At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the care and development of historic gardens in a beautiful country park.
- Company: Join a dedicated team preserving nature and heritage for future generations.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexi time, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional growth and a chance to work outdoors.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on community engagement and connect visitors with nature.
- Qualifications: Experience in horticulture and team leadership is essential.
The predicted salary is between 29719 - 31691 £ per year.
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.
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
- 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!
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.
Head Gardener in Derby employer: All The Top Bananas
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Gardener in Derby
✨Get Hands-On at Local Events
Hit up local horticulture fairs, plant shows, and farmer’s markets. These gatherings are a goldmine for networking and usually attract employers looking for passionate candidates. Chat with the vendors and fellow enthusiasts; you never know who might know about a full-time opening at a place like All The Top Bananas.
✨Join Gardening Clubs and Online Communities
Become part of local gardening clubs or online forums where like-minded folks share tips and job leads. These communities can often clue you in on upcoming vacancies. Remember, people in these groups often work in the industry and can help us get our foot in the door at places like All The Top Bananas.
✨Show Off Your Green Thumb
Consider creating a public portfolio showcasing your gardening projects, designs, or any unique plants you've cultivated. A well-documented journey through your horticulture experiences can make you stand out when chasing full-time roles. It’s basically your way of shouting, 'Look at what I can do!' to potential employers.
✨Apply Early and Often!
The horticulture field can be competitive, especially for full-time roles. Keep an eye on seasonal hiring trends and don’t hesitate to apply as soon as positions open up. Check out our website regularly for openings at All The Top Bananas; staying ahead of the game can give us the edge we need.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Gardener in Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Green Thumb:In horticulture, it's all about showcasing your hands-on experience. Make sure your CV highlights any relevant gardening, landscaping, or plant care roles you've held. Also, don’t forget to mention any specific skills like plant identification or pest management that make you a great fit for the position at All The Top Bananas.
Include Certifications and Training:If you've got any horticulture-related certifications, such as in organic gardening or landscape design, be sure to include them. This will set you apart from other applicants and show that you’re committed to expanding your knowledge in the field, which is crucial for a full-time role like Head Gardener.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect not just your passion for plants but also how your experience aligns with what All The Top Bananas is looking for. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or challenges you've overcome in previous horticultural roles to demonstrate your suitability for the full-time position.
Be Ready to Talk Numbers:When applying for a full-time role in horticulture, it's helpful to quantify your achievements. Did you increase crop yields or reduce waste in a previous job? Highlight these metrics in your CV to give hiring managers at All The Top Bananas a clear picture of your capabilities!
How to prepare for a job interview at All The Top Bananas
✨Get to Know Your Plants
Brush up on your plant knowledge! Be prepared to discuss specific species, their growth requirements, and potential pests. Remember, the role involves practical horticultural skills – so don’t be shy about sharing your hands-on experience with various plants and gardening techniques.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
If you've worked on garden designs, landscaping projects, or community gardens, bring along a portfolio showcasing your work. Visuals speak a thousand words, and this will help us see your creativity and practical skills in action. Plus, don’t forget to have a few stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them!
✨Be Ready for a Plant Quiz
Prepare for some technical questions related to horticulture! We may ask you about soil types, plant propagation methods, or pest management strategies. This helps us assess your depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills – so don’t skip the revision!
✨Passion for Sustainability
Horticulture often revolves around sustainability practices, so be ready to discuss any experience you have with eco-friendly gardening methods or sustainable designs. This role at All The Top Bananas might have a focus on environmental impact, so showing your commitment could set you apart from other candidates.
