Gardens Delivery Lead
Lead the teams that shape how Napier looks, feels, and functions every day, strengthening commercial discipline and turning operational delivery into visible pride for our community.
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.
We will be interviewing applications as we receive them and may close the role when we have found the right person.
He kōrero mō Te Kaunihera o Ahuriri - About NCC
At Napier City Council, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and work to make our hiring process fair and accessible. If you need any support or adjustments during your application or interview, let us know—we’re happy to help!
Our success is grounded in strong partnerships with Mana Whenua and Iwi, supported by our Māori Partnerships team, Te Waka Rangapū, which builds cultural capability through education and training.
Before you join, you’ll need to complete pre-employment checks (including criminal background checks, with some roles requiring health screening and drug & alcohol testing). As an NCC employee, you may also be called on to support Civil Defence emergencies when our community needs us most.
Please visit Napier City Council Careers website to see full job description
- Department
- Corporate & Commercial Services
- Locations
- The Depot
- Employment Type
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
