Story Garden Manager (Maternity Cover)

Job Purpose

Global Generation is looking for someone who is passionate about working with local communities to create safe, inclusive and inspiring green spaces. As the Story Garden Manager, you will be responsible for managing the Story Garden and our move in October 2025. You will work closely with our community engagement team, to ensure that the Story Garden legacy lives on in Somers Town. You will also manage our small Garden Team, to oversee horticultural, volunteering and community engagement activities at the Story Garden and for a short period of time, after the move, at our new site and/or in a new community hub created in Somers Town.

Organisational Context

Founded in 2004, we grow food, people and community for a fair and just world.
Our vision informs our two charitable aims which are the guiding principles for our work:

• To provide opportunities for the direct experience of natural wilderness environments for children, young people and adults

• To support young people to develop their full potential so they are able to contribute positively to society and the environment

We operate in the boroughs of Camden, Islington and Southwark and work with people of all ages, particularly children and young people. Working from educational and biodiverse garden spaces such as the Story Garden and Floating Garden in King’s Cross (with a permanent community garden currently being built in KX) and the Paper Garden in Canada Water, we combine activities such as urban food growing, carpentry, making, cooking, and healthy eating with dialogue, storytelling, creative writing, performance and art, silence and stillness. These practices help us to create the conditions for people to come together in a fuller and more connected sense of who they are and what they are a part of and, from that space, to practically and creatively contribute to ecological and social change.

This role is primarily based at the Story Garden in King’s Cross, working closely with our local community of Somers Town. You will work with the garden team, community engagement team, education & community programmes team, chefs, volunteers and engage people of all ages.

Main duties and responsibilities

Garden planning and management of Story Garden and related projects

• Support garden team with horticultural work, including planning and procurement

• Project manage Story Garden funded projects - responsible for ensuring outputs and outcomes are monitored and met, building strong relationships with and reporting to funders (City Bridge Trust, Future Neighbourhoods Phase 3)

• Work alongside our Community Engagement Manager to run community events

• Alongside the Head of Gardens, manage the general Story Garden budget

  Project Management of Story Garden move

• Project manage the move of the Story Garden ensuring that there is a positive legacy to the work done at the Story Garden - this will involve donating plants, planters and structures to others in the local community

• Build on existing and create new partnerships with others locally, local community organisations and TRAs to deliver the legacy of the Story Garden

  Training and volunteering

• Manage and deliver corporate volunteer days at Story Garden and the new garden we’re building

• Support the Seasonal Gardener on the running of the Gardening Club

• Work with the Somers Town Team to integrate volunteering and training opportunities within the wider area and upskill local people

  Line management

• Line manage 3 members of staff and volunteers and support their professional development through regular check ins, monthly 1:1s and regular meetings about projects.

What we are looking for

Essential

• City & Guilds Level 2 Horticulture or equivalent and 3 years experience in a practical horticulture role, feeling confident enough to facilitate gardening activities

• Good understanding of organic horticulture principles and practice

• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, including budgeting and overseeing monitoring and reporting

• Experience working with multiple stakeholders

• Experience of line management

•  Experience running volunteer sessions

• Excellent administration, written and verbal communication skills

Desirable

• Experience undertaking risk assessments

• Experience running corporate volunteer sessions

• Experience managing a community garden

These are some of our core values which we aim for all of our staff to share and develop to guide our work:

• Commitment to equity, diversity and sustainability in all aspects of our approach

• Passionate about working with people to engage them in ways to learn new skills, build connections and fulfil their potential

• A love of working outdoors, the natural environment and urban greening

• Appreciation of working across sectors, disciplines and worldviews

Benefits to working with Global Generation

We aim to create a supportive, creative and rewarding environment for you to work in. All members of staff are part of collaboratively developing how we work as an organisation. We do this through offering staff lunches, weekly team meetings, reflective spaces to learn together, away days and residentials which give us an opportunity to come together to reflect and explore different aspects of our work and collectively contribute towards the vision of the organisation. There are also opportunities for job related training and coaching as part of your own personal development, the opportunity to slow down, plan and reflect during the winter, and the possibility for additional support if the need arises through our partnership with the Camden Psychotherapy Unit.

This job description is issued as a guideline to assist you in your duties; it is not exhaustive and we would be pleased to discuss any constructive comments you may have. Because of the evolving nature and changing demands of our business, this job description may be subject to change. You may, on occasions, be required to undertake additional or other duties within the context of this job description, and according to the needs of the Charity.