack the following documents:

  • Job Description
  • Person Specification
  • Structure Chart
  • Service Overview

Application Form:

The application form plays a key part in our selection process. We use the information you provide to shortlist for interview.

You are urged to ensure that all the information contained in your application is relevant and that you demonstrate how you meet the criteria on the person specification. Please use the person specification for guidance when filling in the application form.

References: If successful at interview, Ipswich Borough Council will seek to obtain two employment references. Wherever possible the name of your first referee must be from current employment/education and the second from either current or former employment/education. If you cannot provide an “employment” reference please contact the HR Team at Ipswich Borough Council for further assistance.

If you have any recruitment queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01473 433402. Please leave your name, number and brief details of your question and a member of the recruitment team will call you back.

Ipswich Borough Council

Job Description: K51

Operations Manager – Parks and Cemeteries

Main Purpose of Job

To lead, manage and be accountable for the operational area, reporting directly to the Head of Service.

Main Duties

  1. To develop, coordinate, implement and review the annual Operational Plan for the Service, incorporating the Council’s risk management procedures.
  1. To lead and develop operational area employees using delegated powers authorised by the Head of Service. To manage and supervise employees in accordance with Human Resources policies and procedures and management competencies including a positive duty to promote diversity and equal opportunities.
  1. To be responsible and accountable for the operational areas budgets including monitoring and reporting and the preparation of estimates as required by the Head of Service and in accordance with the Council’s financial procedures.
  1. To identify, coordinate and promote new and innovative opportunities to develop the service for the future including alternative methods of service delivery, external funding and partnership working.
  1. Contribute to the development and implementation of corporate projects and policies.

Main Operational Duties

  1. Formulate relevant service and operational plans for Cemeteries & Crematorium, Parks and Landscapes, Grounds Maintenance, and allotments. plus strategy, policies and objectives and be accountable for effectively developing and delivering the services to achieve best value and meet the Council’s priorities.
  2. Take responsibility for health and safety, quality and environmental matters and other statutory requirements of the operationincluding the registration of burials, cremations and exhumations.
  1. Determine service budgets and be responsible for financial performance, ensuring that services are effectively planned and efficiently delivered.
  2. To lead on developing, embedding and ongoing delivery of a flexible operational model for the Parks and Cemeteries service, aligning corporate and community priorities and facilitating change that is progressive and affordable
  1. Measuring and improving performance by developing, coaching and supporting our people, inspiring them with a vision and the direction for the service area
  1. Lead on strategy and support delivery of programmes to increase Parks and Cemeteries revenue income and reduce costs through efficiency.Providing a creative and dynamic external focus to identify and develop a range of income generation initiatives beyond the scope of existing activity.
  1. Champion the role of parks and open spaces within local communities as spaces, which are open and available to all.
  1. Ensure that Parks, Open Spaces, Cemetery and Crematorium regulations and bylaws are appropriate and adhered to by users of the service, regularly reviewing them and keeping them current.
  1. To represent the Head of Service on a shared basis with other managers and to participate as a member of the management team; providing cover for other senior managers at times of sickness and holiday and establishing performance targets and procedures for operational areas.
  1. To be responsible for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in own specialist/professional area in order to remain abreast of new developments, local and national issues, case law and relevant legislation, also maintaining comprehensive CPD records.
  1. Such variations as may be required from time to time without changing the general character of the duties shown above or the level of responsibility entailed.

