Leading Hand Gardener

Salary

£28,598 - £31,022

Contractual hours

37

Basis

Full Time

Job category/type

Leeds City Council

Date posted

09/10/2025

Job reference

REQ003753

Job title: Leading Hand Gardener

Salary: C1 £28,598 - £31,022

Hours: 37 (Parks Operations Seasonal Hours)

Contract: Full Time

Location: Burley Yard

This is an exciting job opportunity for a Leading Hand Gardener, based in the West of the city.

As a Leading Hand Gardener working in our Climate, Energy and Green Spaces service, you'll thrive on helping lead and supervise a small team of dedicated staff. Ensuring that the upkeep of our parks and green spaces is undertaken to a high standard.

The Leading Hand Gardener will be based at various operational sites across the city.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Leading Hand Gardener you will bring to the role:-

• Ability to help lead and motivate a team of gardeners.
• Encourage staff to be their best and support advancement through training.
• A passion about horticulture and an infectious enthusiasm to deliver results.
• Good communication with multiple stakeholders and members of the public.
• The ability to access all required locations across the city.
• Effective leadership working collaboratively and inspiring others.

About the role

You will require considerable practical horticultural experience, together with a Level 1 qualification within this field of work or equivalent experience. Applicants who can demonstrate a substantial period of work experience without formal qualifications will also be considered.

Work includes all aspects of horticultural maintenance, including manual handling such as 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 range of grass cutting mowers or machinery.

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.

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.

A full UK 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.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the roles please contact Chris Stirk, Leading Area Officer (West) on or email

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, 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, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description
Job purpose

To undertake horticultural maintenance duties, within the Climate, Energy and Green Spaces 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 Senior Chargehand Gardener.
• To undertake specified record keeping and other administrative duties as required.
• To ensure that Climate, Energy & Green Spaces 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.

Qualifications

• Level 1 qualification within this field of work and actively working towards gaining or able to demonstrate a substantial number of years practical experience in gardening and horticultural operations.
• A full UK driving licence.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Skills Required:

• Ability to communicate with a wide range of people individually, in groups and at all appropriate levels.
• Ability to keep accurate records.
• Physical ability to undertake all aspects of horticultural operations outside, in all weathers.
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Ability to supervise staff and train effectively.
• Ability to undertake mentoring for gardening apprentices.

Knowledge Required:

• Knowledge of current, modern horticultural machinery and its uses.
• Knowledge of health and safety procedures.
• Knowledge of quality assurance procedures.

Experience Required:

• Level 1 qualification within this field of work or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of current, modern horticultural machinery and its uses.
• Knowledge of health and safety procedures.
• Knowledge in the use of computers, smart phones and Microsoft software packages.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

• PA1/PA6 spraying certificate
• Knowledge of quality and safety assurance procedures.
• Knowledge of Departmental policies and procedures.

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