Head Gardener

Head Gardener Job Description

Reports to Growing and Fulfilment Director

Job Summary

David Austin Roses is a world leading breeder of fine English Roses. A family owned and operated business based in the Shropshire countryside, we have over 2 acres of magnificent rose gardens which are open to the public and are home to the National Collection of English Roses.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join and lead the David Austin Rose

Garden team. Over the next few years the rose gardens are embarking on a period of substantial redevelopment, this will include the development of Mr Austin Senior’s private garden so that it can be opened to the public.

The role of Head Gardener is hands-on and involves supervising and leading a small dedicated multi
- disciplinary team. Ensuring the team are well trained, hardworking and well-motivated.

To deliver a fantastic visitor experience, ensuring the Gardens are open to the public and looking fabulous, whilst the redevelopment takes place. To implement, plan, organise and deliver a well thought through approach to keep all the Gardens well maintained and looking at their very best.

To help deliver show standard roses for prestigious flower shows and/or press events throughout the year.

This role plays a key part within the daily management of the growing and fulfilment teams. It involves working closely with the supervisory and management team and requires self-motivation, planning ,drive and the proven ability to help support, develop and mentor a small close knit team.

Role

To be responsible and accountable for the David Austin Rose Gardens, to assisting with the show rose collection and as required to cover other areas of the business within your capability.

To successfully deliver the current garden redevelopment and opening of Mr Austin Senior’s private garden to the public.

Using good horticultural knowledge and experience to maintain David Austin Rose Gardens, and any other gardens as directed, to a consistently high standard, as directed by the business, and as environmentally sensitively as possible.

To fully understand the importance of being able to work productively in an open garden, whilst offering advice to gardens visitors - when asked.

Leading, Managing, Training and Mentoring the gardens team to ensure it is effective, efficient, well trained supported and motivated, allowing it to achieve the goals set following business policies and standard operating procedures.

Working with the commercial team and outside designers on improvements to the garden design as required.

To look after our show rose collection in conjunction with the Show Team

To provide support in specific key areas of the business as directed by the line manager

To be responsible and accountable for key business goals and targets that may be assigned from time to time as and when required by the business.

To continually look at and suggest how the business can increase its effectiveness in the areas of your responsibility.

Main Responsibilities:

- Lead direct, train, manage, support and mentor the gardening team.
- To be part of the David Austin Rose Gardens redevelopment team and to successfully deliver the gardens redevelopment plan.
- Accountable and Responsible for the team under your direct supervision achieving the required quality and work rates to ensure that the gardens are maintained to a high standard at all times whilst achieving productivity, environmental and cost related targets.
- Accountable and Responsible for ensuring that the Garden is managed and maintained to the high standards agreed by the business.
- Responsible for ensuring that the gardens team are trained and supported to be able to competently answer questions from members of the public who visit the gardens.
- Accountable for ensuring that teams comply with all policies, Health and Safety procedures and any company or customer audit requirements.
- To communicate efficiently and effectively with managers, other supervisors and team leaders and advisers, as required, to ensure that the gardens are kept looking at their best and managed in a way that achieves the high standard of plant and soil care that is required for plants to grow and perform at their best.
- To ensure that the members of the team are trained, mentored and managed to maintain a standard agreed by the company that allows them to perform their job efficiently and effectively at all times.
- Responsible for delivering a continuous improvement culture within the team and proactively working with other teams and departments across the business, to make sure that this culture of continuous improvement is maintained in a sustainable and continuous way across multi
- disciplinary teams and other business departments, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement across the whole business.
- Responsible, as directed, for the inspection and maintenance of equipment used in operational fu