Maintenance Operations Manager

Location: Richmond, VIC | Part-Time (0.6 FTE) | Classification: SCHADS Award, Level 6

Cultivating Community, a purpose-driven social enterprise with over 25 years of experience, is looking for a Maintenance Operations Manager to lead and grow our garden design, build, and maintenance services.

This is your opportunity to drive innovation, manage and inspire a diverse team, and help expand our footprint across social housing and community assets in Melbourne.

About Us

Cultivating Community creates equitable access to urban green places, social connection, and opportunities to thrive. Through programs like community gardens, inclusive employment pathways, and lifelong learning, we’re building more connected, sustainable communities.

Our work is guided by our values of Positivity, Connection, Opportunity, and Creativity.

The Role

The Maintenance Operations Manager role is to provide leadership in the delivery and growth of all activities related to garden designs, builds and maintenance services across all our gardens and contracted sites. They will have a role of continual improvement in enhancing organisational focus on delivery and procedures including safety and wellbeing, productivity, quality, standards, environmental practices while exceeding client requirements.

As Maintenance Operations Manager, you’ll:

Lead and manage a team of maintenance professionals across garden design, build, and upkeep services.

Develop and implement strategic plans for maintenance operations, aligning with organisational goals.

Drive growth by identifying and securing new contracts and tenders, particularly within social housing and community-based projects.

Prepare and submit competitive tenders and proposals for contracts and projects.

Manage all relevant budgets and reporting internally and as required with contracts

Implement best practices and standards for maintenance operations, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory requirements and our work towards ISO Standards.

Oversee the planning, scheduling, and execution of maintenance operations, ensuring efficiency and quality.

Develop and implement designs, builds and maintenance within community settings, promoting engagement and participation.

Collaborate with Social Connection and Gardens Program Areas, community organisations and stakeholders to identify needs and opportunities for community activation projects.

Measure and report on the impact of program area, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.

About You

We’re looking for someone with:

Strong leadership and team management experience.

A proven track record in business development or contract acquisition.

Background in landscaping, garden maintenance, or related service delivery.

Commercial acumen and knowledge of compliance, safety, and ISO standards.

The ability to communicate with empathy, clarity, and purpose.

A commitment to social equity, sustainability, and community empowerment.

Why Join Us?

Be part of a recognised and growing social enterprise.

Lead a team that’s hands-on, passionate, and socially engaged.

Drive strategic growth in one of Victoria’s most impactful community greening programs.

Be based in our Richmond office, working directly in communities across Melbourne (this is not a hybrid role)

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you believe you would be successful in this role. If you would like a detailed position description, please contact Amelia at [email protected].

We will review applications as they come in and therefore no official closing date.