Head Gardener in St Albans

Head Gardener

Employer: Sopwell House

Location: St Albans

Salary: Competitive

Hours: Full Time

Place Of Work: Onsite

Closing date: 19 August 2026

Contract Type: Permanent

Function: Groundskeeper

Sector: Groundskeeping & Maintenance

Seniority: Manager

Job Details

• Be highly motivated, well organised and have excellent practical skills with the ability to propagate plants from seeds and cuttings. They will be expected to work closely with the owners on the long-term development of the garden and excellent plant knowledge.
• Plan, carry out and monitor plant and tree care programs including design, landscaping, propagation, planting, irrigation, weeding, grass cutting, trimming and general garden, pathways, car park and facilities maintenance.
• Manage all garden project activities to ensure they are carried out on schedule and within allocated budgets, employing the assistance of external labour/organisations where necessary.
• Be responsible for the management of a team of two Gardeners and occasionally liaise with contractors.
• To help with the constant development and improvement of the hotels 12 acres of grounds
• Mowing & strimming
• Hedge trimming and Planting
• Watering, weeding and maintaining beds and borders
• The ideal candidate will creative ideas, strong leadership capabilities, maintain the hotel gardens and grounds to the highest possible condition
• Sound knowledge of Health and Safety legislation
• Previous experience in a similar role required
• 5 years Gardens experience
• NVQ Level 2, Pa1, Pa6 desirable but not essential
• Chain saw license preferable

Your country home from home nestled in 12 acres of Hertfordshire countryside; Sopwell House is a luxury family-owned Georgian country house hotel. We are now looking for a dedicated and knowledgeable Head Gardener to take stewardship of our outdoor spaces, continuing to cultivate beauty and excellence across our gardens, which play a central role in creating an unforgettable experience for our guests.