Gardens Delivery Lead

Reporting to the Operations Strategy & Delivery Manager, the Gardens Delivery Lead is responsible for leading a highly specialised team delivering horticultural and gardens services across the city. A key focus of the role is embedding strong commercial discipline at the delivery level. You’ll strengthen job costing, productivity, planning and cost control, ensuring work is visible, measurable and well managed, while maintaining high standards of safety and quality. You will translate operational plans into efficient, well‑executed field delivery, ensuring Napier’s public spaces are consistently maintained to a high standard – clean, safe and looking great. With a strong commercial mindset, you will ensure services meet contractual requirements and deliver value for money for our community. This role brings clarity, direction and continuous improvement to a skilled frontline workforce, embedding effective systems and high‑performing, safe day‑to‑day operations. Te Āheinga - The Opportunity Lead a highly skilled gardens delivery team delivering horticultural services across Napier’s public spaces Ensure delivery of gardens, trees, mobile gardens and nursery operations meets SLAs, safety, quality and budget expectations Provide clear direction to experienced supervisors and specialists, enabling strong performance and accountability Apply a commercial mindset to optimise resources, improve efficiency and deliver value for ratepayers Act as the technical authority for horticulture and landscaping standards, providing clear direction on operationalising asset management plans to ensure best practice and compliance Drive continuous improvement across planning, systems, reporting and field delivery outcomes He kōrero mōhou - About You Relevant horticultural, landscaping or trade qualification (or equivalent senior operational experience) 7+ years’ experience in senior operational delivery within horticulture, landscaping or public space maintenance Proven ability to lead experienced teams or supervisors in a technical, field‑based environment Strong commercial capability including budgeting, job costing, cost control and SLA delivery Deep technical knowledge of horticulture, landscaping or nursery operations with subject matter credibility Confident, practical leader with strong communication, decision‑making and stakeholder engagement skills Ngā painga mōhou - What we Offer 5 weeks' annual leave after 2 years service Discounted health insurance work scheme + Eye test subsidy Retailer discounts + study assistance Employee Assistance Program (OCP) Quarterly values awards + Birthday vouchers + Social club Free flu vaccinations (annual) Ka Awatea Cultural Wānanga + NCC Kapa Haka Te Reo Māori language classes This is a permanent, full‑time role working 42.5 hours per week, Monday‑Friday. You’ll be based in Napier. The annual salary package for this role is between $98,696 – $116,113 (including KiwiSaver), with the final offer depending on your skills and experience. At Napier City Council, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. #J-18808-Ljbffr