Visitor Services

ROLE SUMMARY

Now is an exciting time to be at Roxburghe Estates as we continue to grow and strengthen our Gardens Team.

Floors Castle Garden is an RHS partner and is a well-known Victorian walled garden with herbaceous borders, kitchen garden, parterre and glasshouses. Open to the public all year round, Floors Castle is the private residence of the 11th Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe. Therefore, you will be working within both public and private areas.

Recognised for its outstanding herbaceous borders and stunning glasshouses combined with woodland walks and formal parterre this is a truly unique opportunity for a gardener who is looking to join an existing team and grow their expertise.
With a passionate and enthusiastic attitude with great overall knowledge and a desire to keep learning more, you will form part of a team who aspire to turn our gardens into an inspirational and truly fantastic place to visit and to work within.

WORKING WITH US
It takes a certain sort of person to flourish in such a multi-dimensional environment like Roxburghe Estates. Therefore, we look for talented, self-motivated and enthusiastic individuals who will be able to share our passion for providing a warm welcome and amazing experiences.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING
Weeding and border maintenance
To assist in the presentation of the Walled Garden, Millennium Garden and other areas to the highest possible standards.

Pruning
Ensure seasonal pruning occurs in line with best practice.

Watering
Tending to both the daily regimen and weekend watering responsibilities when required.

Planting and propagation

Glasshouse maintenance and care
Our glasshouses provide plants, flowers and a range of soft fruits to the Castle. As a member of the team you will support in caring for these year-round.

Upkeep of Vegetable Garden
To provide the highest quality seasonal produce for the Castle Kitchen and retail outlets.

Seasonal Events
Our team provides dedicated horticultural workshops for paying customers and assist in the creation of a variety of events and trails for children around the grounds. Examples have been the Halloween, Peter Rabbit and Fairy Tail Trails.

Health & Safety
All staff are expected to observe all health and safety at work regulations as set out by Floors Castle in accordance with its statutory obligations. You will be required to undertake any training that may be required to support this.

Any Other Duties
Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be requested of a member of the Gardens Team in relation to activities and events that take place within the gardens and grounds of Floors Castle. Working outside of contracted hours may occasionally be required. You will be required to work weekends on a rota basis and Bank Holidays.

HOURS OF WORK

Full-time averaging 39 hours per week, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., during the summer months and 8.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. during the winter months.
ABOUT YOU – Personal Qualities
• You should demonstrate a track record of working in a similar environment with good horticultural practice and knowledge.
• You will need to be prepared to work in all weathers and be physically fit.
• Be able to work under your own initiative with an eye for detail and high standards of excellence.
• The ability to work within a team as well as independently.
• Be prepared to interact with the public and provide an excellent level of service at all times.
• Prepared to work on rota for weekend duties.
• Have a real passion and enthusiasm for gardening and horticulture in general.
• Prepared to learn and gain new skills.
• Be flexible, adaptable and have the ability to react quickly to change as necessary.

ABOUT YOU – Qualifications and Experience
Essential
• RHL L2 or a nationally recognised equivalent horticulture qualification
• Full driving licence
• Ideally 2 years’ experience of working within the horticulture sector.

Desirable
• PA1/PA6 qualification – training will be provided if necessary.
• Competence with the safe operation of common garden machinery/equipment

WHATS ON OFFER
• £12.21 per hour, staff discount, life insurance, pension.
• Ability to constantly develop and grow within your position through training opportunities and guidance.
• A fun working environment where we care about you, your well-being, and your personal growth.
• Opportunity to work alongside a very highly skilled Gardens team.

HOW TO APPLY
Please send a covering letter and CV to hr@floorscastle.com. For an informal chat about the role or for more information, please call the Estate Office on 01573223333.
Closing date for application, 12 noon Friday 11th July.

This is an exciting opportunity for a management role at North Coast Visitor Centre (NCVC) ensuring high performance and presentation standards in a busy Museum, Gallery and Cafe.

High Life Highland is a dynamic and exciting Charity to work for with our purpose being to to Make Life Better for everyone including our employees. We strive to provide a family friendly work environment for all employees so that they find it easier to balance family and work obligations.

Please go to the link to learn more about the job description and how to apply.

