Head Gardener

Weleda is exceptional just like our people. A very special and rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced Garden Manager. This role involves managing our 13-acre biodynamic and biodiverse gardens in a beautiful location, where we grow many different medicinal plants for the purpose of converting into medicinal and cosmetic products. These range from trees like Birch and Thuja, shrubs and hedgerow bushes like Blackthorn and Hawthorn, field crops of Calendula, Oats and Chamomile, smaller quantities of herbs and wild flowers, to vegetables and weeds! Initial cultivation for field crops is done with a tractor using a plough and spading machine; everything else is done by hand. We generate our own seed bank and we make and use specific preparations based on Biodynamic principles. Our farm is the centre for the East Midlands Biodynamic group of farmers and we host regular meetings here.

The role:

• Manage and develop the Weleda gardens and work alongside a small team of gardeners, including seasonal gardeners.
• Grow medicinal plants to Demeter standard and secure our annual certification, meeting the established high standard of biodynamic practice.
• Ongoing surveillance of new and changing Demeter and GACP legislation and for introducing such legislation into Weleda UK.
• Make tinctures and dry plants to pharmacopeia standards, to meet the needs of our annual production requirements in line with Good Manufacturing Practice and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Create value-adding activities for the Weleda business, including facilitating garden tours, educational demonstrations and workshops.
• Develop and maintain The Field and our Head Office show gardens to meet the needs of Production, Marketing and Staff Welfare.
• Liaison with external suppliers of fresh plant material and external test houses.
• Organise and facilitate garden tours, educational demos and workshops for all visitors to The Field.

Your profile:

• Ideally 3-5 years experience of managing a professional, productive garden and garden team.
• You will be an excellent proven manager, who has strong communication and collaboration skills with an inclusive style.
• Ideally with a formal qualification in horticulture.
• A working knowledge of biodynamics would be advantageous.
• An understanding of medicinal plants and herbal medicines.
• Experience of manufacturing tinctures to Good Manufacturing Practice standards would be advantageous but is not critical as full training will be given.
• An understanding of a conservation approach to land management with regard to biodiversity, habitat creation, wildflower meadows and ponds.
• Experience of managing garden tours, giving talks and other public facing events that engage the general public with nature.
• Enthusiastic, organised, motivated, positive, resilient and a flexible team player.
• Competent in the use of garden machinery, including tractors.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, including Excel.

At the core of our strength lies a commitment to forward-thinking, social responsibility, and unwavering sustainability practices environmentally, socially, and economically. In harmony with nature and humanity since 1921, sharing our values on a day-to-day basis is essential to this role.

Closing date 29th May 2025, however, we reserve the right to close applications early if required.