Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About the team we are recruiting to

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

Coventry itself is a vibrant and multicultural city with a fascinating and inspiring story to tell. Having been awarded the City of Culture 2021 and with many other events upcoming, Coventry is an exciting place to be.

The War Memorial Park is Coventry's premier park and attracts around 400,000 visitors from all over the city and beyond every year. Many come to enjoy a casual visit, while others come to take part in some of the many special events that take place throughout the year. 

Roughly 48.5 hectares in size, the park is made up of two areas, the formal garden with the War Memorial and the sports areas, with playing fields, footgolf course, Splash 'n' Play Park and play areas. There is also a 1.6 mile circular footpath around the park.

The War Memorial Park is now listed as a Grade II park by English Heritage and the War Memorial itself is listed as Grade II

You will be joining the Streetscene & Greenspace team as part of the War Memorial Park Services, we are a hard-working team responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the War Memorial Park, ensuring a welcoming place for both residents and visitors alike.

What is the job role?

Senior Estate Officer

About the team we are recruiting to

In Coventry we cherish and value our award-winning parks and openspaces. We know that they contribute significantly to the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of people and are vital to help protect our environment and wildlife.

The Parks and Open Spaces Team are a passionate, hardworking team responsible for the provision and development of safe, accessible and attractive parks and openspaces and the management, planning and maintenance of the Councils trees and urban forest. They work hard to ensure our parks are a welcoming place for all of our residents and visitors to enjoy today and for many years to come.

What is the job role?

Coventry City Council Parks & Openspaces Team are looking for a Senior Estate Officer to join the team.

The team at the War Memorial Park are an important part of our service, performing essential duties throughout the year to help maintain and develop the city’s green spaces. They are our ‘front-facing’ service and have a busy workload and we are looking for people with a range of different skills that will add to those of the existing team members.

Reporting to the War Memorial & Country Park Manager, the successful applicants will join a small team of existing staff to help manage the War Memorial Park and all associated sites.

The staff are required to work outdoors throughout the year and on rough terrain or even occasionally in rivers and ponds. Appropriate training will be provided as necessary.  

A uniform and appropriate PPE will be provided

The post requires working some anti-social hours include weekends and bank holidays.

Who are we looking for?

You will need to have practical skills and experience in (for example) customer services, horticulture, or nature conservation and a good awareness of health and safety.

You will need to be enthusiastic, diplomatic and have previous experience in working with the public.

You will be happy to work with all people regardless of culture, background or gender.

You will have prior experience of working with children and vulnerable adults (for which we will require you to have an enhanced DBS check).

You will have a full, clean UK driving license and we would especially welcome anyone who is both qualified and has experience in driving Category BE vehicles.  

Our workforce data shows that people from minority and ethnic backgrounds are under-represented in green space management and we encourage applicants from these backgrounds to apply.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Who are we looking for?

Skills and Abilities

Numeracy skills, e.g. cash handling.

Written communication skills, e.g. reports, surveys, publicity material.

Verbal communication skills – communicating with the general public, outside organisations and other employees, face to face and over the telephone.

Able to plan and lead activity sessions.

Able to respond to customers differing needs in a positive and constructive manner.

Able to implement countryside management projects to a high standard.

Ability to work as part of a team and also to work on own initiative and be self-motivated

Ability to analyse problems and make effective decisions

Ability to manage and motivate staff and volunteers

Staff management skills – the ability to lead and motivate staff

Experience

Experience of working in a parks / countryside management field

Qualifications

National Diploma in a relevant subject or equivalent relevant experience.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

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
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date(s): 16 & 17 Oct 2024.

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies

Coventry City Council