JOB PURPOSE
Inverewe is a garden of international importance. Created by Osgood Mackenzie in the late 19th century, and in NTS ownership since 1952, exotic plants flourish in a challenging northern landscape of spectacular mountain and coast. Within its essential wooded shelterbelt, Inverewe’s planting has always been developed to ‘push the boundaries’. It is renowned for its variety of designed elements and an extensive plant collection of national significance, including notable collections of rhododendrons and Australasian plants. This post offers the opportunity to work alongside Inverewe’s experienced team of horticulturalists, assisting in the maintenance, conservation and development of Inverewe Garden.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Undertake practical maintenance (e.g. managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous plants, and bulbs; clearing invasive species; weed control; composting and soil improvement; hard-landscaping; path care), with particular responsibility for a designated area within the woodland garden.
2. Knowledge of composting systems with an interest and ability to work alongside the team to help maintain our composting systems and soil health
3. Undertake such other reasonable duties as may, from time to time, be required to ensure the smooth running of the property as required by the Head Gardener.
4. Contribute as required to the wider garden, to the standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by, visitors.
5. Contribute to the management, conservation and development of the garden by assisting with plant propagation and other nursery work, and the maintenance of plant records and labelling.
6. Assist with education/interpretation activities such as introductory talks and guided walks.
7. Foster positive relationships with local communities, promoting the work of the Trust, and actively seeking opportunities to increase Trust membership.
8. On occasion, contribute to the review and development of property action plans and operational workplans for the garden.
9. On occasion, supervise and work with volunteers, student placements and/or apprentices to ensure they deliver required outputs at the appropriate standard, and gain benefit/satisfaction from their activities.
10. Ensure compliance with the Trust’s health, safety, and environment policies and procedures.
11. Demonstrate self-motivation, strong organisational skills, including time management and the ability to plan and prioritise.
The current duties of this job do not require a criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) check to be carried out.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Qualifications/ skills
Essential
 Either a formal qualification at NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in amenity horticulture, or working towards completion of such a qualification, or demonstrable relevant work experience in an amenity garden context.
 Sound demonstrable plant knowledge and identification skills.
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; confident in interacting and dealing with a wide range of people and work in a team environment; and able to represent the Trust.
 Good organisational and time-management skills – including the ability to prioritise work where necessary.
 Able to live and work in a relatively remote rural environment with little public transport.

Desirable
 Driving Licence, valid for driving within the UK.
 Competent IT skills sufficient for maintaining plant records, use of the internet/intranet, assisting trainees/apprentices, distance learning etc.
 Skills in arboricultural techniques, basic chain-saw certificates – CS30 & CS31, or willingness to be trained in the basic use of chainsaws.
 Tree climbing and aerial rescue qualification – CS38.

Experience
Essential
 Experience of the care and conservation of trees and shrubs, maintaining borders.
 Experience in use of basic garden tools and machinery.
 Experience of Health and Safety processes and procedures and the ability to work effectively within these processes.
 Experience and knowledge of composting systems and soil health

Desirable
 Experience of working in a garden open to the public
 Experience of working in a mixed-team that includes short-term/seasonal staff and/or volunteers
 Experience of propagation and nursery practices.
 An interest in heritage gardening.

DIMENSIONS AND SCOPE OF JOB
Scale
 The role holder will be responsible for a designated area of the woodland garden, comprising approximately 5 acres of borders, established tree/shrub areas and associated path networks.
 They will also be responsible, as part of the woodland team, for the wider woodland garden and shelterbelt periphery, comprising approximately 30 acers of borders, established tree/shrub areas, areas of invasive plants such as Rhododrendron ponticum and associated path networks.

People Management
 Not a line manager
 On occasion the role holder may be asked to supervise volunteers (up to 5 on one day).
 On occasion the role holder may be asked to supervise student placements or apprentices under instruction from Head Gardener or First Gardener.
 The role holder will work closely with other gardeners, particularly with the woodland garden team, and will frequently be involved in collaborative activities such as winching, chipping and chainsawing.
 The role holder work may have some interaction with other technical/specialist advisory colleagues.
 Will have regular (daily) interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities.

Finance Management
 Not a budget holder
Tools / equipment / systems
 Will be a frequent user of driven vehicles such as tractors and ride-on mowers
 Will be a frequent user of hand-tools such as spades, forks, trowels, rakes, hoes, shears, and secateurs.
 Will be a user of powered tools such as, winches, mowers, strimmers, wood chippers, shredders, tractors, chainsaws (if qualified).
Example key performance indicators and targets
 Maintaining the designated area of woodland garden to the standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by, visitors.
 Working collaboratively as part of a woodland team.
 Foresting excellent working relationships with all members of the garden team and assisting outside of the woodland garden where necessary.

