Play Area Officer
Play Area Officer
Company Description
Unlike most UK cities the majority of Milton Keynes’ parks, lakes and landscapes are cared for by an independent charity - The Parks Trust, who manage over 6,000 acres of beautiful green spaces.
More than 100 full and part-time employees and 240 volunteers deliver its essential work, from landscape maintenance and nature services to the provision of valuable recreation and leisure facilities. The Parks Trust connects communities at over 500 outdoor events and advances public education around wildlife, biodiversity and the environment.
Position
Location: Global House, Crownhill
Salary: £25,610.00 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Working hours: 37.5 hours per week
Flexibility: We understand the need to balance life and commitments in and out of work and will support flexibility wherever it is practical to do so.
We’re looking for a practical, organised Play Area Officer to help keep our children’s play areas across Milton Keynes safe, well-maintained, and enjoyable for the community. In this hands-on role, you’ll carry out regular inspections, complete minor repairs, plan routine maintenance, and support the development of new or refurbished play areas. You’ll also manage equipment records, respond to public enquiries, and work closely with our Landscape Architecture and hard landscape teams. Ideal for someone with good mechanical skills, strong organisation, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
KEY OBJECTIVES:
- Ensure the safety and compliance of The Parks Trust’s children’s play areas across Milton Keynes.
- Deliver routine and preventative maintenance to play areas, ensuring they are safe, functional, and well-presented.
- Support the planning and development of new or replacement play areas, contributing to design and improvement initiatives.
Requirements
Essential
- Proficiency in using hand tools and performing mechanical repairs on play equipment or similar machinery.
- Strong organisational, communication, and IT literacy skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
- A full UK driver’s license.
Desirable
- Experience in maintaining play equipment.
- Current or past registration as an RPII Operational Inspector.
- Familiarity with PSS Live software.
Don’t worry if you don’t tick every box, we understand that not every candidate will meet every requirement. If you’re excited about the opportunity and feel you can contribute to our team, we’d still love for you to apply.
In return we offer a comprehensive benefits package:
- Generous and flexible annual leave provision which includes:
- 25 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata)
- Accrue up to 3 additional days for each full year of service
- Option to buy and sell up to 5 days of annual leave each year
- Flexible bank holiday policy to allow choice in which religious holidays you observe
- Excellent contributory Pension Scheme with up to 10% employer contribution
- Medical cash plan
- Free eye tests
- Occupational sick pay*
- Income Protection and Life Assurance Cover*
- Hybrid Working Policy offering up to 60/40 office/remote work (role dependent)
- Enhanced Family Friendly Policies*
- Discounts with a wide range of high street and online retailers, hospitality and fitness providers as well as for the activities and the café at Willen Lake
- Salary sacrifice schemes for:
- Cycle to Work
- Electric Cars
- Ikea (homeware) and Curry’s (electronics)
- Employee Assistance Programme with a free and confidential 24/7 helpline for you and members of your household to use
- Highly knowledgeable teams with a great working environment
- A 3-month Induction Plan giving you full oversight of The Trust
- Ongoing support with training and development
*Applies after a qualifying period
Other information
Please apply online using the link through our website, using our People System, Cezanne. If you experience any issues with the link or the system, please contact hr@theparkstrust.com so we can assist.
The closing date for applications for the role is: 3rd April 2026
1 Stage Interviews held via Teams: 10th April 2026 This will be a 15–20-minute informal conversation with the Hiring Manager to talk about your employment history, why this job appealed and what you’re looking to get from the role.
2 Stage Face-to-Face Interviews: 14th April 2026 Held at Drakes Mews this will be a 1-hour competency-based interview with the Hiring Manager and a member of the People Team.