Job Description

As the Head of Gardens across the group, this role offers a unique opportunity for a knowledgeable, experienced and driven candidate to create a lasting gardens legacy for our client who own a collection of family-owned, prestigious hotels. Their portfolio boasts of properties across England, Scotland and the Channel Islands, giving visitors a chance to experience glorious Britain at its very finest.

Acquiring the initial portfolio of hotels in the early 2000\xe2\x80\x99s, the client has expanded the collection into a group of hotels, each of which has its own fascinating story to tell. Some have tales of royal owners and famous guests, and others are steeped in local history. Our client is now looking to invest in the grounds and gardens of their hotels and require a highly skilled and experienced individual to implement this exciting next step in the company\xe2\x80\x99s history.

The newly created role of Head of Gardens is to join during the early stages of this development project in order to be responsible for the implementation of the new designs and the ongoing maintenance of the gardens and grounds for each hotel.

They will report directly to the Head Landscape and Garden Designer to create these destination hotel gardens, showing full respect for the heritage of the listed buildings within the portfolio.

The Head of Gardens will create garden management plans for the gardens and in conjunction with the Garden Design Team will help communicate the design intentions, long term aspirations and the resultant maintenance requirements for each hotel to the hotel garden teams.

During the set-up phase, the Head of Gardens will audit the existing garden staff across the group and their current management of the hotel gardens and produce staffing recommendations. They will propose a structured, achievable training programme for all garden staff to ensure a high standard of horticultural knowledge and skill.

The Head of Gardens will audit all existing gardening tools and machinery across the group, putting together quotes and proposals to buy what is needed and ensuring all staff are correctly trained to safely operate them. Part of their remit will be an annual Health and Safety check for all garden staff across the group.

The Head of Gardens will co-ordinate the annual budget for all hotel gardens across the group, to be presented in conjunction with the Head Landscape and Garden Designer to the management board on an annual basis for approval.

The applicant will be a highly experienced, skilled and professional horticulturalist with a horticultural qualification RHS Level 3 or above. A minimum of 10 years\xe2\x80\x99 relevant experience. Evidence of the development and implementation of programs of work and long-term garden maintenance and improvement is required. Demonstrable experience with estate operation, management, including cost management, will be expected. Knowledge of implementing and running kitchen and herb gardens is essential. They will need to have strong commercial awareness and the ability to successfully train and manage a team of staff. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a positive attitude are essential.

This is a full time, permanent position with the client looking to create a strong partnership with the successful candidate, so the company can grow and flourish together. Based at one of the hotels within the group, travel will be required for this role: the Candidate will be expected to visit each hotel at least 6 times per year on a seasonal basis and additionally as needed. Please note as part of the company\xe2\x80\x99s recruitment process, candidates will be subject to both Verbal and Numerical reasoning tests, as well as a personality evaluation.

Additional benefits for this position include 10% of the Head of Gardens annual salary paid into a pension scheme by the company, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays and Life Assurance.

SALARY: Circa \xc2\xa3100,000 depending on experience

LOCATION: England

JOB No: EC95022

If this Head of Gardens vacancy is of interest, please apply or contact Sophie Sharpe on 01233 733510 or

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Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Head of Gardens vacancy. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications that we receive, it is not possible to respond to every one. Therefore, unless you hear from us within the next 14 days, your application for this Head of Gardens vacancy will have been unsuccessful.

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