Head Grower

**Job title**:Head Grower.

**Location**:Botton Village, Danby, Whitby, North Yorkshire. YO21 2NJ.

**Purpose**:To provide a safe, supportive working environment to nurture learning and development, as well as providing nutritious fresh food to our households and retail outlets.

**Salary**:Between £24,000-£28,000 per year, dependent on experience.

**Hours**:Flexible hours to reflect the seasonality of the role (i.e, working longer days in the summer period and shorter days in the winter period).
- **Do you have a passion for horticulture?**_
- **Would you like to provide fresh, organic produce to our homes and retail outlets?**_

We have an opening for you to join us as a Head Grower at our beautiful Botton Community, near Danby, North Yorkshire. If the following appeals, we’d love to hear from you.
- You have a keen interest in horticulture.
- You would like the opportunity to make your mark on a new position and shape the future of this role.
- You love spending time in the great outdoors.
- You have a calm and patient personality.
- You care deeply about others and treat everyone with respect and dignity.
- You will be able to react sensitively to other people and recognise different viewpoints, beliefs, values and opinions.

**Who are we looking for?**
- Previous experience in working in Horticulture is essential.
- Previous experience in working with people with learning difficulties is highly desirable.
- A recognised qualification in horticulture or a willingness and ability to achieve this within an agreed period.
- A full, valid UK driving license is essential.
- Previous experience using relevant, powered machinery is essential.

**What are the main responsibilities of this role?**
- Lead the delivery of field & protected cropping, in the context of a thriving commercial growing enterprise. This includes assisting in the effective delivery of annual crop plans to deliver several acres of field-scale horticulture and polytunnel cultivation at our site in Botton.
- Work collaboratively with the Social Garden Lead to establish thriving supported growing and horticultural activities for adults with learning disabilities.
- Deliver horticultural skills development to our Volunteers as part of the field activity, in tune with the season, the needs of the business and the individual Volunteers’ needs.
- Ensure that at all times our site is safe, productive and efficiently run.
- Supply households and our retail outlets with good quality, fresh produce.
- Work with the Head of the Natural Environment to take a regional approach to our growing, collaborating with growers in our two other Northern sites.
- The post holder will develop strong links with: Volunteers, Social Garden Lead, Farm Manager, Retail, Café & FoodProduction Leads, Head of the Natural Environment and Local & Partner Voluntary Organisations.
- Collaborate as part of the wider land & environment team to ensure that all horticultural practice is documented and trained out to a consistent and exemplary standard.
- Participate in all aspects of commercial growing to include: Setting plant growing activities to plan for growing activities that are consistent with planned production schedules,preparing space required for planned production, working to organic growing standards, monitoring growing conditions, inspecting and maintaining crop conditions in line with quality standards, upholding and implementing pest, disease and weed control practices commensurate with hygiene, health and Organic standards, maintaining records of growing techniques and production to be used for review to identify trends and to forecast future space needs.
- Ensure that all volunteer activity is directly linked to the needs of the growing enterprise. Weekly volunteer task lists to be agreed in advance of any working week with the social garden lead.
- Work to ensure the garden becomes a self-sustaining financial enterprise.
- Maintain a current knowledge of growing techniques.
- Ensure that all activity can be delivered safely in the context of a working garden, considering e.g. Health & Safety compliance such as manual handling.
- Supply regular updates and reports on progress to the Volunteer Support Team, Growing Team, Therapeutic Working Groups, and at staff and volunteer meetings.
- Line management of employees who will work alongside the post holder in the garden.
- Contribute to the overarching, strategic direction of Botton Gardens through group meetings, 1:1s, away days and in regular consultation with people supported within the gardens.
- Ensure total compliance with Demeter Organic standards.
- Contribute, continually, to the Camphill Village Trust Risk Register and Health and Safety Plan. Be accountable for the highest standards of Health & Safety compliance.
- Complete all mandatory training within agreed timescales.

**What do we offer you?**

**In addition to a competitive salary, our benefits include**:

- 25 days annual leave statutory ba