Head Gardener

Job Title: Head Gardener

Period: Permanent

Hours: Part-time, 3 days-per-week, 21 hours excluding breaks, minimum of 1 Saturday a month + occasional evening work

Salary: Up to £31,500 p.a. pro rata

Reports to: Head of Operations / Co-Director

Key relationship: Garden Volunteers, Sarah Price, Exchange Managers

Responsible for: External partner relationships

Primary place of work: The Exchange, Erith DA8 1RA

About the role

The Exchange is looking for a talented, enthusiastic, and hard-working Head Gardener with a flair for plants, experience of working with communities, and a keen interest in Sarah Price’s naturalistic approach to gardens. The Head Gardener will further establish The Exchange as a destination garden, and a place for community learning and well-being. You will be responsible for our designer garden, its upkeep and development along with the design and delivery of a community learning/volunteer support programme. 

Please note: the ‘principal duties and responsibilities’ outlined below are not exhaustive. Other tasks and duties consistent with the role may be assigned.

Principal Duties + Responsibilities: 

The Sarah Price Garden

We are delighted to be home to a fantastic Sarah Price designed garden that wraps around The Exchange building.  Sarah is one of the leading garden designers of her generation with three Chelsea gold medals and a portfolio including London’s Olympic Park, Manchester’s Whitworth Art Gallery, and the Maggie’s Centre in the New Forest. The Head Gardener is responsible for the maintenance and nurturing of the garden, which was planted by local residents, and in developing a programme for volunteers that supports with this maintenance. Key responsibilities include:

• Ongoing care and maintenance of the plants and garden to ensure the successful development of the garden in line with Sarah Price’s vision.
• Liaising with Sarah Price Landscapes about changes, upkeep, and development of the garden.
• Helping co-ordinate with Sarah Price and The Exchange any additional planting.
• Creation of opportunities for interaction with the public who visit the garden.
• Establish and manage The Exchange’s sustainable compost programme.
• Plant/equipment/materials ordering.
• Developing and caring for the pelargonium collection in the greenhouse 
• Propagating plants for sale and use in the garden.

Volunteer management

Community involvement is an essential part of what we do at The Exchange. Currently this involves a growing Volunteer Programme, where people come and learn skills from talented craftspeople, becoming part of “Making Communities”, in exchange for giving time in creating things For Community Use and/or Benefit. 

In relation to the garden, volunteers are supported through skills development and learning opportunities and give their time towards the garden’s ongoing maintenance and/or enabling wider public interaction. Participation in this programme also creates other benefits including social and wellbeing. We believe that time spent with volunteers/local community sharing skills and experience is an important investment and it will be your responsibility to ensure the volunteer team is supported and valued.  Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and maintaining a group of volunteers to assist in the garden.
• Providing supervision and guidance to the volunteer team on practical horticultural tasks.
• Ensuring health and safety procedures are followed.
• Support with developing volunteers’ skills and confidence within the garden.
• Managing garden volunteer rotas and work tasks.
• Maintaining volunteer records including logging and evaluating volunteer hours.
• Keeping in touch with volunteers and potential volunteers through regular communications.
• Organising volunteer recognition events/activities, e.g. visits to other gardens.

Other

• Supporting development and delivery of new ideas to reach target groups and meet our aims, as laid out in our Engagement/Participation Strategy.
• Working with the wider team to ensure effective communications about the garden as visitor site, and place for learning.
• Exploring the potential for garden community learning programme development in line with the organisation’s aims and objectives.
• Working with the senior leadership team on relevant funding applications.

Personal specification 

Essential:

• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn about, Sarah Price’s approach to gardens, plants, and garden maintenance.
• Ecologically minded with a commitment to working organically.
• Practical experience and/or Entry Level Qualification in gardens and/or landscape management. NVQ level 2, RHS level 2 or equivalent experience.
• Excellent plant knowledge and a keen interest in gardens and landscapes.
• Familiarity with most horticultural tasks together with the use of basic tools.
• A willingness to work alongside and to support and develop other staff and volunteers.
• Motivated with an eye for detail and a desire to achieve high standards, ability to work on own initiative.
• Good verbal communication skills good organisational skills, a good understanding of Health and Safety issues.
• Experience of working with communities / different groups of people.

Desirable:

• A valid driving licence.
• Experience in propagation.
• Volunteer Management experience.

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 20 November, 12:00pm