At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and care for beautiful gardens while managing a small grounds team.
- Company: Homewood, a quirky boutique hotel and spa near Bath.
- Benefits: Monthly tronc payments, free parking, discounts, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Enjoy a hands-on role in a vibrant, imaginative environment.
- Why this job: Shape stunning outdoor spaces and be part of a fun, diverse team.
- Qualifications: Strong horticultural knowledge and experience in garden management.
The predicted salary is between 26100 - 31900 £ per year.
Be our Head of Grounds – but most importantly, be you!
Full time - 40 hours per week, 5 days out of 7
At Homewood, we want our people to be themselves – and that means you. Join our team and here’s what you’ll get for being yourself:
- Amazing monthly tronc payments on top of your salary - our service charge is shared with team and paid monthly
- Free parking
- Food prepared by our chefs while you’re on duty
- Training and development opportunities across Kaleidoscope Collection
- Cash-saving benefits and wellbeing support for you and your family
- Discounts on eating, drinking and staying at all of our properties
- £500 refer-a-friend scheme
- A stimulating place to work, surrounded by a brilliantly diverse bunch of people
- The chance to be part of a team who genuinely live and breathe what we do
A little bit about Homewood: Part Georgian country house, part playground for the curious. Homewood is a 32-bedroom boutique hotel and spa just outside Bath, where luxury loosens its tie and nobody takes themselves too seriously. We’re a zesty, imaginative bunch with a habit of hiding a little mischief around every corner. Talking-point chandeliers, unexpected sculptures in the gardens and a giant teddy bear or two – that’s just how we do things here.
Our grounds are a huge part of the Homewood experience, and we’re looking for someone who will take real pride in shaping, developing and caring for them.
What you’ll be doing as our Head of Grounds: This is very much a hands-on role. You’ll lead a small grounds team while still spending plenty of your time outside, getting stuck in. You’ll:
- Lead the day-to-day care, maintenance and development of our grounds and gardens, making sure they look their best throughout the year
- Bring your horticultural knowledge, experience and ideas to help shape how the Homewood estate develops over the seasons
- Plan both day-to-day work and longer-term projects, balancing beautiful gardens with the practical needs of a busy hotel
- Think about the gardens through the eyes of our guests, creating spaces that are interesting, welcoming, safe and memorable
- Care for a wonderfully varied estate including formal gardens and borders, guest garden suites, outdoor dining terraces, lawns, and woodland
- Oversee landscaping, planting, seasonal maintenance and improvement projects
- Support, develop and share your knowledge with the grounds team
- Manage contractors, suppliers and existing maintenance contracts where required
- Take responsibility for relevant Health & Safety, compliance and safe working practices within the grounds
- Manage your departmental budget carefully and plan ahead for future projects, equipment and maintenance
- Help us continue developing an environmentally conscious and sustainable approach to managing the estate
What we’re looking for: You’ll have strong practical horticultural knowledge and experience looking after substantial gardens, grounds or an estate. You’ll also be comfortable leading people, planning workloads and taking responsibility for your own department. We’d particularly love to hear from you if you have:
- Professional horticultural or grounds maintenance experience
- Experience leading or supervising a small team
- Good plant knowledge and an eye for how gardens develop through the seasons
- Experience of landscaping, garden development or larger grounds projects
- A practical understanding of Health & Safety and compliance
- Confidence managing budgets, suppliers and contractors
- Plenty of ideas and the enthusiasm to bring them to life
Most importantly, you’ll enjoy being outdoors, take pride in what you create and understand that at Homewood our gardens aren’t simply something guests look at – they’re part of the whole experience.
What happens next? Catch our attention with your application and we’ll give you a call. After an initial chat, you can expect a friendly invitation to come and spend some time with us at Homewood. It’s your chance to see the grounds, meet the team, ask us plenty of questions – and for us to get to know you too. If it feels right on both sides, you may just become part of the team.
Head Gardener in Freshford employer: Homewood
Homewood in Bath is an exceptional employer that values its team members by offering competitive pay, including tronc, and a supportive work environment where collaboration is key. With benefits like meals on duty, staff discounts, and clear pathways for career progression within the Kaleidoscope Collection, employees can thrive both personally and professionally while delivering outstanding guest experiences in a beautiful location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Gardener in Freshford
✨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 Homewood.
✨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 Homewood.
✨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 Homewood; staying ahead of the game can give us the edge we need.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Gardener in Freshford
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 Homewood.
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 Homewood 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 Homewood a clear picture of your capabilities!
How to prepare for a job interview at Homewood
✨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 Homewood might have a focus on environmental impact, so showing your commitment could set you apart from other candidates.
