Hours : Full Time
Salary : £27k – £29k dependent on experience
Objectives
• To care for the diverse plants in the formal, kitchen and woodland areas
• To develop new areas of the garden with the garden manager and external consultants
• To manage productive working relationships with members of your team
Role
• Oversee planting, pruning and weeding of the garden
• Grow vegetables and cut flowers
• Improve soil health and growing conditions for the plants
• Develop the biodiversity of the grounds
• Care for the house plants and greenhouses
• Plan and prioritise work on a weekly basis with consideration of forecast weather conditions
• Supervise and work alongside part-time and seasonal staff in the garden and grounds
• Share horticultural knowledge with other staff and visitors
• Explore options for community engagement in the garden
• Manage expenditure within the annual plant budget
• Propagate plants to be sold during open season
• Keep all garden sheds tidy and with an updated inventory
• Assist with general security within the Trust grounds
• Assist in other aspects of the work of the Mellerstain Trust as required
Requirements
• Experience maintaining a large garden
• Level 3 RHS or equivalent qualification
• Creative plantsmanship and a sense of garden design
• Good working knowledge of plant propagation and maintenance
• Understanding of soil improvement strategies
• Mature, flexible personality with good communication skills
• A welcoming and professional manner
• Ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
• Supervision and support of other garden and grounds staff
• Facilitate and maintain the safe use and storage of fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides and other hazardous substances used within the gardens and grounds
• Good working knowledge of garden and grounds machinery
• Awareness and compliance of Health & Safety requirements and regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding Trust matters at all times
Reporting Structure
The Mellerstain Trust is run by six Trustees, one of whom is appointed Garden manager. They will oversee the strategy of the garden and manage staff reviews. The day-to-day management will be done by the Head gardener who will lead the groundkeeper, part-time garden, garden trainees and volunteers.
Assignment and Review of Work
All work plans to be agreed and reviewed with the Garden Trustee on a monthly basis. Review will be on a continuous basis and carried out by the Garden Trustee. Review will be based on:
• Timely and efficient completion of tasks.
• Overall standard of the garden.
• Wellbeing and effectiveness of the team.
Job appraisal will be conducted annually.
To apply please submit your CV and a Cover Letter to enquiries@mellerstain.com.
Closing date: 5pm Friday 7 October 2022