Assistant Head Gardener

Overview

Organisation: The National Trust for Scotland

KEY PURPOSE:

To ensureWe’re looking for someone with heaps of passion and a solid foundation in garden and estate work. This role is ideal for someone looking to develop their skills by supporting the management of a unique and nationally-recognised estate with significant historic importance. Working here, you’ll contribute to the preservation and conservation of this special place, while working to develop new opportunities that will enhance its enjoyment by visitors. As Assistant Head Gardener, you’ll act as a deputy for the Garden and Estate Manager in their absence, allowing you to develop leadership skills on the job. Interested? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us at brodiecastle@nts.org.uk

Responsibilities

1. Supporting the Garden and Estate Manager to ensure the conservation and practical maintenance of the garden and wider policies – whether through delegation to other staff/volunteers, or personal participation – in terms of:
2. Care and development of the internationally significant Brodie Daffodil Collection.
3. Practical horticulture (e.g. managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous plants, half-hardies, annuals and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; composting and soil improvement; hard-landscaping; path care, polytunnel care and plant propagation of vegetables, herbs, along with maintaining biosecurity).
4. Plantsmanship (e.g. the identification, knowledge and understanding of this plant collection, including recording and labelling using IrisBG database of individual plants and recognised collections).
5. Research and development (eg. research into historical precedents and practical contemporary solutions to inform proposed activities and projects; support to the design and implementation of restoration and/or development projects).
6. Interpretation (eg through the development and delivery of events such as introductory talks, weekly guided tours or practical demonstrations, contribution to guidebooks or leaflets).
7. Ensuring an appropriate management regime of the garden and policies that includes the management of Staff and volunteers (assisting with recruitment, induction, direction, development and performance management) such that they are fully equipped, organised and motivated to undertake their duties to the required Trust standards; Health, safety and the environment in line with stated Trust policies and approaches to ensure the health and welfare of staff and volunteers; Recognition of the Trust’s policies with respect to sustainable gardening activities, including energy, water, peat and pesticide-use; Input into daily, weekly, yearly and longer-term operational work plans and reporting in the context of the properties’ statements of significance and action plans (and contribution to these action plans) to ensure that activities are prioritised and planned to optimise the use of resources; Customer service and care from garden staff/volunteers, and in the broader sense of facilities and visiting experience, to ensure that the properties’ reputation for excellence is maintained and enhanced; Administration to enable gardening activities to be undertaken and recorded efficiently.
8. Participating fully in the property’s wider “management team”, deputising for the Garden and Estate Manager as required.
9. Supporting the Garden and Estate Manager, Operations Manager & Visitor Services Manager strategically and practically with the operation of the property, this will include being a Duty Manager on a rotational basis. Will be a key holder.
10. Participating in weekend duties on a rota basis for which Time Off In Lieu is applicable.
11. Carrying out Duty Management on a rota basis to ensure the smooth running of the whole property.