Full Time

KEY PURPOSE
To ensure that the garden, grounds and related policies of gardens are managed and maintained as nationally recognized gardens of outstanding historical and horticultural importance, contributing to the properties’ overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors and supporters.
The role of ‘Gardener’ as a key member of the team, will be heavily involved in the implementation of development plans for the gardens and wider designed landscape.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
• Undertaking practical maintenance of the garden and estate, managing trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; staking, plant nutrition, composting and soil improvement to the required standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by visitors including other professionals in the horticultural industry.
• As requested, assisting with education/interpretation activities such as introductory talks and guided talks;
• Fostering positive relationships with local communities and organizations and promote the work of the Trust.
• Supervising and working with volunteers to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard, and gain benefit/satisfaction from their activities.
• Undertaking such other reasonable duties as may from time to time be required to ensure the smooth running of the property as required by the Operations Manager.
• On occasion, contributing to the review and development of annual operating plans and operational workplans for the gardens.
• Ensuring compliance with the Trust’s health, safety, and environment policies and procedures.

KEY PURPOSE

You will ensure that the garden and policies of elements of the property are managed and maintained as a garden and outstanding designed landscape; contributing to the overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by everyone.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Ensure the conservation and practical maintenance of the gardens and policies – whether through delegation to other staff/volunteers, or by yourself – in terms of:
a. Practical horticulture (e.g. managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous borders, half-hardies, annuals and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; composting and soil improvement; hard-landscaping and path care; glasshouse care and plant propagation; plant sales management etc);
b. Plantsmanship (e.g. the identification, knowledge and understanding of plant collections, including recording, and labelling of individual plants and recognised collections);
c. Research and development (e.g. research into historical precedents and practical contemporary solutions to inform proposed activities and projects; support to the planning, design and implementation of restoration and/or development projects);
d. Interpretation (e.g. through the development and delivery of events such as introductory talks, presentations, guided tours or practical demonstrations and workshops, garden trails, digital media and contribution to guide-books or leaflets). In particular, the Head Gardener will take an active role in promoting the gardens within the cluster through digital media.

2. management of:
a. staff and volunteers (e.g. recruitment, induction, direction, development, performance management) so that they are fully equipped, organised and motivated;
b. budgets by working alongside the Operations Manager to set, manage and reforecast budgets, managing project finance as required);
c. health, safety and the environment in line with stated Trust policies and approaches to ensure the health and welfare of staff/volunteers;
d. machinery and equipment (e.g. ensuring timely and appropriate repairs, purchases and servicing) and its use (e.g. training, risk assessments and HAVS logs);
e. recognition of the Trust’s Environmental Policy with respect to sustainable gardening activities, including energy, water, peat & pesticide-use;
f. daily, weekly, yearly and longer-term management and operational workplans and reporting in the context of the properties’ statements of significance, annual operating plans to ensure that activities are prioritised and planned to optimise the use of resources;
g. customer service and care from garden staff/volunteers, and in the broader sense of facilities and “visiting experience”, to ensure that the properties’ reputation for excellence is maintained and enhanced;
h. administration to enable gardening activities to be undertaken and recorded efficiently;
i. Contracts management and monitoring

3. Participating fully in the property’s wider “management team”, supporting the Operations Manager strategically and practically with the operation of the cluster properties.

This role is one for which the duties, responsibilities or accountabilities of the role require you to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, administered by Disclosure Scotland, as this role involves regulated work with children.

KEY PURPOSE
To ensure that the garden and related policies of Brodick Castle Garden and Estate are managed and maintained as a nationally-recognized garden of outstanding historical and horticultural importance; contributing to the property’s overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors and supporters.

The role of ‘Gardener’ as a key member of the Brodick Castle team will be heavily involved in the development plans of the garden and wider designed landscape, with future projects aimed at creating gardens of international significance. Hence this post will be vital to realize this ambition of the gardens as a top visitor attraction. This post is likely to include frequent work in the woodland garden.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To support the garden and grounds team to ensure that the gardens and policies of Culzean Castle are managed and maintained as an internationally-recognised landscape of outstanding historical importance; contributing to the property’s overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors.