Trails & Estate Manager

Job Title: Trails and Estate Manager

Reporting to: COO & Trails Director

Management Responsibilities: Yes

Salary: From 40k DOE

 

About BikePark Wales

BikePark Wales is the UK’s number one mountain bike facility located at Merthyr Tydfil on the edge of the Brecon Beacons national park just 25 minutes north of central Cardiff.  The park is now an internationally recognised destination and a mecca for mountain bikers, descending on Myndd Gethin, a 491-metre summit.

BikePark Wales is a young, successful business which is growing fast. 

The current offering includes over 40 world class mountain bike trails, a vehicular uplift service, café, bike shop, bike hire, coaching and events but an ambitious development plan is now underway to both improve the existing services and add new products to the existing site.

 

The Role

The trails and estates manager is a senior role within the BikePark Wales management team.

They are responsible for management of the elements of the business which are predominantly focused on the hillside around the trail network, including: The trails, the uplift road, access tracks, tree safety, adverse weather management and water and silt control amongst others.

The trails and estates manager has responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the trail network at BikePark Wales and the trail crew and roads teams which collectively maintain the trails, access tracks and uplift road and associated tasks.

The role is a predominantly administrative based management role with an expectation that the individual will be comfortable working in the outside environment with experience of the construction industry and a likely 70/30 split of office to site-based time.

The individual must be organised, structured and able to switch between tasks and topics comfortably as well as effectively integrating with the wider company team. A general understanding of the company operations will assist in the day-to-day duties and operation of the department.

They report to the COO as a head of department for all operations and to the Trails Director for all trail specific information and ongoing quality control. 

Current Department Size = 9 (including manager) increasing to 11 within 12 months

 

General Requirements of the Role

• Overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the Trail Crew Department, including management of the maintenance and ongoing development of the BikeParks trail network (working under the guidance of the Trails Director), and the quality and maintenance of the uplift road and access tracks.
• Adhering to the guidance and principles relating to the trails and site management as set out in the operating lease and the Principal Method Statement Document between BikePark Wales and landlords Natural Resources Wales.
• NEBOSH qualification in construction (or alternatively IOSH) to inform the management of the trail crew department creating a safe and professional working environment. 
• Overseeing that operations are carried out safely, efficiently and to a high quality by conducting regular site visits of both maintenance and project tasks.
• Forward planning and researching new and more efficient ways of working.
• Leading meetings and toolbox talks with the Trail Crew department.
• Planning all physical works with support of the trail crew supervisors.
• Reporting into the Trails Director/COO on progress against targets and on planning of future works using a Gantt chart to plan and plot progress.
• Control and management over the department budgets with dialogue and reporting to the finance team.
• A thorough understanding of Risk Management relating to trails for Mountain Biking, to protect customers ‘the riders’, the company against litigation, and the trail crew staff and public whilst performing the physical trail works, including creation of and adherence to Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
• Oversee that trail crew plant and equipment is well-maintained and servicing up to date.
• Manage the team’s qualifications and ensuring tickets remain current to maintain compliance for any equipment used. Plan the teams   personal development pathways and any training required to progress.
• Tree safety management – Managing the process of annual tree safety inspections relating to trails and roads.
• Oversight of water control measures and silt management in the areas of BikePark Wales responsibility.
• An Excellent understanding of the company adverse weather policy. Weekly Monitoring of weather and taking the lead when coordinating Trail sweeps to ensure the park can open, when safe to do so.
• Lone working system in place and monitored for the department.
• Ensure all Trail Crew related documents and data are up to date, organised and stored on the company server.
• Manage behavior of department to ensure that they represent BikePark Wales in a professional manner.
• A strong ambassador for the BikePark.

As a senior Head Of Department, you will be part of the duty management team which will include occasional weekend cover as planned through a Rota and agreed by the COO.

Optional Ability to Work with Tools/Plant and Testing

The Manager will have the optional opportunity to work with hand tools and plant and equipment as appropriately trained/qualified if desired, to assist in the department workings, trail sweeps and testing. This is not a requirement of the role.

