Senior Gardener

We're seeking an experienced horticulturist, ready to take on a new challenge managing our productive walled garden, including one of Ireland's most complete heritage apple collections and two brand new glasshouses. It's a great opportunity to make your mark by creating the next inspirational garden experience - developing the Pleasure Gardens.

You'll join the National Trust’s gardens team, responsible for some of the most iconic gardens in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You’ll love working in a creative way, enhancing our gardens & showcasing your horticultural skills. Our visitors tell us how much they enjoy the peace and tranquillity of our beautiful outdoor spaces - your role will be vital in making sure that they enjoy a unique experience.

What it's like to work here:Set against Benaughlin and the Cuilcagh mountains in County Fermanagh, Florence Court is the National Trust’s most westerly property. As Senior Gardener you'll manage an Assistant Gardener and a team of dedicated volunteers taking on the future development of the garden including our Walled Garden, recently restored Glass Houses and the Pleasure Gardens.

We’ve completed the restoration of the Kitchen Garden glass houses and are now entering the next phase of the gardens’ development - you'll take the lead in enhancing the Pleasure Gardens, taking the horticultural presentation to the next level and developing a new visitor offer. You'll work with site teams to plan a programme of activities in the garden and help share stories of the history, people and plants of the gardens with our visitors.

You’ll help to communicate our conservation work to a wide range of audiences, both new and existing, through events and outreach, building relationships with the local community, sharing and promoting the work that we do.

You’ll appreciate the need to bring in income, so your business ideas will play an important part in the team’s success.

What you'll be doing:You’ll be happy working outside in all weathers. An important part of your role will be supervising the day-to-day management of the garden, keeping it and the plant collection in tip-top condition.

We’d like you to lead by example, demonstrating exceptional gardening skills which others can follow and learn from, helping the team manage their daily workload, and inspiring and training new staff and volunteers. You’ll build positive working relationships across the entire site.

You'll set the direction of how we care for these wonderful gardens, producing short and longer-term garden management plans and leading our skilled and dedicated gardens volunteers. You’ll be a great communicator and all-round people person; your interpersonal and leadership skills will be just as important as your technical skills in this role.

**Please also read the full role profile attached to this advert.**

Who we're looking forWe’d love to hear from you, if you’re:

- someone who combines practical experience in horticulture with appropriate qualifications
- used to supervising others in a similar role
- highly knowledgeable about plants
- confident in using and maintaining garden machinery, including chainsaws, tractors, hedge-trimmers and mowers (both walking and ride-on)
- aware of relevant health and safety legislation and practices

The packageThe National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Tax-free childcare scheme
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- EV car lease scheme
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most Trust places

Requirements :Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK
Permanent p/t (30 hrs pw)