Head Gardener

Job details

Pay

• £36,000 a year

Job type

• Permanent
• Full-time

Shift and schedule

• Night shift

Location

Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA

• Sick pay
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave

Full job description

Our new opportunity – some details here (more can be found on the website)

We’re the only Museum of the Home in the world – revealing home as an emotional, psychological, socio‑political and economic space – as well as the bricks, mortar and outdoor garden spaces.

Our Gardens Through Time show how city gardens were kept from the 1600s through to the present. The Kingsland Road Gardens are a place to relax, picnic, and enjoy green space in the heart of the crowded city. Our research into historic gardening practices and the people who have tended gardens is ongoing. These are presented through tours, talks, and temporary installations in the Gardens.

We’re looking for someone who brings both strategic thinking and practical delivery skills to our garden and outdoor spaces. The role involves leading and managing on:

• The horticultural and day to day operations and activities across all gardens and grounds
• Development and maintenance of garden areas
• Talking and taking tours with our visitors

It’s an opportunity to support a small, committed team and to continue telling our story through the gardens and outdoor spaces.

If know an experienced professional gardener, we’d love to hear from them.

Application process

To apply complete the application form on our website https://museumofthehome.org.uk/about-us/work-with-us/

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 2 December. We aim to shortlist and let candidates know by 3 December.

Interviews will be held in person at the Museum in week commencing 8 December. Start date for this role is 2 February 2026.

Job purpose

This role is for a hands‑on, self‑motivated and passionate Head Gardener to lead and manage the horticultural and day‑to‑day operations/activities across all gardens (Kingsland Road Gardens, Ironmongers Graveyard, Discovery Garden, Herb Garden, Gardens Through Time, Green Roof, and service road area) and grounds.

You’ll be responsible for the overall management development and maintenance of the garden areas. This includes leading a small team, consisting of one employed gardener, volunteers, freelance gardeners and contractors , you will work towards maintaining the overall appearances of the gardens and grounds throughout the Museum site to a very high standard throughout the year.

We see our gardens as an important oasis for local people, visitors and staff alike. We are interested in the role they play and the wider impact of urban nature on our lives. Permaculture is also increasingly impacting our thinking about we view the Museum and Home. This role will be key to this area of the Museum’s strategy and practice.

This role is an important public‑facing role and the post‑holder will have to be comfortable talking and taking tours with our visitors and working with other departments throughout the organisation.

Bold brave in trying new things, taking action and fighting for change on issues affecting the ways we live.

Kind friendly, generous and considerate in all your actions

Eco‑active embed climate action in all decision‑making and encourage visitors to make eco‑minded choices at home.

Equitable act transparently, ethically and inclusively – and allocate resources, time and care equitably

Main responsibilities

• Lead motivate and manage the gardens team including working with the Volunteer Manager on recruitment and induction of volunteers and ensuring that all people working in the gardens are trained
• Ensure that health and safety is at the heart of all decision making and activity in the gardens, always ensuring that risk assessments and safe systems of work are in place and that all who work in the gardens maintain an exemplary safety culture. Have particular regard for relevant areas of safety regulation such as COSHH, Control of Vibration at Work, Working at Height, and Non‑Ionising Radiation Regulations.
• Ensure that sustainability and sustainable practice is at the heart of all decision‑making and activity in the gardens, composting all green/brown waste, limiting water use, reviewing planting in line with climate change.
• Develop and implement a detailed garden maintenance plan that includes weeding, pruning, planting, pest control, fertilising, and watering to ensure that the gardens and grounds are always in excellent condition. Manage the large Kingsland Road gardens lawn to support commercial activity in that space
• Manage the planting, propagation and cultivation of all plants, shrubs and flowers in the garden ensuring that they are healthy and thriving
• Plan and oversee the design and layout of the gardens and outdoor spaces to ensure that they look attractive and are functional and practical
• Maintain all tools and equipment used for gardening and landscaping, ensuring that they are in good condition and that replacements are ordered as required
• Managing the Garden budget and ensuring all financial transactions are correctly reported in the Museum’s accounts package.
• Undertake research into historical, horticulture, plants, varieties, and garden design to develop the gardens.
• Develop and deliver general and bespoke garden tours for the public and specialist audiences
• Work with petrol and battery‑operated machinery, i.e. lawnmowers, wacker plate, tillers, jet washes, hedge trimmers.

The Head Gardener will be one of a team of people trained to lock and unlock the site as well as responding to emergencies. The role will regularly be expected to unlock the site (in coordination with Operations/cleaning colleagues). There will also be occasions when the Head Gardener will be the most senior manager on site and will be required (with training) to lead initial response to incidents.

The Head Gardener will work primarily outdoors in all weather conditions and will be required to perform physical tasks as part of this role (using all types of machinery and tools, sometimes at height).

The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive and the job holder may be required to undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required.

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

The following are key measures which show that the jobholder is delivering effectively in their role:

• Composting efficiency, including effective waste production methods
• Effective engagement and management of volunteers

Skills/Knowledge/Personal Attributes/Experience

Type of technical, specialised skills or personal attributes that are required to deliver ‘main responsibilities’ above.

• Experienced team leader, including paid staff and volunteers
• Horticulture level 3 national diploma or equivalent and extensive horticultural knowledge
• Knowledge of historical period gardens
• Flexible approach to working pattern
• A strong interest in sustainable practice
• Experience of working in public gardens and engaging with the public

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to maintaining an inclusive working environment, with a diverse workforce. We value individuality, equity and representation and appoint on merit.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, our recruitment is inclusive and accessible. If you would like to request an alternative application format on disability grounds, please contact jobs@museumofthehome.org.uk

All back of house roles on minimum 4 days per week will work approximately one shift per month in the galleries as part of our Visitor First scheme.

Working to make Museum of the Home an amazing place to work.