/ PERSON SPECIFICATION
Operations Manager Parks & Cemeteries
ATTRIBUTES / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / METHOD OF ASSESMENT
Qualifications / Degree in a managerial or professional/technical field and/or 5 years qualitative experience in a relevant field
Up to date knowledge of technical and procedural developments in relevant field
Evidence of continuing professional development. / In depth knowledge of appropriate regulation, legislation and practice
IOSH Managing Safely or /NEBOSH Health and Safety / Application form/Documentation
Relevant experience / Management experience within a comparable organisation and service activity
Ability to work in a politically sensitive environment.
Ability to drive and deliver positive outcomes in a timely way.
Experience of financial management including prioritisation of resources and income generation planning.
Effective project management skills.
Proven success in maintaining a performance management approach which delivers efficient and effective service.
Experience of successfully managing and motivating employees and enabling them to deliver to their full potential.
Ability to identify and manage risks within the service.
Demonstrates compliance with appropriate professional competence standards.
Evidence of specialist knowledge in service provision, including awareness of local and national issues, legislation, case law and other issues.
Ability to deal with periods of public interest and, potentially, unrest effectively.
Ability to represent the Council and communicate at the highest level (e.g. with partners such as the Police and with senior officers and politicians) on a range of safety and licensing issues.
Ability to deal with major incidents as they impact on the Council.
Evidence of effectively dealing with the media on major incidents.
Experience of implementing new legislation and changes across a range of services
Demonstrate ability to use technology to improve business effectiveness / Ability to develop and deliver programmes and projects / Application/ interview/ presentation
Specialist knowledge / Actively seeks out opportunities to develop self and others and to promote a positive learning environment.
Ability to work across teams and to work collaboratively with others.
Ability to use technology effectively in day to day work.
Visible, proven management skills
Exhibits empathy, fairness, professionalism and integrity
Ability to work autonomously making day to day decisions affecting service provision and priorities
Demonstrate a sound understanding of equal opportunities and diversity issues in relation to employment and service delivery. / Understanding of Local Authority Framework
In depth understanding of safeguarding requirements / Application/interview/
Presentation
Personal skills / Ability to drive and deliver positive outcomes in a timely way.
Creative and innovative approach to problem solving
Responds well to new situations and shifting priorities.
Ability to persuade, motivate, negotiate, convince and influence others.
Good verbal and written communication skills.
Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines to achieve outcomes.
Able to effectively delegate appropriate authority to encourage others to take on responsibility / Application/interview/
presentation
Special working conditions / Will be required to work outside of normal working hours and to attend evening meetings / Application/interview

Ipswich Borough Council

PARKS & CEMETERIES

Vision Statement for Parks

Vision Statement for Cemeteries

‘To provide and administer a dignified and professional service for the disposal of the dead through burial and cremation in accordance with legal requirements, both in its enforcement powers and provider of regulated activities.

To develop a more commercial approach for the service by refreshing and enhancing the range of memorials; including cleaning, repair and the production of new memorials.

To provide public health funerals for those who die within the Borough and have no funds or next of kin to take responsibility for the service’

The ability to provide the Council with a ‘one stop shop’ for all parks and open space related functions, offers considerable benefits, these include; being able to respond quickly to instructions and requests, especially important when dealing with emergency situations; the capacity to prioritise at short notice in order to meet changing circumstances, without necessarily incurring additional expense, and having a range of in-house skills and knowledge available at all times in order to be able to defend and safeguard the Council’s interests.

The desire to continuously raise performance and efficiency is firmly embedded within the culture of the service area. National and inter-national accreditation to ISO 9001, (Management process), ISO 14001 (Environmental process) and ISO 18001 (Health & Safety process) bears witness to this fact.

The Parks and Cemeteries Service maintains 650 Hectares of open space but is directly responsible for 530.7 Hectares including 1 Special Protection Area, 2 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 2 English Heritage listed Parks and Gardens, 4 Conservation Areas 19 County Wildlife sites and 8 Local Nature Reserves as follows:

  • 12 (153.5 Hectares)Parks and Gardens sites including major historic parks at Chantry, Christchurch and Holywells and number of other large or important historical parks such Bourne Park, Gippeswyk Park, Alexandra Park and Landseer Park.
  • 4 managed cemetery grounds
  • 50 (62.2 Hectares) Amenity Green Spaces such as Dumbarton Road Recreation Ground, St Augustine’s Green, Murray Park, Brunswick Road Recreation Ground, Bramford Lane Recreation Ground.
  • 36 (202.2 Hectares) Natural and Semi Natural
  • 95 Play Areas.
  • 35 Youth Areas.
  • 19 (59.4 Hectares) Allotment fields.
  • Outdoor Sports areas such as Whitton and Gainsborough Sports and Community Centre outdoor playing pitches.

The above spaces receive an estimated 6 Million visits each year and are the venue for up to 50 events each year ranging from civic events such as Remembrance Day, major concerts, festivals and sporting events to, charity and fundraising events and smaller community events. E.g. Ipswich Music Day, Tour of Britain Cycling, Annual Fireworks, Park Runs.

