Contract Officer – Parks

Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: London Borough of Sutton
Service Area: Environment, Housing and Neighbourhoods / Neighbourhood Services / Parks and Open Spaces

Hours: 36 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 17:00

Start Date: 24 June 2026
End Date: 01 October 2026

Contract Reason: Project / role outside the establishment

Location

Office Base:
Civic Offices
St Nicholas Way
Sutton
SM1 1EA

Pay

PAYE Rate: £22.40 per hour
Umbrella/Ltd Rate: £28.74 per hour

Job Overview

London Borough of Sutton is seeking a Contract Officer – Parks to support contract monitoring and service delivery across parks, open spaces, verges, cemeteries and related public realm services.

The role will focus on monitoring contractor performance, ensuring statutory and legal compliance, supporting service improvements, inspecting parks/open spaces and buildings, responding to complaints, liaising with elected members and community groups, and supporting the effective delivery of frontline neighbourhood services.

The role profile confirms this post supports the monitoring of contractual performance across either waste/street cleansing/winter maintenance or parks and open spaces, including verges and cemeteries, ensuring contractors meet statutory obligations and local/contractual performance indicators.

Contract Officer JD

Important – Please Read Carefully

This role requires experience or strong knowledge of parks and open spaces management, contract monitoring, contractor performance, service inspections, public realm services or neighbourhood services.

You must be confident working with contractors, council colleagues, community groups, ward councillors and other stakeholders to resolve issues and support service delivery.

Candidates without parks/open spaces, contract monitoring, public realm, facilities, grounds maintenance, waste/street cleansing or local authority operational services experience are unlikely to be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Assist with monitoring contractual performance for parks and open spaces services
Monitor contractors against statutory, legal and contractual obligations
Check performance against local and contractual performance indicators
Work with council colleagues, contractors, community groups, ward councillors and other stakeholders
Resolve service issues and support development of frontline services
Support the delivery of parks, open spaces, verges and cemeteries services
Manage and supervise playground and play facility development, design, installation and inspection
Ensure play facilities comply with legislation and safety guidelines
Support enforcement activity relating to illegal encampments, incursions and misuse of council land
Carry out site visits involving Travellers, Police, bailiffs and council colleagues where required
Undertake risk assessments and inspections of parks, open spaces, buildings and sites
Support compliance with health and safety requirements, including Legionella, asbestos and fire-related checks where applicable
Oversee delivery of projects including public realm works
Support complaint resolution and respond to member enquiries
Prepare reports, service information and responses for committees, working groups and community organisations
Assist with budget monitoring and ensure resources are used efficiently
Investigate accidents and incidents on parks sites
Identify improvements to procedures, processes and infrastructure
Deputise for the Contract Manager when required

Essential Experience & Skills

Experience or knowledge of parks and open spaces management
Understanding of contract monitoring and contractor performance management
Understanding of local and contractual performance indicators
Experience working with delivery partners or contractors
Ability to inspect sites, infrastructure, buildings or open spaces
Knowledge of relevant regulatory frameworks, legislation and service drivers
Good written communication skills
Ability to produce reports, responses and service information
Ability to interpret and analyse information from different sources
Good ICT skills
Ability to build effective relationships across teams and organisations
Ability to manage complex customer complaints and service issues
Ability to work with elected members, community groups and stakeholders
Understanding of budget management principles
Resilience when dealing with complexity or conflict
Flexible approach to service needs and changing priorities

Desirable

Previous local authority parks or neighbourhood services experience
Experience with playgrounds, play inspections or public realm projects
Experience dealing with unauthorised encampments or land misuse
Experience with parks infrastructure inspections and risk assessments
Experience in waste, street cleansing or winter maintenance services
Contract management or commissioning experience

Additional Information

This order is for 1 worker and is open for candidates until 12 June 2026 at 17:00. The order specification confirms the start date, end date, working hours and client location at Civic Offices.

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Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.

I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Job Reference

RQ1740560