Jobs

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:

Ensuring the conservation and practical maintenance of the garden and policies – whether through delegation to other staff/volunteers, or personal participation – in terms of:

Practical horticulture (e.g. including managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous and bog plants, 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);

Plantsmanship (e.g. the identification, knowledge and understanding of this high calibre plant collection, including recording [using IrisGB database], and labelling of individual plants and recognized collections);

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);

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) to include the impact of Phytophthora at the property. In particular, the Head Gardener will take an active role in promoting the garden and property through digital media.

Ensuring an appropriate management regime of the garden and policies that includes the management of:

staff and volunteers (e.g. recruitment, induction, direction, development, performance management) such that they are fully equipped, organised and motivated to undertake their duties to the required Trust standards;

budgets (e.g. helping set future budgets, phasing, monitoring, pro-active and re-active adjustments to current budgets, managing project finance) such that the gardens’ finances are in line with budget within the context of the wider property and project budgets;

health, safety and the environment in line with stated Trust policies and approaches to ensure the health and welfare of staff/volunteers;

machinery and equipment (e.g. ensuring timely and appropriate repairs, purchases and servicing) and its use (e.g. training, risk assessments and HAVS logs);

recognition of the Trust’s Environmental Policy with respect to sustainable gardening activities, including energy, water, peat & pesticide-use;

daily, weekly, yearly and longer-term management and operational workplans and reporting in the context of the property’s statements of significance, action plans and heritage garden management objectives (and contribution to preparing these plans) to ensure that activities are prioritised and planned to optimise the use of resources;

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;

administration to enable gardening activities to be undertaken and recorded efficiently;

3. Participating fully in the property’s wider “management team”, supporting the Operations manager & Visitor services manager strategically and practically with the operation of the property.

Application Deadline: Sunday 16/06/2024