Head of Parks and Urban Forest

Reference number: 11299

Closing date: 11:00pm, Monday 14 September 2026

- Full-time temporary position for 3 months.
- Senior Executive Officer position.
- Salary and conditions commensurate with skills and experience, plus 12% superannuation.

The Opportunity This is a senior leadership role responsible for leading Council’s parks, cityscapes, sports fields, conservation and urban forest services, ensuring the delivery of high standards of presentation, amenity, safety and environmental performance. You will provide strategic leadership across a diverse portfolio, driving continuous improvement, effective asset management and high-quality service delivery. You will work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to align operational priorities with Council’s strategic objectives, community needs, budget requirements and legislative obligations.

You will also play a key role in building a high-performing leadership team and fostering a positive organisational culture focused on accountability, safety, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the strategic planning, coordination and continuous improvement of cityscapes operations, parks maintenance and presentation, sports fields and turf management, conservation and natural area management, and trees and urban forest operations.
- Lead the planning and delivery of integrated parks and urban forest services that enhance community amenity, environmental outcomes and asset performance.
- Develop and implement policies, strategies and service standards relevant to parks, cityscapes, conservation and urban forest management.
- Build and develop a high-performing leadership team and service culture that demonstrates accountability, strong safety performance and effective stewardship of Council’s open space assets.
- Provide expert advice and recommendations to the Manager City Presentation and Executive Leadership Team on parks, open space, urban forest and environmental service matters.




- Champion a positive safety culture and ensure robust systems, processes and behaviours are embedded to manage risk and meet occupational health and safety obligations.
- Develop, implement and monitor service plans, operational programs and performance measures to achieve agreed service levels, budget outcomes and continuous improvement targets.
- Provide strong leadership in contractor management, procurement and contract performance, ensuring value for money, safety, compliance and service quality.
- Collaborate across Council to drive service reviews, process improvements and performance reporting.

Skills & Experience You will bring a relevant degree directly related to the portfolio, with postgraduate qualifications in business management or a related discipline highly regarded. You will have extensive and comprehensive experience leading complex and diverse teams to deliver consistent, high-quality services, solutions and programs, together with strong leadership and positive people management experience. You will demonstrate superior communication, advocacy, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships, motivate others and achieve cooperation for positive outcomes. You will also have proven project management expertise, robust critical thinking and analytical capability, and the ability to bring multidisciplinary teams together to achieve cross-functional outcomes.

Experience working within a complex organisational environment and the ability to foster a constructive organisational culture that reflects organisational values will be highly regarded.

Next Steps

Applications must be submitted through our online system and should be in line with the Moonee Valley City Council Application Guide. Applications that do not meet these requirements may not be considered.

For further information, please view the Position Description and/or contact Dave Murnane, Manager City Presentation (03) 9243 1743 to seek further insights to the role.

Please note: Applications may be reviewed as they are received, and Council reserves the right to close this advertisement prior to the current closing date.

📌 Head of Parks and Urban Forest (Aberfeldie)
🏢 City Of Moonee Valley
📍 Aberfeldie