Job Description
Job Description: Mobile Gardener (1st Class)
Salary: £26,722 per annum
Location: Harrogate Mobile Group, North Region
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Department: Operations
Job Purpose
A Mobile Gardener (1st Class) is an experienced horticulturist responsible for the maintenance and renovation of specific plots and green spaces across a designated geographical region. This is a practical, field-based role requiring high-level craft skills to maintain grounds to an exceptional standard of excellence.
You will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including turf culture, border maintenance, planting, pest control, and the operation and care of professional machinery.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities
1. Horticultural Excellence: Undertake practical maintenance including mowing, edging, hedge cutting, weeding, pruning, and pesticide application.
2. Mobile Site Management: Plan and organise a daily workload across multiple sites, ensuring all locations meet set quality standards.
3. Logistics & Stock: Compile orders for plants, chemicals, fertilisers, PPE, and machinery parts to ensure uninterrupted service.
4. Equipment & Vehicle Care: Responsible for the safe operation, daily maintenance, and minor repair of all work equipment and team vehicles.
5. Health & Safety: Conduct site-specific risk assessments and ensure all work adheres to H&S policies, COSHH regulations, and safe working practices.
6. Inspection & Reporting: Monitor and report any structural defects, environmental changes, or security issues observed at sites during maintenance duties.
7. Digital Administration: Competently use smartphones and tablet-based technology for routine administrative duties, scheduling, and reporting.
8. Public Interaction: Provide polite and professional advice or direction to members of the public and visitors at site locations.
Working Hours
This role operates on a seasonal hours model to reflect horticultural demands:
9. Summer Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 08:00 – 17:00
Friday: 08:00 – 16:00
10. Winter Hours:
Monday to Friday: 08:30 – 16:00
Occasional overtime or out-of-hours work may be required, for which Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) will be granted.
Job Requirements
Education and Knowledge
11. Desirable: NVQ Level 2 in Amenity Horticulture or equivalent.
12. Essential: Significant practical experience in professional gardening or grounds maintenance.
13. IT Skills: Good level of computer literacy or the ability to learn mobile reporting systems quickly.
Skills and Abilities
14. Craftsmanship: High-level gardening skills and experience with commercial machinery.
15. Autonomy: Proven ability to work alone and use initiative while managing a mobile circuit.
16. Communication: Effective listening and verbal skills for interacting with colleagues and the public.
17. Organisation: Strong time management skills and the ability to take responsibility for service delivery.
Mandatory Requirements
18. Driving Licence: A full UK car driving licence is essential.
19. Travel: Willingness to travel within the UK as required.
20. Right to Work: Must have the legal right to work in the UK.