Square Head Gardener in London

Grosvenor Square Garden (GSG) lies in the heart of our Mayfair Estate. This 6 acre green space, which celebrates its 300-year anniversary in 2027, is currently undergoing an extraordinary transformation, and is due to reopen in Summer. Led by Grosvenor, this multi-million-pound project is the most significant private investment in public green space in the West End for a generation and will see Grosvenor Square become a fantastic climate-resilient, biodiverse urban garden.

By focusing design on nature and human experience, GSG will become a natural haven within the West End and a green oasis at the heart of a welcoming and vibrant Mayfair. Designed by Professor Nigel Dunnett, there will be a wider range of native and non-native plants and an everchanging mosaic of wildflowers, ferns and woodland shrubs will create special moments throughout the year. A variety of spaces including a large open garden with wild flowering lawn and social ovals allow for different activities, including natural play space, making the garden a place for everyone.

The garden has been designed as one large Sustainable Drainage System such that any water collected within the garden can drain away naturally. This helps to protect the Square from large volumes of standing water and flash flooding.

Key features of the garden will include:

• 70,000 new plants, 44 new trees, 80,000 bulbs and two new wetlands - creating a haven for wildlife.
• A new education building - where programmes funded by The Westminster Foundation will offer opportunities for children and adults to learn about biodiversity, climate change and the square's history.
• Enhanced public amenities - including a new kiosk serving refreshments, public toilets and 300 additional places to sit and relax.

As part of Grosvenor's commitment to enhancing biodiversity and climate resilience across the green spaces we manage, the reimagined Square will become part of London's climate infrastructure, bringing together natural solutions and urban greening to help mitigate climate change in the heart of the West End.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Head Gardener to lead the horticultural management of Grosvenor Square Garden. This is a hands-on leadership role, responsible for delivering high-quality horticultural maintenance and supporting the garden's long-term vision.

The successful candidate will manage a team of Senior Gardeners, an Apprentice, and volunteers, ensuring the garden's diverse planting schemes and natural features are maintained to the highest standards. You will also play a key role in community engagement, biodiversity enhancement, and supporting educational and volunteer programmes. The Head Gardener will also act as an ambassador both for Grosvenor and for GSG.

This is a once in a generation project which has already attracted strong media attention and coverage and we wish to capitalise on that in the future as the garden establishes itself and evolves.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day horticultural operations of Grosvenor Square Garden.
• Maintain key garden elements including wildflower mosaics, woodland shrubs, lawns, social ovals, natural play areas, and wetland features.
• Deliver horticultural maintenance aligned with Grosvenor's sustainability and biodiversity goals.
• Provide training and guidance to apprentices, gardeners, and volunteers.
• Support the Landscape Manager in implementing landscape management plans.
• Manage horticultural tools, PPE, and sustainable resources.
• Assist in planning and delivering community and corporate volunteer days.
• Contribute to interpretation materials and educational content.
• Occasionally lead guided walks and provide horticultural advice to stakeholders.

This is an unusually exciting opportunity for a Head Gardener role as it combines the chance to shape a newly redesigned, landmark garden with hands-on work across diverse and innovative planting.

The role offers the successful candidate the opportunity to:

• Manage a brand-new urban garden with a 300-year history, home to famous monuments and surrounded on all sides by iconic London buildings.
• Lead a new team assembled specifically for the garden, as part of the wider, and award-winning, Grosvenor Landscape Management team.
• Bring horticultural excellence and delight to international as well as local visitors, workers and residents who frequent the garden.
• Positively impact climate resilience through the stewardship and ongoing landscape innovation in Grosvenor Square.

Unlike many traditional roles, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to undertake public engagement tours, workshops and community activities while also providing a platform to trial new ideas, drive biodiversity, and play a visible role in how visitors experience nature in the heart of Mayfair.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience managing public gardens or parks, ideally to Green Flag or London in Bloom standards.
• Excellent plant and biodiversity knowledge and a strong background in biodiverse planting schemes and sustainable horticulture.
• Experience with aquatic planting and water feature maintenance.
• Demonstrated leadership of horticultural teams with at least three years' team leadership experience.
• Experience in public engagement and educational activities.
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety legislation and garden safety protocols.
• Aware of climate change and biodiversity loss, and appropriate horticultural responses.
• Garden Diploma, ND, HND, BSc in Horticulture or RHS Level 3 (or equivalent).
• Full, valid UK driving licence.

Further Details

The role is based primarily in Mayfair, with access to excellent facilities including the Garden Office on site at Grosvenor Square and our Head Office at 70 Grosvenor Street. The successful candidate will also have access to the Landscape Office at 2 Elizabeth Street in Belgravia, giving a strong base across the estate and close connection to the wider team.

Salary range from £39,000 p/a dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate and annual bonus scheme. Grosvenor offers a competitive benefits package including a generous, non-contributory pension, free lunches and private medical insurance.

Grosvenor is proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer.