Head of Ornamental Gardens
Our client has ancient woodland, historic gardens and far reaching views. It is a unique destination with a multitude of horticultural delights, interactive features and state of the art exhibitions. Visitors can take a tour of the gardens, deer park and cyder press, dine in the Garden Café and visit the various farm shops. The Story of Gardening brings horticultural history to life, with playful and sensory experiences for all ages. Expecting to attract some 150,000 visitors per year, the location is a vibrant and thriving attraction, animated throughout the seasons by special events, workshops and education programmes.
As Head of Ornamental Gardens, you’ll be following the footsteps of a garden that today are the result of the creative fusion of heritage and contemporary and is a place for innovation and creativity, a garden at the forefront of horticulture.
As Head of Ornamental Gardens, you’ll have a wide remit. You’ll look to develop and maintain the gardens and think about its future, ensuring the very highest standards of conservation, horticulture and visitor experience. A visionary, you’ll lead with passion and flair. You’ll motivate a team of eight, set the standards and keep the budget on track, too.
It’ll be down to you to engage visitors’ interest in the ornamental gardens, delivering a first-class visitor experience, as well as encouraging a culture of openness and involvement for all.
You’ll put your green fingers to use and get involved in the day-to-day upkeep of the gardens.
Candidate Profile
You will be a credible collaborator, bringing your enthusiasm and positivity every day, you’re a true team player and will use your leadership skills to motivate your team and hit your ambitious standards for conservation, horticulture and visitor experience. It goes without saying that you have a high level of horticultural knowledge and know-how – perhaps at a large garden or across a portfolio – supported by an appropriate qualification, have an artistic eye and at the very least an understanding of conservation of historic landscapes.
Exceptional communication skills are a must. You’ll be able to show us where you’ve organised garden activities to enhance visits and you’ll need to be comfortable with media requests. We’ll also need to see where you’ve had responsibility for budgets, finances and small projects.
Skills and Experience
- An experienced leader – you should be accessible, highly visible and able to share your vision in a clear and compelling way
- A good knowledge of plants, their identification, propagation and cultivation
- First-hand experience of managing a successful and high-quality garden-based visitor attraction
- Experience and proven ability in the management of a team of 8 plus people.
- Precise and well organised
- Hard-working and energetic, with excellent team skills and the ability to communicate at multiple levels
- Good IT skills for implementing efficient management systems and records are essential
- Appropriate and relevant academic qualifications
- Full and clean UK driving license
- Understanding of Health and Safety issues, including tree inspections.
- An eye for detail and desire to achieve high standards
- Able to undertake work of a physical nature (including contact with plants and chemicals) and skilled in a range of practical skills for the care and presentation to a high standard of formal heritage gardens
- Good basic skills in the care and operation of garden machinery, hand tools /equipment
- Computer literate
Terms and Conditions
- Competitive remuneration package
- Professional development and training
- Workplace pension scheme available
- Employee benefits, including daily staff meals and discounts across the estate
- Normal hours: Flexible, typically working 5 days out of 7
- Annual Leave: 30 days p.a., including bank holidays
- Statutory Entitlements: All statutory entitlements, including workplace pension and SSP
SALARY: Circa £50,000 depending on experience
LOCATION: Somerset
JOB No: EC10686
If this Head of Ornamental Gardens vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sara Yassin on 01233 733510 or info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk.
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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Head of Ornamental Gardens 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 Head of Ornamental Gardens vacancy will have been unsuccessful.