JOB PURPOSE
To combine responsibilities on nature conservation, visitor services, learning and community engagement to help deliver the strategic objectives of the Brodick Country Park property and wider National Trust for Scotland.
Protect the landscapes in our care as part of ecologically healthy habitat networks where natural processes predominate and help combat climate change. Undertake repairs or construction of fences, footpaths, bridges and other built infrastructure. Enable people to experience our heritage, get more out of it & put more back into it. Use evidence and practice from our natural heritage properties to support our voice in national debates advocating for natural heritage. Work with communities living close to our land or with an interest in our land so that they collaborate with us to help achieve our natural heritage outcomes. Protect the built and archaeological heritage in our care and use them to help us explain the “habitats” outcome and achieve the “visitor’s” outcome.

BRODICK COUNTRY PARK & GOATFELL
Brodick Country Park (72 ha) was designated the first island Country Park in Scotland in 1980. The Country Park forms part of the designed landscape surrounding Brodick Castle and with its mosaic of native woodland, gorges, ponds and mature parkland, is of considerable local natural heritage value. The Country Park supports a number of locally and nationally significant species such as red squirrel, barn owl, long-eared bats and a wide array of flowering plants, ferns and mosses.

The property is a well-used local recreational resource and is exceptionally important to the local economy being one of the most visited tourist attractions on the island (approx 45,000 visitors annually). The diversity of the property and the opportunities it provides for recreation, education and enjoyment makes it of outstanding recreational value and an outstanding amenity resource for visitors and locals alike.

Goatfell is of local, national and international significance for the quality of its landscape, geology/geomorphology and the opportunities it provides for walking and mountaineering in a dramatic and challenging upland landscape. It’s extensive tracts of moorland are recognised as having European importance and most of the Goatfell property is designated as a SSSI (for geological and ecological features) and SPA (for hen harrier and other upland bird species), as well as being part of the North Arran National Scenic Area. Conservation projects ongoing on the property include peatland restoration, upland habitat revival and upland footpath repairs.

Brodick Castle, Country Park & Goatfell could be described as the archetypal Trust property exhibiting all the elements that the Trust aims to conserve from the built and natural heritage, to the collections, designed landscape and wild land.

Brodick Castle, with its magnificent gardens and policies, rises majestically above Brodick Bay on the Isle of Arran. Once owned and created by the Dukes of Hamilton, one of Scotland’s grandest aristocratic families, the property derives much of its significance from this association. The Castle is of national importance for its architectural and archaeological interest, and the gardens have three national collections of Rhododendrons.

Although the main work will be on the Brodick Country Park property, the post holder will be part of the NTS Ranger team and some of the post holders time will be required to assist with the management of Goatfell.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
Combine responsibilities across the following areas of work with direct implementation yourself and by overseeing the work of others such as contractors, volunteers, seasonal staff and colleagues:
Nature conservation
• Survey wildlife and habitats and feed this knowledge into management decisions, promoting of natural heritage, and further development of our voice.
• Maintain and manage habitats and wildlife with the aim of protecting species and increasing biodiversity.
• Manage projects aimed at enhancing our natural heritage as outlined within Brodick Country Parks Annual Operating Plan and the Plan for Nature. (For example, habitat revival and invasive species control projects).
• Contribute to the planning and lead the delivery of practical conservation to deliver the outputs agreed in the Annual Operating Plan and Plan for Nature.

Visitor Services
• Maintain countryside estate infrastructure at small, day to day scale (e.g. paths, fences, gates, signs, bridges, vegetation management) to achieve ecological, visitor services and safety outcomes.
• Provide information to visitors to encourage engagement with our natural heritage and help people give more back to it including “upselling” (e.g.: of membership and donations) using face to face and by other means of interaction such as social media.
• Lead guided walks and countryside events. Assist with events such as public gatherings, and wider NTS events.
Community engagement
• Communicate with local stakeholders, neighboring landowners, local businesses, local / regional agencies and others to increase understanding of their and our aims and develop collaborative working to help deliver our priorities.
• Develop and maintain sound relationships with representatives of key parties who have interests in the property including neighbors, local businesses, the local community and user groups.

