Leading Gardener

Would you like to be part of something bigger and join us in our ambition to become the Best City, working together as a Team for Leeds. Do your values match ours and do you have something to offer?

Leeds City Council delivers over 500 different services to residents and is dedicated to bringing the benefits of a prosperous, vibrant and attractive city to the people of Leeds. This is a fantastic time to join us.

**Benefits of working with us**:
We pride ourselves on offering the best employee experience, with a genuine commitment to keeping our colleagues safe and well at work. You can expect great benefits whilst working for us including:

- a competitive pay progression structure including generous employer pension contributions
- flexible career paths with tailored personal and professional development
- support for you, your home and your family including personal, and financial support

For more information about our benefits please see the benefits section of our jobs page.

**Introduction to the role of the team**

This post is based within the East area of Leeds. In addition to previous experience in staff supervision, training and completion of relevant paperwork

**Your role**

You will require considerable practical horticultural experience, together with an NVQ2 or equivalent in Amenity Horticulture, although applicants who can demonstrate a significant period of work experience without formal qualifications will also be considered.

Work includes all aspects of horticultural maintenance, including lifting, digging, hard and soft landscaping, preparation of ground for the planting and establishment of plants, weed spraying, the laying, establishing and maintenance of turf, fencing, the construction and maintenance of landscape features and grass cutting using a ride-on mower. In addition the Leading Hand Gardener will be responsible for mentoring and training new Gardening Apprentices in horticultural methods and practices and in specific machinery use.

A full, clean driving licence is essential, to enable the post holder to travel independently to various sites as required to supervise and transport staff.

The post may be based at any point within the Leeds City boundaries.

You will have excellent communication skills and be a team player. You will be motivated and a critical thinker with the ability to understand the needs of your customers.

**We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is an Inclusive employer, ranked 70 on the Stonewall top 100 employers 2023 list. We are also an Age friendly employer, a Mindful employer and a Disability Confident leader.**

**This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply**.

**Job** **Purpose**

To undertake horticultural maintenance duties, within the Parks and Countryside service.

**Responsibilities**
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
- The undertaking and completion of all horticultural operations within the defined working district.
- To undertake the training and development of horticultural apprentices.
- The supervision and training of staff, including seasonal staff, trainees, volunteers and work placements.
- To deputise as required in the absence of the Chargehand Gardener.
- To undertake specified record keeping and other administrative duties as required.
- To ensure that Parks and Countryside’s Safety Policy and relevant Safe Working Practices are adhered to by the staff under the post holder’s control.
- To undertake any training as is deemed necessary to improve performance and to meet the needs of the maintenance of the parks and surrounding areas.
- To prepare land for planting.
- To undertake the planting and aftercare of annual, biennial and perennial plants.
- To repair and maintain ornamental and amenity turf areas.
- To undertake basic soft and hard landscaping construction and aftercare.
- To prepare sports areas, marking out and maintenance.
- To undertake other manual labouring duties as required in all weathers.
- To respond to enquiries from parks visitors on basic horticultural techniques.
- To refer concerns expressed by visitors to the parks and open spaces, to line managers or supervisors.
- To undertake other site related horticultural maintenance duties commensurate with the skill levels expected of a leading hand gardener.

**Essential** **requirements**

**Knowledge**
- Knowledge of current, modern horticultural machinery and its uses.
- Know