Head Gardener

Head Gardener
An excellent opportunity for an experienced horticultural professional to lead the care, maintenance and development of Grade II listed gardens and grounds within a nationally significant historic country park.
If youve also worked in the following roles, wed also like to hear from you:
Senior Gardener, Lead Gardener, Horticultural Supervisor, Gardens Manager, Horticultural Manager, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, Estate Gardener, Grounds Supervisor, Landscape Supervisor, Garden Team Leader
SALARY:
£29,719 - £31,691 per annum + Benefits

LOCATION:

Elvaston, Derby, East Midlands (DE72)  Hybrid working options, subject to service needs, can be discussed at interview
JOB TYPE:
Full-Time, Permanent

WORKING HOURS:

37 hours per week
JOB OVERVIEW
This is a rewarding opportunity for a Head Gardener to take a lead role in protecting, maintaining and enhancing historic gardens, grounds and wider estate landscapes for visitors, communities and future generations.
Working as the Head Gardener you will support the delivery of horticultural standards, annual work schedules, garden maintenance, enhancement projects and safe working practices across the site.
As the Head Gardener you will also line manage the gardening team, support contractors and volunteers, contribute to visitor engagement and help ensure the gardens deliver heritage, biodiversity, wellbeing and visitor experience benefits.
DUTIES
Your duties as the Head Gardener include:
Horticultural Standards:  Assist with establishing appropriate horticultural standards and annual schedules of work in line with the heritage status of the gardens and available resources
Garden Maintenance:  Ensure gardens and grounds are improved and maintained through safe delivery of management plans and effective use of colleagues, contractors, volunteers, plant and equipment
Landscape Enhancements:  Manage horticultural enhancements across the gardens and wider estate in accordance with agreed plans
Team Leadership:  Line manage gardening team members, organise work and provide practical horticultural advice, guidance and skills development
Contractor and Volunteer Support:  Oversee contractor activity and support volunteers, community groups and partners involved in maintaining and enhancing the gardens
Visitor Engagement:  Contribute to high-quality visitor information, interpretation, events, activities, education and experiences that help people connect with nature and the outdoors
Reporting and Planning:  Report on completed and planned garden maintenance and enhancement programmes, preparing information and analysis for colleagues and management
Budget Awareness:  Contribute to monitoring service budgets so resources are used efficiently and effectively
Stakeholder Working:  Work collaboratively with internal teams, environmental stakeholders, public authorities, voluntary sector partners and community organisations
Service Support:  Represent the organisation from a countryside service perspective and deputise for the Countryside Assistant Manager when required
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
ESSENTIAL
Significant practitioner experience in horticultural practices
Experience planning and supervising work to improve service efficiency and visitor or service user experience
Experience operating services or projects in line with health and safety management systems
Experience monitoring contractors
Experience organising and delivering engagement activities that strengthen visitors connections with nature and the outdoors
Applied horticultural knowledge and skills relating to the maintenance and development of grounds and gardens
Ability to speak fluent English to communicate fully with clients and the public
Initiative and judgement to research and resolve problems independently or as part of a team
Courteous and professional approach when supporting the public, colleagues and partners
ICT competent
Strong desire to protect and enhance natural and built heritage
Team player with the ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners
Ability and willingness to travel on a county and national scale
Ability to travel to remote locations, sometimes on foot over rough terrain
Level 3 qualification relevant to the responsibilities of the role
DESIRABLE
Experience working with environmental stakeholders, public authorities and the voluntary sector
Experience working in Grade II listed gardens or equivalent historical gardens
Level 4 qualification
BENEFITS
25 days of annual leave plus another 5 once you reach 5 years of continuous service
Flexi time scheme
Generous local government pension scheme
Guaranteed incremental annual pay increase
Cycle to work scheme
Discounts at selected county leisure centres and much more!
APPLY TODAY
By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.
JOB
-P15049
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