Head Gardener
Competitive Salary plus annual performance bonus and fantastic benefits
www.thenewtinsomerset.com or take a look at our Instagram @thenewtinsomerset
If you have the skills, experience and energy to make our garden flourish - we want to hear from you. Send us a short video explaining why we should put our most treasured possession in your hands. Videos can be sent to recruitment@thenewtinsomerset.com or included with your CV.
The Newt
in Somerset wants to become the most exciting garden in England.
We are
now recruiting a Head Gardener to lead us.
The
gardens are nestled within an innovative visitor attraction, which includes,
alongside the garden, a museum of gardening history, a reimagined Roman Villa, a
Beezantium, restaurants and hotel. We are open to the public all year round and
receive over 250,000 visitors.
Hadspen
estate has evolved over three centuries, and we pay homage to this history. The
diverse landscape includes ancient woodland, formal ornamental gardens, fruit
tree collections, edible gardens and an arboretum, along with extensive
nurseries and orchards. We celebrate every facet of this complex landscape and
are determined to build a sustainable attraction.
The
successful candidate needs the skill to manage a large team of gardeners with
varied expertise. You will have enthusiasm to inspire, and the ability to
present to an audience and to the media. Advanced horticultural training and
experience of running a large garden are vital, but most of all, you will have
a love of plants and digging your fingers into the soil.
This is a senior management role responsible
for leading the garden planning, implementation, oversight and reporting. Annual
highlights include participation in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and The Newt in
Somerset Head Gardeners’ Conference.
Skills
and Experience
* The enthusiasm, expertise and energy to
provide the best visitor experience in the UK.
* Experience of managing a successful
garden at the highest level.
* Ability to motivate and manage a large team.
* Horticultural expertise, with academic
qualifications.
* Hard-working and energetic, with
excellent team building skills.
* Budget ownership.
* The personality to communicate well with
internal and external audiences, and the media.
* A well-organised individual.
* Adequate IT skills.
* Clean UK driving license.
What we can offer
* A positive workplace environment with opportunities to develop both personally and professionally.
* Stay in shape with our complimentary use of our gym and wellbeing classes
* Look after your wellbeing with complimentary access to our Spa and swimming pools and our exclusive benefit of 50% of Spa Treatments.
* Enjoy shopping in both our shops on estate and online with 30% discount for all our colleagues and free delivery for any online purchases.
* Discover exclusive perks with our Discounted hotel stays for staff, accompanied by a fantastic 30% discount at our restaurants.
* The opportunity to ensure your views are heard and shape the future of the business via our Employee Engine Room.
* Complimentary garden membership for the Newt and our partner gardens including the Eden Project, Kew Gardens and The Lost Gardens of Heligan
* Complimentary meal whilst on shift, created using fresh produce from our estate by our dedicated staff food chefs
* We value your hard work and recognise your achievements through our colleague recognition programme “Newt Awards” with the opportunity to achieve a variety of amazing rewards including a complimentary Hotel Stay.
* Support from our Employee Assistance Programme for both yourself and your family
* A team that knows how to have fun with regular team engagement activities including monthly Gather and Grow Motivational Speakers and our regular fun squad events, which include activities such as Go-Karting and Wine Tasting, to name but a few.
* Up to 30 days annual leave each year for our full-time team