Head of Living Landscapes

Full time, permanent position

(Circa £65,000)

The Eden Project is seeking a Head of Living Landscapes, to lead and develop the team with their ambitious future plans. We are looking for a skilled senior horticultural leader to take the team to the next phase in the development of our gardens and landscapes of the future. This role is part of our Senior Leadership Team and has a strong strategic focus for developing horticultural and landscaping activities both at Eden project Cornwall and other projects as we expand.

We are looking for a commercially focused individual who can lead these projects and our horticultural programmes, creating landscapes that delight and inspire. You will have the ability to develop strategic vision and work with multiple stakeholders to implement those plans across a number of sites, including our onsite production Nursery. Ideally you will have a commitment to great design, a love of nature and generative environmental systems. In addition, you will enjoy developing students and apprentice horticulturists. You will be joining our brilliant and passionate team, a team who sees nature as a tool for changing the world through the power of example.

The closing date for this position is Friday 17 February 2023

Job Family Definition
Roles within Living Landscapes Team (Landscape, Horticulture, Cultivation, Education) job family are dedicated to understanding, developing, designing, producing, protecting, sharing, teaching and managing Eden's living collection of plants. This is in a landscape environment where visitors, students and other stakeholders are encouraged to experience and learn about plants, habitats and eco-systems and their vital importance as part of the natural world to help deliver the Eden Project mission.

Role Purpose
Responsible for the implementation of the strategy and plans that develop, teach, facilitate and guide the effective propagation, cultivation and education about plants, landscapes and ecosystems within Eden Project’s work in a regenerative sustainability framework. This includes the Eden Project Cornwall destination’s Gardens, Biomes, Outer Estate, Growing Point (plant production nursery) along with Consultancy programmes (commercial nature-based services) and Expansion Projects (new Eden Project destinations).

Within each of the focus areas, the role leads on developing, protecting, enhancing and sustaining Eden’s Living Theatre as a leading demonstrator of horticulture, education and regenerative sustainability. The role develops and delivers planting schemes, designs maintenance programmes and leads a team of horticulturalists, landscapers, students and volunteers at the highest possible level commensurate with a Global Garden and grows the stage on which to share our mission.

Key Accountabilities

1. Lead, teach and co-ordinate the Living Landscape managers, horticulturists, landscapers, silviculturists, nursery specialists and students in the cultivation, development, maintenance and conservation of Eden Project Cornwall, ensuring plants, landscapes and habitats are maintained as part of a regenerative sustainable system.
2. As Eden grows beyond a single site, direct, inform, shape and influence the horticultural experience for future Eden Projects working with the Experience Development Team. Be the horticultural experience champion.
3. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, lead team managers in order to guide and enable the Eden Project’s long and short-term horticultural and landscape plans as well as helping to develop internal and external exhibits, events and projects aligned to the Eden Project’s mission, vision, ambition, priorities and growth strategy.
4. Plan, implement, monitor and evaluate maintenance programmes, ensuring the Living Landscapes Team perform the appropriate soil preparation, cultivation, propagation, irrigation, feeding and pest control activities to the required standards in terms of timescales, quality and budget with its managers working to regenerative principles.
5. Inform, assess and improve the Living Landscape procedures and working practices as part of the Eden Project System (Operating Manual) using the latest research, knowledge and best practice available from emergent thinking from the Eden Project Science Engagement and Learning team.
6. Allocate, monitor and evaluate the work of the Living Landscapes team and students and volunteers ensuring effective management, resources, performance, development and attendance, whilst guaranteeing all activities are carried out in compliance with standard operating procedures, professional standards and Health & Safety regulations.
7. Lead Living Landscapes team procurement for supplies and equipment, including researching specifications, new partnerships and suppliers working as a key team in the Eden Project net zero by 2030 strategy. Co-ordinate distribution of materials ensuring compliance with regenerative sustainability standards and fin