Senior Gardener

We're looking for a Senior Gardener with outstanding leadership skills to join the Gardens and Outdoors Team at Petworth House and Park. This is an exciting role to help in the delivery of a new vision for our Pleasure Ground Garden.

This is a full-time role, you'll be working Monday to Friday from 8am until 4:15pm, with occasional evening and weekend working to support the property. 

First interviews will be held virtually on the 11th April and second interviews will be on site at Petworth on the 17th of April.

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We’re a small team with a big remit and looking to grow in the future along with our planting. You’ll be reporting to the Gardens and Outdoors Manager and you'll assist with delivering the ongoing projects of enhancements to the garden, running the day-to-day operation of the garden team, working with and managing our teams of Horticultural and Grounds person volunteers.

We don’t just need you to manage our beautiful gardens, although this is an important part of the role; we’d like you to help manage the team too. As the Senior Gardener in our team, we’d like you to lead by example, with exceptional gardening skills, but you’ll also understand how to manage the workload for this team and deliver exceptional training to new staff and volunteers.

Competent in the usage of machinery in a garden setting, you’ll be responsiblefor ensuring that the tools the team use are maintained and ready to use whenever required. You’ll also make sure that Health and Safety is upheld and compliance tasks relating to the outdoors are undertaken, and records kept. You’ll share your knowledge and love for Petworth with visitors, volunteers, and staff through occasional talks and garden tours.

We’d love to hear from you, if this sounds like you:

• someone who combines practical experience in horticulture with appropriate qualifications
• have supervisory experience from a similar role 
• highly knowledgeable about plants
• confident in using and maintaining garden machinery, including chainsaws, tractors, hedge-trimmers and mowers (both walking and ride-on)
• aware of relevant health and safety legislation and practices  
• a full UK driving licence
• experience of managing budgets

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Tax-free childcare scheme

• Rental deposit loan scheme

• Season ticket loan

• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts

• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Employee assistance programme

• Free parking at most Trust places

• Independent financial advice

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.