Head Gardener

Full time (36½  hours per week)
Grade 6  – £32,332 – £38,205
Closing date 5.00pm on 16 June 2024

The Head Gardener is responsible for the day‐to‐day management, short- and long-term planning, and development of the gardens and grounds and line manages the Assistant Gardener. The Head Gardener reports directly to the Facilities Director who is responsible, in association with the Garden Fellow, for setting desired standards and goals for the gardens and grounds. In conjunction with the Domestic Committee, the Garden Fellow is responsible for defining desired standards and overall policy and the Facilities Director is responsible for budget, resources and priorities.

The Head Gardener will work with other College teams to deliver high quality college gardens and to present the site in the best possible way.

The post holder’s role is to deliver high standards of horticultural maintenance in a sympathetic and innovative manner and to advise the Facilities Director and the Garden

Fellow on potential improvements that will contribute to the evolutionary development of the college gardens.

PURPOSE AND DUTIES OF THE POST

Principal responsibilities

• To be responsible for all College grounds and gardens
• To develop a grounds and gardens strategy and plan in consultation with the Facilities Director and Garden Fellow
• To showcase the gardens in the best interests of the College
• With a strong focus on forward planning and the anticipation of future needs, the Head Gardener will be expected to lead, motivate, and develop the garden team.
• Plan, oversee and work alongside the Assistant Gardener in the maintenance of the college gardens and grounds, liaising with the Facilities Director and Garden Fellow as required.
• Management of the grounds and gardens budget including preparation of annual budgets and regular budget monitoring reports.

Grounds and garden management

• Recommend, design and implement new or replacement areas.
• Agree and implement seasonal work programmes with the Facilities Director
• Work with the College departments as needed in order to plan and prepare the College grounds and gardens for College events
• Develop and manage the gardens throughout the year, responding appropriately to any building works, maintenance schedules and college events
• Manage and maintain all garden and landscaping equipment to the necessary regulatory standards, assessing the need for specialist maintenance or contractors as needed.
• Plan seasonal planting for borders and containers in order to maintain a garden of interest on a year-round basis• Liaise with College and contractors when arranging for work to be carried out in College and in College houses. Ensure that tenants in College houses are contacted to arrange for access for the work to be done
• Manage wall shrubs, climbers and trees
• Authorise and oversee the ordering of supplies within the budget and authorisation constraint.
• Manage the greenhouse: organise annual seed sowing, pricking out seedlings, taking cuttings, potting and planting out, and other propagation as required.
• Tend to bulbs, construct cold frames and frame tops and undertake weekend watering as required
• Organise the ordering, erection and removal/disposal of the College Christmas tree(s) and lights to be put up on outside trees
• Fill and arrange large pots with Spring bulbs or summer flowering plants.
• Oversee the contract providing care of lawns, ensuring the lawns are well presentable at all times.
• Oversee contractors – including tree surgeons as necessary.
• To perform or schedule weekend maintenance duties, such as watering, as deemed necessary by circumstance or as requested by the Facilities Director
• Ensure sufficient watering is carried out in the Summer months.
• Take up training opportunities when offered;
• Attend management and other departmental meetings as required

Health & safety

• Ensure all necessary staff are sufficiently trained and qualified to operate machinery.
• Ensure risk assessments, method statements, pesticide records and COSHH data sheets are properly prepared and recorded for all duties carried out by the Gardeners
• Consult with the kitchen to plan and maintain herbs, fruit and vegetables for culinary use
• Manage the use of pesticides, herbicides, ensure these are used judiciously and in line with current or new legislation, risk assessments, method statements and COSHH sheets
• Manage the disposal of garden waste in appropriate, statutory and environmentally conscious methods . There are two large composting areas.
• Ensure that all duties carried out by the gardeners adhere to the College’s Health and

Safety Policy

• Monitor tree health on a regular basis, report defects to Facilities Director, and liaise with Arboricultural contractors
• Ensure that all paved areas, paths and steps are clear of weeds, leaves and algae in the summer, and clear of ice and snow in the winter.

Security

• The post holder will be responsible for the security of garden buildings, equipment and materials.
• The Head Gardner is responsible for monitoring boundary fences around all College property and advising the Facilities Director where breaches have occurred or are at risk of occurring

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• RHS level 2 or 3 or RHS Diploma in Horticulture or equivalent professional training
• Experience with landscaping, design and planting – ability to maintain a garden of interest on a year-round basis in a historical setting.
• NPTC Spraying qualifications PA1 and PA6.
• Certification in the use of chain saws, fungicides and herbicides
• Strong knowledge of the principles of horticulture
• Experience of working to budgets and deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build relationships across teams and departments.
• Knowledge and experience of tree care in conservation areas
• Ability to organise work and prioritise effectively in order to manage grounds across multiple sites
• Commitment to sustainability, organic ethos and an environmentally-friendly approach
• Proactive and confident working on own initiative
• Able to work effectively as part of a team.
• Proactive and flexible approach to ensure operational needs of ASC.
• Good working knowledge of Health and Safety requirements relating to garden and landscape maintenance.
• Experience of operating, and basic maintaining of small machinery.
• Willing and able to work outside in all weathers
• Good standard of literacy and numeracy.
• Sound IT skills, familiar with Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel

Desirable

• Nursery and propagation knowledge.
• Recent management and/or supervisory experience.
• Experience of budgeting setting
• Experience in giving occasional garden tours and writing a gardener’s blog.
• Basic tree inspection course (Lantra).

Apply here