A wonderful opportunity for an enthusiastic and skilled hands-on Head Gardener to lead an energetic team to manage and maintain the beautiful Mount Stuart gardens on the Isle of Bute.

RESPONSIBILTIES :

• People Management.  Responsible for effectively managing and motivating the Gardens team members, creating individual training and development plans, nurturing team spirit and collective ownership of team goals.

• Planning & Delivery.  Lead discussions on development plans for the gardens and landscape and be responsible for creation of their delivery plans. 

• Safe Place.  Ensure the gardens team works in a safe, secure and compliant environment including appropriate use of PPE.   

• Environment and Sustainability.  Work to deliver sustainable gardening activities, including energy, water, peat and pesticide use.  

• Education, Learning and Community.  Play an active role in the Trust’s wider learning activities. 

• Finance and Project Management.  Setting, phasing, monitoring, pro-active and re-active adjustments of allocated budgets.

• Production Horticulture.  Expand food production activities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE :

• The successful candidate will hold a suitable formal professional qualification in horticulture/landscape management or equivalent with extensive practical experience in horticultural techniques.

• Excellent plantsmanship and the ability to identify a wide range of plants, pests and diseases.

• Excellent leadership skills including coaching, mentoring, team development, motivation and communication. 

• Competency and self-sufficiency in use of IT and excellent written, verbal, administrative and communication skills.  

• Knowledge of health and safety requirements.

• Applicants must hold a full UK driving licence.