The role:
We are looking for a new Head Gardener who has horticultural expertise coupled with the ability to lead our Garden team, inspiring visitors through talks and tours, and engaging new audiences with content across our social media channels.
You will play a key role in conserving and realising the full horticultural potential of Borde Hill. We are looking for an individual who can support our journey to establish Borde Hill as one of the most distinctive visitor destinations in the country, with a coherent, inspiring brand, within which you will play a key role.
You will primarily be responsible for the day-to-day management and development of the Garden, whilst overseeing the wider team who work across our biodynamic Market Garden, Kitchen Garden, Parkland and woodland. We require a hands-on individual to inspire and lead the garden team from the front, showcasing best practice, motivation and a passion for plants. Over the next 12-18 months you will oversee, alongside project leads, two exciting projects; our reimagined Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden and our National Heritage Lottery Fund Project, ‘Reinventing Borde Hill’ in the South Park.
A key part of the role will be to curate and propagate our heritage plant collection, including our National Collection of Rhododendron, 70 TROBI Champion Trees and those historic living collections which directly relate to our rich horticultural archive. It is therefore important that you are not only passionate and knowledgeable regarding woody temperate plants, but also understand the heritage importance of these valuable collections and of safeguarding them for the future.
You will have financial responsibility for managing horticultural budgets, propagating plants for sale, and contributing to grant applications and fundraising initiatives as required. You will also be responsible for ensuring the safety of all your team and maintaining health and safety records for a public Garden.
The Head Gardener will report to the General Manager and Managing Director with oversight from the Garden Directors and the Family.
Click here to see the full job description
Salary: £43,000-£45,000 (dependent on experience)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (with occasional weekend working)
Holiday entitlement: 32 days pro rata (including Bank Holidays)
Accommodation: discounted accommodation available on site.
To apply: send your CV, covering letter and short video clip (max 3 mins explaining why you are the best candidate for this role) via WeTransfer to: [email protected]
