Allotments Technical Officer

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

2/19/2025

Job title: Allotments Technical Officer

Salary: C1 £27,711 to £30,060

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: The Arium

As an Allotments Technical Officer you’ll thrive on challenge, you’ll need to be highly motivated and forward-thinking. Assisting in the management of allotment provision across the city. With 101 sites and over 1000 tenants you will need excellent organisational, admin and communication skills.

We are looking for a candidate who enjoys meeting people and has an interest in growing crops or horticulture. You will need to be diplomatic, friendly, approachable but firm and able to problem solve in a fair and precise manner. An understanding of office-based systems is essential.

Knowledge and understanding of current allotment law desirable.

You’ll spend a proportion of your time outdoors in all weathers which is lovely during the summer.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About You

As an Allotments Technical Officer you will be

• reliable, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• confident with administration procedures;
• able to remain calm and work on your own initiative;
• a team player with excellent organisational skills;
• as comfortable out on site as in the office.
  
  
  

About The Role

You will contribute to the Council by supporting the Senior Allotments Officer in delivering this statutory service . Helping to find new ways of working and liaising with tenants on a daily basis.

What We Offer You

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.
  
  
  

How To Apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Helen Clayton Senior allotments Officer 0113 3367463 [email protected]

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose - To assist the Senior Allotments Officer to manage and develop the allotment service provision in support of the objectives of the Climate, Energy and Greenspaces service.

Responsibilities

• To provide a quality service to tenants and allotment associations.
• To undertake an inspection and monitoring function across all allotment sites liaising with plot holders and associations to help resolve issues and concerns relating to allotments.
• To advise on legal compliance in relation to the statutory provision of allotments.
• To undertake processes to ensure that sites are managed well and in accordance with rules and usage arrangements.
• To facilitate maintenance plans for allotments across the city in line with the allotment budget and dealing with land lease and rental enquiries.
• To commission and manage works on site and liaise with area operations and contractors as appropriate.
• To provide on-site supervision of maintenance work and support to team members, potentially including interns during term time.
• To provide on-site support to organisers of events and activities ensuring that health and safety and legal requirements are met.
• To contribute to the development and implementation of an allotment plan which will identify provision standards and activity based on sustainable resource plans.
• To compile and provide performance information that is accurate and timely as requested.
• To represent the Climate, Energy and Greenspaces service at all appropriate internal and external meetings.
• To fulfil duties in line with the Parks and Green Space Strategy and related strategies and service objectives and in support of the aims of the Leeds Strategic Plan and Council Business Plan.
• To ensure the procurement of goods and services is in accordance with financial regulations, corporate policy and legal requirements.
• Willing to take personal responsibility and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Willing to abide by the Council’s policies on equality and diversity in the duties of the post and as an employee of the Council.
• Perform all functions and duties effectively and in accordance with the following:
• the Council’s Policies and Codes of Practice.
• the Council's Constitution, including Contracts and Financial Procedure Rules.
• the Council’s Values, service objectives and relevant quality procedures.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
  
  
  

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

As per employee specification.

Personal Specification

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.

Essential Requirements

It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills Required

• An ability to source and assimilate accurate information.
• An ability to provide written and numerical data along with arguments in order to present verbal and written reports.
• An ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
• An ability to demonstrate good ICT skills (e.g. email; word processing; spreadsheets; database)
• Accurate and methodical approach to work.
• An ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• The ability to undertake site inspections to recognised standards.
• An ability to organise time effectively.
• An ability to prioritise and organise own work schedules.
• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• An Ability to provide on-site supervision of maintenance work and support to team members, potentially including interns during term time.
  
  
  

Knowledge required

• Knowledge and understanding of horticulture and grounds management.
• Ability to access remote sites efficiently.
  
  
  

Experience required

• Experience of working in a customer facing environment.
• Experience of supervising teams.
• Experiencedinmanaginginformation.
• Implementation of performance and management systems.
• Experience of providing high quality detailed responses within short time scales.
• Working under pressure to meet deadlines.
  
  
  

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Full clean driving licence.
  
  
  

Desirable requirements

It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Skills Required

Provision of excellent customer service

Knowledge Required

Knowledge of the principles and application of relevant allotment legislation

Experience Required

Local government decision making process

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