Project Manager (Leisure, Parks and Green Spaces)

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

The Leisure, Parks and Green Spaces Service is part of the Housing, Climate and Economy Directorate and delivers quality services and programmes for residents in Hackney. It has a key role to play in providing services which are universal, but sufficiently flexible to meet a diverse range of needs. The Service is responsible for five main areas of delivery:

– Events

– Leisure

– Parks & Green Spaces

– Projects & Programmes

– Sport & Physical Activity

The Service contributes to “Working Together for a Better Hackney” by focusing on its core vision, purpose and aims and doing this by embracing and demonstrating the Council’s core values.

The Projects & Programmes team are looking for someone to manage a variety of projects that will benefit our borough. We have an extremely ambitious programme of work and are therefore looking for a new Project Manager to join the team. You will be responsible for turning ideas into finished solutions, working with colleagues from the Parks Development and the Parks Operations teams leading on projects of varying sizes with a focus on both leisure and green spaces. This is a hugely important part of the Council’s work to make Hackney a place for everyone.

Day to day, you will carry out site visits and meetings across Hackney and beyond. You will spend time planning and delivering projects – ensuring we operate within relevant statutory, legal and procurement frameworks. You will be managing complex budgets (including internal and external funding sources) and will need to demonstrate a sound understanding of contract and financial management,

To thrive in this role, you should have strong problem solving and organisational skills and sound judgement. The successful candidate will also possess outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, both internally and externally. You will be adept at motivating contractors, collaborating with fellow Officers, and working closely with the public to build community trust and drive excellence across all areas.You must have a good understanding of Planning, Procurement and Construction. You should have worked on capital projects as well as physical builds. 

This role would suit a project officer ready for career progression. Ideally, you will also have a Project Management qualification and as well as experience of working in a Leisure or Green Spaces environment.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 21 July 2026 (22.59)

Interview date: W/C 17 August 2026

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk