Head of Gifting Experience in Chilton

Full time or Part Time (minimum 4 days/week) | Permanent Location: Chilton, Oxfordshire (office-based with hybrid working). UK travel required. We welcome applications from candidates seeking either full-time or part-time working arrangements. Given the national scope of the role, regular travel, member visits and stakeholder engagement requirements will still apply.

We're looking for an experienced commercial leader who is passionate about delivering outstanding customer and member experiences, building strong relationships, and driving commercial growth. This is an exciting newly created role at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), established to strengthen and expand our gifting team as we continue to grow and develop our gifting portfolio for members.

As Head of Gifting Experience, you'll play a pivotal role in leading the commercial and operational success of the National Garden Gift Card Scheme, helping ensure it continues to deliver value for our members, customers and partners across the UK. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a nationally recognised gifting proposition that has been supporting the horticultural industry for more than 60 years while helping shape its future growth and development.

The National Garden Gift Card Scheme is one of the most successful gift card programmes in the UK horticulture sector, generating around £40 million of consumer spend annually for garden centres and horticultural businesses across the country. As our new Head of Gifting Experience, you'll take a leading role in driving the continued success of the scheme, working directly with members, commercial partners, suppliers and colleagues across the HTA. You'll have the opportunity to influence strategy, identify new commercial opportunities, and lead initiatives that enhance both member value and customer experience.

This is a highly visible role with significant scope to make an impact. You'll become the principal ambassador for the National Garden Gift Card Scheme, helping to strengthen member engagement, grow participation and identify innovative ways to support our members and the wider industry. It's a role where your ideas, initiative and commercial expertise will truly matter.

What we can offer you:

• A meaningful role where you'll have the autonomy to take ownership, contribute ideas and help shape improvements
• A competitive salary and generous benefits package, including 30 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays, pension, health cash plan, life assurance, employee discount scheme, employee assistance programme, cycle to work and electric vehicle schemes, and free on-site parking with EV charging facilities
• A comprehensive induction programme, providing structured support and training on our systems, processes and ways of working from day one
• Access to ongoing learning and development opportunities to help you build your skills, broaden your experience and grow your career
• Support and coaching from experienced and approachable managers who are invested in helping you succeed
• Work alongside passionate and knowledgeable colleagues who are committed to delivering excellent outcomes for our members

About the HTA:

This is a hugely exciting time for the sector and for the HTA. Gardens and managed green spaces and landscapes have never been more important to the UK – for the economy, for the environment and for the nation’s well-being. The HTA has 1,400 members, including garden retailers, growers, landscapers, and suppliers to the garden industry. The HTA lobbies and campaigns for its members within the horticulture industry and has an excellent reputation. We provide our members with the opportunity to learn, innovate, and network with others in the industry. We have an effective political lobbying team working to enable the best conditions for our members to flourish across the UK and our research and insights team provide impactful data to help our members run productive and resilient businesses.

We have been running the National Garden Gift scheme since 1962. These garden gift cards can be bought and redeemed at HTA garden centre members sites throughout the UK and can also be purchased online and in some supermarket gift card malls. It is the biggest garden gift card scheme in the country – locking in around £40 million of consumer spend to horticulture and our members’ businesses.

Our culture:

Our culture is built on our values of being Member Focused, Collaborative & Inclusive, Trusted, and Innovative. We put our members at the heart of everything we do, ensuring their needs and aspirations guide our decisions and actions. We foster a collaborative and inclusive environment where every team member’s voice is valued, and diverse perspectives drive creativity and success. Trust is central to our relationships, both internally and externally, and we are committed to acting with integrity and transparency in all that we do. We embrace innovation, continuously seeking new ways to improve and push boundaries, ensuring that we stay ahead of the curve in delivering exceptional service and results. If you’re looking for a workplace where these values are lived every day, and where you can make a real impact, we’d love you to have you join us.

What you’ll be doing:

As Head of Gifting Experience, you'll provide commercial and operational leadership for the HTA's gifting portfolio, including the National Garden Gift Card Scheme. Reporting to the Director of Gifting, you'll help shape the future direction of the gifting proposition while leading its day-to-day performance, member engagement and commercial success. This role combines commercial strategy, relationship management, business development and operational leadership. You'll work closely with members, suppliers, commercial partners and internal stakeholders to identify growth opportunities, enhance customer experience and ensure the gifting portfolio continues to deliver strong value for the horticultural sector.

As the leading ambassador for the National Garden Gift Card Scheme, you'll spend time building relationships with members across the UK, understanding their needs and championing initiatives that support their success. This is a highly member-facing role that requires regular travel throughout the UK, including visits to HTA members, attendance at industry events, exhibitions, conferences and partner meetings. This is an office-based role in Chilton, Oxfordshire, with regular travel throughout the UK. Building strong working relationships across teams is key to success in this position. We offer hybrid working, providing flexibility to work from home on agreed days where business needs allow. Regular on-site attendance in our office each week is an essential requirement.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the commercial and operational delivery of the National Garden Gift Card Scheme
• Developing and implementing business plans that support gifting growth and member engagement
• Building strong relationships with HTA members, suppliers and commercial partners
• Identifying new commercial opportunities, sales channels and partnership initiatives
• Managing gifting budgets, forecasts, performance reporting and business recommendations
• Acting as the principal ambassador and subject matter expert for the gifting portfolio
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance customer experience, member value and commercial performance

What you’ll bring:

To be successful in this role, you'll bring a combination of commercial expertise, relationship-building skills and a passion for delivering exceptional customer and member experiences.

Essential experience, qualifications and skills:

• Significant experience in a commercial, sales, business development, account management or revenue-generating role
• Demonstrable experience developing and implementing commercial growth plans and initiatives
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts and commercial performance
• Proven ability to analyse market, customer or business data and translate insight into practical actions and recommendations
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at all levels
• Experience managing relationships with suppliers, partners, customers or members
• Excellent communication, presentation, networking and relationship-building skills
• Strong organisational and project management abilities, with the capability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• A proactive, commercially focused and solutions-oriented approach
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365 applications and CRM/reporting systems
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly across the UK
• Experience within the gift card, prepaid card, loyalty, rewards or payments sectors
• Experience within a membership organisation, trade association or not-for-profit environment
• Understanding of retail operations and consumer purchasing behaviour
• Experience within direct-to-consumer, digital or multi-channel sales environments
• Knowledge of the horticultural industry
• An enthusiasm for gardens, gardening and the wider outdoor environment

How to apply:

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter to recruitment@hta.org.uk. The application deadline is Friday 7 August 2026, but we may close the vacancy sooner if we identify and appoint a strong candidate. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and so you are encouraged to apply early. The HTA is committed to embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into our culture and our talent processes. We believe in creating a workplace where our people are treated with dignity and respect, a workplace free of barriers or discrimination. We will make accommodations upon request for candidates wherever needed and practical throughout the hiring process. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.