Gardener

Location: Newhailes House & Gardens, Musselburgh, EH21 6RY

Type of Contract: Fixed-Term, 5 Years Contract. Full-Time, 40 Hours Per Week.

JOB PURPOSE

This job exists to ensure that the garden, grounds and policies across the Property are managed and maintained as an internationally recognised garden of outstanding horticultural importance, contributing to the property’s overall conservation and development, and its enjoyment by visitors and supporters.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Undertake skilled practical maintenance of the garden and estate e.g., managing trees and shrubs, herbaceous plants, and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; staking, plant nutrition, composting and soil improvement to the required standards expected by the Trust and for the maximum safety of, and enjoyment by visitors
• Contribute to the management, conservation, and development of the garden and estate through plant propagation, cultivation, production of seed, sustainable growing practices and the inputting of appropriate plant records on IRIS database and labelling to ensure
• Design and implement planting enhancements, including borders and seasonal displays, contributing to structural planting and year-round interest
• Manage specialist Plant collections, including roses and fruit trees, through appropriate pruning, training, feeding and monitoring of plant health
• Monitor tree health and conduct tree inspection and arboricultural tasks in line with certification and safety procedures
• Operate and maintain horticultural machinery including tractors, ride-on mowers, strimmers and chainsaws in accordance with Trust Health & Safety procedures, completing relevant records where required
• Support growing systems and environmentally responsible pest, disease and weed management practices
• Contribute to operational work planning by identifying priorities, proposing improvements and working independently when required
• Supervise and support volunteers, providing instruction and ensuring safe and effective task delivery
• Demonstrate ability to work individually or as part of a team across a wide range of activities across the garden & estate
• Assist with interpretation and visitor engagement activities, including guided tours and workshops, promoting understanding of the garden and the work of the Trust
• Ensure compliance with Trust Health, Safety and Environmental policies and procedures, including timely completion of HAVS, spraying records and attendance of annual health monitoring
• Foster positive relationships with visitors, local communities and other organisations and promote the work of the Trust when & where appropriate
• 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 Operation Manager / Property Management team

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

Qualifications

Essential

• HNC in Horticulture supported by knowledge and or 5 years practical work experience OR RHS Level 2 in the Principles of Horticulture
• Tractor driving licence
• Chainsaw maintenance and felling (up to 380mm) certificate
• PA1 and PA6 spraying certificates
• Basic tree inspection certificate
• PASMA Tower Platforms certificate
• Emergency First Aid at Work + F certificate
• Driving licence valid for driving in the UK

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in amenity and heritage gardening in a garden open to the public
• Strong practical plantsmanship including pruning, propagation, cultivation and plant identification
• Demonstrable skills in food production and growing
• Experience using and maintaining horticultural machinery safely
• Sound working knowledge of Health and Safety procedures
• Ability to work independently and prioritise tasks
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience supervising volunteers
• Experience contributing to garden development plans or planting schemes
• Experience in delivering informal interpretation and workshops
• Experience of tree inspection or arboricultural practices
• A high eye for detail and finish, quality standard and best practice
• Competent IT skills sufficient for maintaining plant records, use of the internet/intranet, assisting volunteers, on-line learning, management of online forms
• An understanding and commitment to the aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland

DIMENSIONS AND SCOPE OF JOB

People Management

• Not a line manager
• On occasion supervises volunteers
• Works collaboratively with the Head Gardener and garden team
• Regular daily interaction with visitors and property colleagues

Finance Management

• Not a budget-holder
• Expected to use resource efficiently and contribute to cost-effective garden management

Tools / equipment / systems

• Regular use of tractors, strimmers, hedge-cutters, chainsaws
• Regular user of horticultural hand tools
• Occasional user of IT systems for records, training and administrative tasks

This role is one for which the duties, responsibilities or accountabilities of the role require you to undertake a criminal records check, specifically a Basic Disclosure.

The Purpose, Context, Key Responsibilities, and Person Specification 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.

HOW TO APPLY

 Interested applicants should forward their Curriculum Vitae (CV) by clicking the apply button.