Head Gardener

Job Title: Head Gardener

Period: Permanent

Hours: Part-time, 3 days-per-week, 21 hours excluding breaks, minimum of 1 Saturday a month + occasional evening work

Salary: Up to £31,500 p.a. pro rata

Reports to: Head of Operations / Co-Director

Key relationship: Garden Volunteers, Sarah Price, Exchange Managers

Responsible for: External partner relationships

Primary place of work: The Exchange, Erith DA8 1RA

About the role

The Exchange is looking for a talented, enthusiastic, and hard-working Head Gardener with a flair for plants, experience of working with communities, and a keen interest in Sarah Price s naturalistic approach to gardens. The Head Gardener will further establish The Exchange as a destination garden, and a place for community learning and well-being. You will be responsible for our designer garden, its upkeep and development along with the design and delivery of a community learning/volunteer support programme.

Please note: the principal duties and responsibilities outlined below are not exhaustive. Other tasks and duties consistent with the role may be assigned.

Principal Duties + Responsibilities:

The Sarah Price Garden

We are delighted to be home to a fantastic Sarah Price designed garden that wraps around The Exchange building. Sarah is one of the leading garden designers of her generation with three Chelsea gold medals and a portfolio including London s Olympic Park, Manchester s Whitworth Art Gallery, and the Maggie s Centre in the New Forest. The Head Gardener is responsible for the maintenance and nurturing of the garden, which was planted by local residents, and in developing a programme for volunteers that supports with this maintenance. Key responsibilities include:

• Ongoing care and maintenance of the plants and garden to ensure the successful development of the garden in line with Sarah Price s vision.
• Liaising with Sarah Price Landscapes about changes, upkeep, and development of the garden.
• Helping co-ordinate with Sarah Price and The Exchange any additional planting.
• Creation of opportunities for interaction with the public who visit the garden.
• Establish and manage The Exchange s sustainable compost programme.
• Plant/equipment/materials ordering.
• Developing and caring for the pelargonium collection in the greenhouse
• Propagating plants for sale and use in the garden.

Volunteer management

Community involvement is an essential part of what we do at The Exchange. Currently this involves a growing Volunteer Programme, where people come and learn skills from talented craftspeople, becoming part of Making Communities , in exchange for giving time in creating things For Community Use and/or Benefit.

In relation to the garden, volunteers are supported through skills development and learning opportunities and give their time towards the garden s ongoing maintenance and/or enabling wider public interaction. Participation in this programme also creates other benefits including social and wellbeing. We believe that time spent with volunteers/local community sharing skills and experience is an important investment and it will be your responsibility to ensure the volunteer team is supported and valued. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and maintaining a group of volunteers to assist in the garden.
• Providing supervision and guidance to the volunteer team on practical horticultural tasks.
• Ensuring health and safety procedures are followed.
• Support with developing volunteers skills and confidence within the garden.
• Managing garden volunteer rotas and work tasks.
• Maintaining volunteer records including logging and evaluating volunteer hours.
• Keeping in touch with volunteers and potential volunteers through regular communications.
• Organising volunteer recognition events/activities, e.g. visits to other gardens.

Other

• Supporting development and delivery of new ideas to reach target groups and meet our aims, as laid out in our Engagement/Participation Strategy.
• Working with the wider team to ensure effective communications about the garden as visitor site, and place for learning.
• Exploring the potential for garden community learning programme development in line with the organisation s aims and objectives.
• Working with the senior leadership team on relevant funding applications.

Personal specification

Essential:

• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn about, Sarah Price s approach to gardens, plants, and garden maintenance.
• Ecologically minded with a commitment to working organically.
• Practical experience and/or Entry Level Qualification in gardens and/or landscape management. NVQ level 2, RHS level 2 or equivalent experience.
• Excellent plant knowledge and a keen interest in gardens and landscapes.
• Familiarity with most horticultural tasks together with the use of basic tools.
• A willingness to work alongside and to support and develop other staff and volunteers.
• Motivated with an eye for detail and a desire to achieve high standards, ability to work on own initiative.
• Good verbal communication skills good organisational skills, a good understanding of Health and Safety issues.
• Experience of working with communities / different groups of people.

Desirable:

• A valid driving licence.
• Experience in propagation.
• Volunteer Management experience.

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 20 November, 12:00pm