Head Gardener

Job Description

A World Heritage garden, a world class opportunity. @FountainsabbeyThe eighteenth-century designed landscape of Studley Royal water garden including the ruins of Fountains Abbey, represents over 800 years of human ambition, design, and achievement.TheHead Gardener role is part of this continued story; both challenging and rewarding in equal measure it is the driving force behind long-term horticultural delivery and a key leadership role.Youll be responsible for managing a team of skilled and experiencedindividuals, providing the vision and leadership needed to take the whole garden and wider estate to the next level.Salary expectations circa £40,000 The Webex or Teams interviews will start on the 19 September with a face to face interviews on 4 October 2021Whatits like to work here Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is one of 1121 sites globally recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Surrounded by the beautiful countryside of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and close to the city of Ripon,the estate is iconic in the North of England.The River Skell winds its way through an 800- acre estate of contrasts and surprises. The abbey ruins tell the story of 400 years of monastic life, years of riches, ruin and revival, brought to a close by the dissolutionof the monasteries under Henry VIII. Studley Royal Water Garden, with its elegant canals, follies and eye-catchers was the height of fashion in Georgian times, with the designers cleverly incorporating the abbey ruins into their grand vision.Together witha deer park, Cistercian Mill, Victorian Church and an Elizabethan style manor house its clear why the estate is one of the most popular National Trust places to visit.Providing a great visitor experience and looking after this special place is at the heartof what we do, and were passionate about getting the details right. Whether youre giving our visitors a warm welcome, caring for our buildings or collections or improving conditions for wildlife, every contribution ensures that nature, beauty and historycontinues to thrive at this special place.Click here for more information about this locationWhat youll be doing Reporting directly to the General Manager, the Head Gardener is a pivotal role in the Property Leadership Team and operates with a significantdegree of autonomy. Youll be responsible for managing a team of skilled and experienced individuals, providing the vision and leadership needed to take the whole garden and wider estate to the next level. Collaboration and working across departments are vitaland your key relationships will be with the Lead Ranger, the World Heritage Site Coordinator and the Visitor Experience and Operations Manager.The brochure gives the full details of the role of Head Gardener and how this role will play a vital role in theleadership and development of the is amazing place. Our latest World Heritage update shows the breadth of what we do at Fountains - from landscape scale partnership to contemporary arts commissioning to cutting edge work on climate change.Who were lookingfor You will already have a readily recognised accomplishments with extensive experience as a Head Gardener or Garden and Estate Manager. Drawn out of a passion for horticulture and arboriculture, you will be able to call on a broad knowledge of plants andcuratorship of significant horticultural spaces; you will understand how the garden functions as a work of art and have a thorough understanding of garden husbandry, plus relevant horticultural qualifications.Able to showcase your technical expertise, youllbe confident managing a complex garden including several large bodies of water throughout the seasons and will fully appreciate the importance of forward planning, access, interpretation and presentation. Gardens are brought to life by the people who tendto them and the people who enjoy them, so youll be passionate about engaging with our communities and have a flair for public speaking and talking to the media.Youll have a natural talent for aesthetic garden design and landscape development and a trackrecord of delivering garden projects. An inspiration to everyone around you, from colleagues and volunteers to visitors and peers, youll be used to managing a large team and inspiring confidence.