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Fresh Horticultural Careers are delighted to be assisting Leeds Castle in recruiting for the role of Gardens and Grounds Manager.

Purpose

To lead the Gardens & Grounds team, with responsibility for Grade II listed parkland, formal and woodland gardens, farmland & estate woodland.

Ensuring work carried out in line with historical precedent and that grounds & gardens are maintained and developed to high presentation standards.

Tasks

* Provide professional Gardens and Grounds support to the Foundation, including Health and Safety, training, projects, programme of planned and reactive maintenance and legal compliance related to all buildings, landscapes, trees and equipment under area of control.

* Manage resources effectively to ensure high standard of presentation & refreshment of planting where needed, controlling labour and materials costs carefully & managing to budget. Ensuring that contractors are utilised in a cost-effective manner and that equipment is well cared for.

* Undertaking research into history of Gardens and Grounds to inform work, building on landscape conservation plan and working with Head Curator. Ensuring all work carried out improved conservation, environmental, ecological and public access value of the estate.

* Work closely with Strategic Programmes Manager & other internal stakeholders to develop. Plan and deliver the new Kitchen Garden.

* Work with Audience Development Manager to map out and deliver an ambitious programme of learning, community engagement and volunteering activity, to maximise public benefit, community outreach and Skills Training.

* Ensuring excellent Kitchen Garden & Gardens visitor experience every day through a programme of tours/ talks.

* Ensure that climate resilience & sustainability underpins all decisions

* Build on Gardens and Grounds Volunteering cohort, ensuring clear workplan for gardening & public facing roles, excellent communications/ management of volunteers.

* Working closely with Falconry and Wildlife Manager to develop opportunities to enhance areas for wildlife, ensuring that public access, learning and volunteering is built in to proposals.

* Identify & Manage risks in the outdoors, including tree safety, plant health, biosecurity & environmental risks. Address potential hazards, incidents or near misses to employees, volunteers, contractors or visitors in a manner compatible with public safety. To clear RAMS.

* To be key liaison with farm tenant and sherpherdess.

* Lead and manage Gardens & Grounds team, ensuring clear objectives, ongoing two-way feedback and annual performance reviews.

Skills, knowledge and Experience

Knowledge – Essential

Minimum level of Level 3 Hort Qual or Relevant degree

Excellent plant and gardens history knowledge

Excellent woodland management knowledge

Understanding of requirements and complexitites of working in heritage environment/ listed landscapes with extensive public usage.

Sound knowledge of Health and Safety and legal compliance requirements.

Knowledge – Desirable

Good Understanding of nature conservation & biodiversity

Knowledge of appropriate land/ woodland management grant schemes.

Experience – Essential

* 3-5 years of experience of management significant gardens, ideally in a heritage environment.

* Experience of planning and managing new Gardens projects, including planting, budget management, operational set up & cost-effective ways of operating.

* Experience of propagation and Growing fruit and vegetables

* Experience of woodland and Parkland management.

* Experience of managing gardens and grounds team to the highest standards.

* Experience of and enjoyment of working with volunteers and community groups.

* Providing an excellent visitor experience in outdoor spaces

* Balancing conservation requirements with the requirement for excellent public access.

Skills – Essential

* Excellent plantsman and woodland / landscape manager

* Pragmatic, commercially aware and committed to keeping business running during projects

* Able to juggle multiple priorities & deadlines

* Keen attention to detail with high standards for estate presentation.

* Good Planner, with strong attention to detail, able to deal with unplanned issues

* Strong customer service and public benefit/ access ethos

* Self-motivated and self organising

* Good Verbal and written communication skills, excellent public engagement skills.

* Effective performance manager, able to coach line reports.

* Excellent relationship building and Negotiation.

Full job spec available on request