An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a passionate and motivated Gardener to join a stunning private estate in France. This is a rare chance to become part of a newly conceived, long-term horticultural project set in the Auvergne region of central France. The owners of a historic family estate are seeking to appoint a Head Gardener at an early stage of development, offering the successful candidate the unique opportunity to help shape, establish, and nurture a significant garden from its very beginnings. This is a senior yet evolving role, ideally suited to an individual who is inspired by the challenge of creating and developing a garden over time, rather than inheriting a completed landscape. For a committed professional with a genuine passion for plants and the ambition to leave a lasting legacy, this role represents a truly outstanding career opportunity.

The estate is located in a rural, mid-mountain setting with hot summers and cold winters. The landscape is currently agricultural in nature, comprising open pasture grazed by cattle, woodland, meadows, and a river running through a scenic valley. The setting is expansive, historic, and visually striking, with castles and strong regional character. At present, the land is not developed as a formal garden and will require substantial infrastructure, planning, and groundwork before any major planting is undertaken.

The estate centres around three principal garden projects: a botanical promenade of approximately five kilometres which will be open to the public (with an entrance fee); a substantial private garden of around 10 hectares, including a kitchen garden; and several smaller hospitality-focused gardens of approximately 300–500 m² associated with a hotel and B&B. The client has ambitious long-term plans to develop the botanical promenade into a significant garden experience, featuring a 5–6 km walking route through the valley with riverside planting, forest paths, meadows, and curated botanical collections. A key element of the vision is the integration of agriculture and landscape, retaining grazing and traditional land use alongside carefully selected plant collections, with particular emphasis on species native to the local mountains and to comparable climates worldwide. The masterplan also includes the creation of a visitor centre incorporating a library and retail space, together with parking and access routes, to be implemented during the early phases of development.

The Head Gardener will play a central role in this development, working closely with the owners and the appointed garden designer during the design, planning, and implementation stages. Responsibilities will include contributing to the conception of the gardens, overseeing infrastructure and planting works, managing contractors, and establishing horticultural standards and systems.

In addition to the public gardens, the role will include responsibility for a private garden associated with the family castle. In nature this garden will be more sophisticated with inspiration coming from Italian; for the many terraces and water systems that are being built. As well as arts & crafts style; with a very naturalistic perspective to integrate well in the beautiful landscape. Lasty, the hospitality projects inside the remarkable village, Plus Beaux Villages de France, are smaller in size but with an important tourist impact and will need to represent an invitation to the wider garden visit. As the project evolves, the Head Gardener will take on increasing management responsibility, including supervising staff and coordinating across different parts of the estate.

The owner is seeking a motivated and committed gardener who is ready to step into a senior role and grow with the project over time. This position would suit someone earlier in their leadership career who has strong horticultural foundations, practical experience, and the ambition to help build a major project from the ground up. The ideal candidate will be collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable working in a rural and relatively remote setting. Experience with landscape-scale projects, estate management, or complex multi-site gardens would be advantageous, as would an interest in naturalistic planting, ecology, and long-term garden development.

Accommodation is not currently provided on the estate, but the client is willing to assist with securing suitable housing locally and is open to a range of arrangements depending on individual circumstances, including support with rental or longer-term housing solutions. This is a rare opportunity to be involved in the creation of a significant and lasting garden project with strong personal and professional development potential.

Applicants will hold an EU passport and/or have the right to live and work in France. Satisfactory references will be required as part of any offer of employment.

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this vacancy. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to everyone. Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application will have been unsuccessful.

SALARY: Up to €40,000 Gross (£35,000) + Accommodation

LOCATION: Cantal, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

JOB No: EC75641

 If this Head Gardener vacancy is of interest, please apply below,  call Sara Yassin on 01233 733510 or email info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk

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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this vacancy.  Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to every one.  Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application for this vacancy has been unsuccessful.

We are proud to work with:

• the Professional Gardeners’ Guild
• the RHS
• the WFGA – offering the WRAGs Scheme
• Arne Maynard Garden Design
• Historic Houses
• the HBG Training Programme

Tagged as: botanical gardens, gardener jobs in france, head gardener, Kitchen Gardener, private estate, private gardens