The Team
Work alongside our skilled team of Gardeners in a full-time, permanent position. Every day brings something different from hands-on horticultural projects to keeping our landscapes looking their very best.
If you take real pride in delivering high-quality work and enjoy being part of a supportive, hard-working team, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
The role
About the role
You’ll join a friendly, professional gardening team responsible for maintaining a variety of sites across central York, including some of the city’s most attractive gardens. From July, this will include the stunning King’s Manor estate. You’ll help ensure all gardens and grounds are maintained to a high standard and are welcoming, healthy, and well presented.
What you’ll be doing
• Maintaining formal gardens, modern landscapes, and biodiversity areas
• Carrying out general grounds maintenance and horticultural tasks
• Supporting the care and upkeep of student accommodation and the sports complex
• Working collaboratively as part of a dedicated team
• Contributing to sustainability and nature-friendly initiatives
What we’re looking for
• A motivated and reliable gardener with a strong work ethic
• A good team player who takes pride in their work
• Someone who enjoys outdoor, hands-on work in a varied environment
What we offer
• A supportive team with opportunities to develop your skills
• The chance to work on beautiful and historic sites
• A role where your work has visible impact
• The opportunity to become a biodiversity champion and support sustainability goals
Required skills and experience
City and Guilds or equivalent qualification in horticulture or a proven track record working as a professional gardener.
proficiency in the use of tractors, ride on and pedestrian grass cutting machinery, powered hand tools such as hedge cutters, strimmer’s etc.
Ability to lift and operate heavy equipment and machinery.
Ability to work as part of a team or individually using own initiative, a good time keeper and enjoy working outside
Additional information
It is anticipated that the selection process will include an interview. Further details will be provided if you are shortlisted for interview.
Unfortunately, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship however we welcome your application if you are able to evidence right to work in the UK via an alternative route.
We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive policies and facilities and welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. As part of our commitment to providing an inclusive working environment, consideration is given to all requests for job share or flexible working arrangements.
This vacancy is scheduled to close on the date indicated at the bottom of this advert, but we may close earlier if we receive a high level of applications.
Application process support
We are keen to support you throughout the recruitment process. Before starting your application please refer to the attached candidate application form guidance below which provides advice about completing the application process.
Please note that CVs are not accepted in place of the application form. Within the application process you will be asked to answer a selection of work-related questions. Our aim is to get to know you, and understand your individual skills and experience, and how you would apply these within the role. We are aware that AI can be helpful in shaping your responses, but we encourage you to share your answers in your own words.
Our benefits package
We offer a wide range of employee benefits including -
- Excellent annual leave entitlement, including five discretionary university closure days over the Christmas period
- Disability leave (applies to staff who have disclosed a disability and is also available to staff with disabled dependants)
- Pension scheme
- Health Cash Plan after six months service
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Paid leave for Armed Forces Reservists
- On-campus courses, one-to-one tutorials, and online resources to help you develop your digital skills and work with new software
- Relocation expenses package for certain roles
- Reimbursement of Skilled Worker Visa application fees and for additional costs (if applicable to the role)
Further information about life at YSJ
Our attached 'further information' document below provides further information about our culture, achievements and testimonials from our employees.
Closing Date - Monday 09 March 2026 at midnight Provisional Interview Date - Thursday 26 March 2026