The process of reaching out to and engaging with local communities and relevant user groups is widely accepted as one of the cornerstones of effective and sustainable management of urban green space. The Service encourages community ownership, is able to provide expertise and offer appropriate support to individuals and groups that show an interest in either improving or managing their local open space.

A well trained and competent workforce is essential to the success of any organisation and in this regard the Parks and Cemeteries Service is no different. Continuous staff development remains a priority for the service and natural progression through the career structure is encouraged.

Current Management Arrangements

The Council’s Parks and Cemeteries Service offers a ‘One Stop Shop’ for a diverse range of operational services; see diagram below:

Parks / FTE / Head count
Parks & Open Spaces Mgt (2.5) + Tech Support (4.7) / 7.2 / 11
Grounds Maintenance / 50 / 50
Park Patrol (8.93) Play Area Inspection (1) / 9.93 / 19
Landscape Consultancy Design and Construction / 4 / 4
Allotments / 0.5 / 1
Arboricultural Advice, Consultancy & Tree Surgery / 5 / 5
Wildlife Ranger Service & Greenways / 5 / 6
Total / 81.63 / 96
Cemeteries / FTE / Head count
Office staff / 4.5 / 7
Crematorium staff / 3 / 3
Stonemason / 2.5 / 4
Total / 10 / 14

The Service supports the Council’s underlying principle for the citizens of Ipswich as set out in the new Corporate Plan.

In general this includes:

  • Improving the health and well-being of the people of Ipswich
  • Reducing the levels of crime in the town
  • Improving the quality of life of the people of Ipswich
  • Enhancing the self-esteem of the people of Ipswich
  • Giving the people of Ipswich the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of cultural and sporting activities

The Parks and Cemeteries ‘Operational Plan’ will contribute directly to these principles.

Cemeteries

Ipswich Cemeteries & Crematorium is located to the North of the town centre and comprises of approximately 100 acres of managed burial grounds with a Crematorium nestled in the centre of the cemeteries.

The Cemeteries were established in 1855 by the town, and later became a Burial Authority. The town was growing fast and a place for the deceased to be laid to rest was required, churchyards were at capacity so Ipswich Cemetery was created.

In 1928 the Crematorium was established, this was a new process and initially did not sit well with people all over the country, Crematoriums were used sparingly as burials were far more popular. Today cremation is the most common with burials second.

In 1999 a new cemetery was opened on Tuddenham Road in Ipswich and was named The Millennium Cemetery, this will supply the town with adequate burial space for approximately 40 years and also has adequate space for the disposal of cremated remains.

The office staff manage the daily operation of the Cemetery & Crematorium; this includes all statutory paperwork for Cremations and Burials which take place on weekdays. The office also has a reception area open to the public for all enquires related to the deceased, this can include: family research, memorials, self-arranged funerals, grave purchase and general queries and questions about death and all its mysteries.

The crematorium staff takes care of the complex and its daily functions, this includes operation of the state of the art cremators that were installed in 2012 and meet all the requirements of a modern crematorium. The West Chapel which can have eight services a day and in these modern times a funeral can now take a much different form than in say the Victorian era. It is now common to have live performances, modern music and large attendances for this once taboo form of disposal of the deceased.

The crematorium staff also maintains and care for the very unique Temple of Remembrance which houses Niche Caskets containing loved ones ashes, these are a very unique form of memorial. The walls of the Temple are made up of Panels & Tablets; these hand cut memorials are very traditional and have existed in the building since the 1930’s. Finally the Temple houses the Book of Remembrance, a hand drawn book with inscription and drawings chosen by individual families.

The final team are the Stonemason and his assistants, this team act as Caretakers for the Cemeteries performing general repairs and maintenance where possible. The main role for them is to provide masonry services to the public; this includes cleaning and renovation of existing memorials within the Cemetery which could be Victorian through to a modern memorial. They have a very varied role and also a very good knowledge of all the plots and locations within the Cemetery.

The grounds are maintained by the Grounds maintenance team who care for the grass, trees and general appearance of the 100 acres we manage, they also undertake all grave digging duties with a small but dedicated team.