Gardener

English Heritage Ltd; Saffron Walden; On-site; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A heritage charity is seeking a Gardener for Audley End House in Saffron Walden. This full-time position involves maintaining expansive gardens and utilizing garden machinery. Candidates should have an NVQ level 2 in amenity horticulture and experience in high-quality horticulture. Benefits include comprehensive training, flexible hours, and access to heritage sites. Ideal for those passionate about gardening and heritage.

Benefits

Comprehensive training and CPD

Flexible hours

Free access to all English Heritage sites

25 days' holiday plus bank holidays

Matched pension contributions up to 10%

Qualifications

• Qualified to at least NVQ level 2 standard in amenity horticulture.
• Previous experience of working in a high-quality horticultural establishment.
• Work to high standards and be effective and efficient when working on your own or as part of the wider team.

Responsibilities

• Ensure gardens are well maintained and presented as wonderful places.
• Assist in managing both ornamental and wider landscape areas.
• Utilize various garden machinery for maintenance tasks.

Skills

Use of garden machinery

Ornamental gardening

Team collaboration

Education

NVQ level 2 in amenity horticulture

Job description

Title Gardener Location Audley End House, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4JF Salary £25,086 per annum / 36 hours per week / Permanent Job type Permanent Ref 16343

Would you like to work for the charity that cares for hundreds of historic sites in every corner of England?

With 14 main garden sites and dedicated garden teams, we are looking for a Gardener to join our team at Audley End House and Gardens, near Saffron Walden, Essex. This is a full time role working 36 hours per week.

Audley End comprises a 100 acre garden and landscape. The front aspect of the House was designed by Capability Brown in 1763; there is a 1830s Parterre at the rear of the House combining shrub, herbaceous perennial and annual bedding plants; and a restored Victorian Kitchen Garden run to Soil Association organic standards.

You will become part of a garden team comprising 13 staff and 65 volunteers. This role will have split responsibilities in our wider landscape and our ornamental gardens. We are seeking candidates who have experience of and enthusiasm for using garden machinery including pedestrian mowers, strimmers, hedgecutters, and leaf blowers. We would also like to attract candidates who are keen to use our tractor, and be trained in use of our telehandler and a cherrypicker. We have an active hot composting system and we will train you to help with the process of making compost using our telehandler, tractor and compost machine.

As well as enthusiasm for machine based horticulture, our ideal candidate will also have a keen interest in ornamental gardening as time will be spent each week working as part of the ornamental team. This team is responsible for the production of 2 bedding schemes each year, and maintaining and developing shrub and herbaceous borders across the site.

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.

That's why, as a charity, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it's why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.

Benefits

• Comprehensive training and CPD
• The opportunity to progress your career
• Flexible hours
• Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events
• Free access to all English Heritage sites for you and up to six friends and family members
• 25% discount in our shops and cafes
• Corporate subscription / memberships to gardening organisations
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/shared parental leave
• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays pro rata rising to 28 days after 3 years
• Options to buy additional leave
• Matched pension contributions up to 10%

As a Gardener, you'll play a vital role in ensuring our gardens are well maintained and presented wonderful places to spend time in. You'll contribute to bringing to life the stories that our gardens tell, helping visitors of all ages make new discoveries.

Qualifications

• Qualified to at least NVQ level 2 standard in amenity horticulture
• Previous experience of working in a high-quality horticultural establishment
• Work to high standards and be effective and efficient when working on your own or as part of the wider team

Find out more about us and what we do: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/ You can also meet some of our people and hear about why they enjoy working with us: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/our-people/careers-with-us/

Everybody's welcome at English Heritage

Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England's heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We're looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we're committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.

We take wellbeing seriously. We are committed to ensuring everyone feels safe this, we have a network of Mental Health First aiders, regular information and awareness events, unlimited access to an Employee Assistance Programme and work with our people to implement reasonable adjustments.

If you would like to talk to us e.g. about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Louise Ellis, Head Gardener, on [e-mail] No agencies please.

Interviews will be held in early March in person at Audley End House.

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