Learning
• Provide educational and other outreach activities on site or to the community local to the natural heritage and to communities of interest, including for volunteers.

Other responsibilities
• Planning and delivery of NTS Ranger Service education programs.

• Management of practical conservation and wildlife recording.
• Ensure that all activities undertaken are compliant with the Trust’s health and safety policies and procedures including the safe system of work (SSOW), and environmental policy and practices.
• Manage contractors and supervise volunteers and seasonal staff.
• Develop and deliver visitor safety in the countryside.
• Engagement and involvement with projects as required.
• Assist with the implementation and review of property plans and contribute to successful delivery of relevant Natural Heritage plans/ annual operational plans.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Qualifications
• Graduate level qualifications or equivalent experience in one or more of the following subject areas heritage or cultural studies, visitor services, rural land management, nature conservation, environmental studies.
• First Aid certificate
• Strimmer, chainsaw (CS30/31) and pesticide certification (PA1/6).
• A full, clean driving licence for driving in the UK is essential.
• Criminal records (Disclosure Scotland) checking and clearance essential for safeguarding of children/vulnerable adults.

The role is one for which the duties/responsibilities/accountabilities of the role will require staff to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

Skills, Experience & Knowledge
Essential
• Significant experience of one or more of the following areas of work and the ability to apply knowledge from others across all of them: heritage or cultural studies, visitor services, rural land management, nature conservation, environmental studies, rural community development.
• Significant practical experience in a relevant / similar conservation or ranger service role.
• Practical land management and maintenance of small-scale rural estates infrastructure.
• Interaction with a wide range of staff, volunteers, visitors, educational groups and other stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of Scottish habitats and species and of ecological survey and monitoring techniques.
• Experience of leading groups of volunteers and visitors in an outdoor activity/learning environment.
• Experience of managing safety in the countryside.
• Working within a small team and lone working.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office.
• Ability and willingness to undertake strenuous physical work
• Good organisational and time-management skills with the flexibility to re-prioritise work to meet changing demands and weather
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to build strong, professional relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• A pro-active approach to driving forward ideas and projects designed to improve daily operations or enhance visitor experience.
• An understanding and commitment to the aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland.
• Living the values of the National Trust for Scotland and encourage colleagues to do the same
o The ability and willingness to understand others’ perspectives and to consider the impact of your actions on them and to adapt your actions as necessary.
o The ability and willingness to learn and try new things, to be flexible and step outside of your comfort zone.
o An open and honest way of communicating, ready to ask others for their ideas and to be open to hear and consider different points of view.
o A pro-active approach to taking initiative and to driving forward ideas and projects designed to improve daily operations and deliver an exceptional visitor experience.

Desirable
• Project management, involving several stakeholders and activities.
• An interest in developing new initiatives particularly in relation to environmental sustainability and nature based tourism
• Summer Mountain Leader certificate
• Tree audit / review certification.
• Ability to drive 4W drive vehicle & trailer.

DIMENSIONS AND SCOPE OF JOB
Scale
The ranger works closely with the Senior Ranger who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the NTS Ranger Service and the Goatfell & Brodick Country Park Properties.

People Management
• No line management responsibility but will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Ranger activities whether maintenance, conservation or visitor experience objectives.
• Post will include management of volunteer individuals / teams and seasonal staff ensuring planning of and safe practices followed on daily basis.
• Will work closely with other property colleagues and may be required to liaise with other technical/specialist advisory colleagues based in other locations and departments.
• Will have frequent interaction with suppliers and contractors.
• Will have regular interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities.

Finance Management
• This role is not a budget-holder.
• Assist in making the best use of resources and ensuring best value.
• Contribute to the income of the Trust through recruiting new members and encouraging donations.

Tools / equipment / systems (subject to appropriate training.)
 Various hand tools.
 Strimmer and chainsaw (if qualified).
 Use of chemicals.

Physical Environment
• Responsibility for implementing the Trust’s “Health & Safety Policy”, being mindful at all times of the health and safety of self, staff, volunteers, and visitors.
• Responsibility for working in a manner mindful of the Trust’s obligations to minimise impact on the environment, through e.g. efficient use of water/heat/light, recycling and the disposal of waste, considered use of transport

The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Job, and Required Qualifications, Skills, Experience & Knowledge reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.