 

Specific Responsibilities

• Conduct Weekly, Random Site Safety Reviews
• Conduct Weekly, Random Site Quality Reviews
• Use of App based systems to manage trail inspection system (Auditus)
• Use of Riskproof H&S management system to conduct audits and store H&S Documents
• Trail Inspections completed on time each month (Target: end of week 1, deadline: end of week 2)
• Worksheets created from monthly inspections (by end of week 1)
• Oversee Trail and Road Diary capturing significant events e.g., additional works, project works, sickness, deliveries, repairs.
• Management of Departments Rotas using Rotacloud – The teams rota app system reviewed weekly, signing off the teams hours for payroll.
• Oversee that trail maintenance is completed monthly to coloured priority codes.
• Inspections checked weekly before Friday morning meeting for completed tasks and updated with dates of completion on Auditus software.
• Providing department level or individual support for post-accident trail investigations/inspections.
• Working proactively to manage and administer the adverse weather policy – including managing the trail sweep process for adverse weather and responsibility for the remote weather station.  
• Provide trail crew support for uplift operations when roads require non-standard hours support or works – e.g weekend dust suppression, out of hours works.
• Manage balance of team works – maintenance/trail upgrades/new build projects and team’s workflow Ensuring adequate resource is focussed on maintenance to maintain quality standards and efficient use of team members every day.
• Oversee plant usage and plant repairs including plant and tools servicing schedule.
• Record and monitor training and staff qualifications and plan for upskilling and development of team.
• Maintain understanding of stockpiled stone on hillside for trail works with approx. known quantities for works.
• Manage process of Stone deliveries to site.
• Trail amendment forms completed including testing and video updates leading to sign-off prior to sections being opened following amendments.
• Practical Completion Forms completed prior to new trail sections opening, including testing and video updates leading to sign-off.
• Ensure emergency access map/plan is up to date with any new trails, marker posts and access routes added as required.

 

The following are current expectations of the Trail / Estate Manager to perform on a daily/weekly/monthly/annual basis, as highlighted.

• Manage safe working practices. Prepare and manage Risk Assessments and Method Statements for Trail Crew operations. Ensure up to date including annual review, perform reviews and updates with staff annually or as required.
• Lead Trail crew meetings: Weekly: Fridays – full team meeting 9am for 15 mins, Supervisor meeting 1-2hrs Friday AM following full team meeting.
• Ensure delivery of teams daily meeting led by supervisors - 10 min huddle to run through days plans.
• Weekly (or as necessary) – Check notice boards are updated in dry room for planned works and plant and vehicle info.
• Share Weekly TC meeting minutes with COO and Trails Director 
• Manage Trail Crew Budget for purchasing of building materials, tools, consumables, plant repairs etc – Track spend monthly with meeting with Finance team.
• Work with H&S Manager and report to COO on an annual review of the company weather policy.
• Sit on the Events team when required to ensure trails and hill use is correctly considered when planning events. 
• Ensure structure inspections are reviewed and completed to agreed timescales by engineer - tunnel/shelter/ladder qualifiers etc.
• Tree Safety OGB 1 survey completed by trained member(s) of the team (scheduled). Zone 1 annual – zone 2 is 3-5 yearly.
• Trail Video inspections completed and filed on the server every 6 months (scheduled in Calendar).
• Setting up and hosting annual Volunteer Dig days.

 

The details contained in this Job Description summarise the main expectations of the role at the date it was prepared. It should be understood that the nature of individual roles will evolve and change as the service develops and grows. Consequently, BikePark Wales will review and revise this Job Description as required in consultation with post holders.

To apply please send a CV to jobs@bikeparkwales.com

Note:

Note: The details contained in this Job Description summarise the main expectations of the role at the date it was prepared. The nature of individual roles will evolve and change as the service develops and grows. Consequently, BikePark Wales will review and revise this Job Description as required in consultation with post holders.

BikePark Wales welcomes enquiries and applications from everyone and values diversity in the workplace. A commitment to promoting diversity and developing a workplace environment where all staff are treated with dignity and respect is central to our recruitment process.

BikePark Wales is responsible for deciding how it holds and uses personal information about you and complies with all data protection law and principles. Any personal information that you provide to us during the recruitment process will be stored on a computer to assist with the administration of the recruitment process.

 We will use the personal information we collect about you to:

• Assess your skills, qualifications, and suitability for the role;
• Carry out background and reference checks, where applicable;
• Communicate with you about the recruitment process;
• Keep records related to our hiring processes; and
• Comply with legal or regulatory requirements.

We also need to process your personal information to decide whether to enter into a contract of employment with you but we will not store your personal information for any longer than is necessary.