Chargehand Gardener (Lotherton) - #1801511

Job title: Chargehand Gardener (Lotherton Hall)

Salary: C2 *GBP*29,093 - *GBP*31,067

Hours: 37

Contract: Full Time

Location: Lotherton Estate

As a Chargehand Gardener at Lotherton you thrive on supervising an effective team, coaching and organising a small team of dedicated staff planning and detail. As an experienced Supervisor / leader you will ensure our formal gardens, informal spaces and grounds landscapes and as a horticulturist you will ensure effective seasonal jobs are undertaken to an annual schedule. You will excel in working with volunteers, event organisers, stakeholders and be comfortable conversing with our many visitors about the gardens.

It not just about gardening. Heading up a small operational team, you will also help with deer herd management, summer and winter event set ups, and planning, as well as working with heritage colleagues in looking at archive plans to advise planting plans and trying to draw down match funding to transform our grounds to the next level.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About You

As a Chargehand Gardener, you will bring to the role:

• Effective leadership working collaboratively and inspiring others
• A real pride in the teams work ethic, delivering the best results and the best experience for our customers.
• A can-do attitude, an ability to find solutions not problems
• A passion about horticulture and an infectious enthusiasm to deliver results
• Good communication with multiple stakeholders and an infectious passion for what we do
  
  
  

About The Role

You will require considerable practical horticultural experience, together with an NVQ3 or equivalent in Amenity Horticulture, although applicants who can demonstrate a significant period of work experience without formal qualifications will also be considered.

Work includes all aspects of horticultural maintenance, including lifting, digging, hard and soft landscaping, preparation of ground for the planting and establishment of plants, weed spraying, the laying, establishing and maintenance of turf, fencing, the construction and maintenance of landscape features and grass cutting using a ride-on mower. In addition the Chargehand Gardener will be responsible for attending stakeholder meetings and take a lead on ensuring all staff are adequately trained, have welfare provision they need as well as organising rota\ annual leave and dealing with day to day operational issues.

A full, clean driving licence is essential, to enable the post holder to travel independently to various sites as required to supervise and transport staff.

The post may be based at any point within the Leeds City boundaries.

You will have excellent communication skills and will lead from the front. You will be motivated and a critical thinker with the ability to understand the needs of your customers.

What We Offer You

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
  
  
  

How To Apply

Please complete the online application form

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least *GBP*38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose To organise and undertake on a day to day basis, the available resources in order to complete gardening maintenance and horticultural operations and to ensure that correct work related records are kept.

Responsibilities 1. The organisation, undertaking and completion of all gardening and horticultural operations within the defined work area. 2. The supervision and training of gardening staff of mixed grades, including seasonal staff, trainees, volunteers, community groups and work placements. 3. Plan work for the heritage Garden / Landscape including containers, formal borders, plant collections, shrubberies, a variety of grass management and seasonal planting. This may also involve driving from one are of work within the Leeds City boundaries to another to supervise staff and to check on work progression. 4. To work with the staff under the postholders control when required in gardening and horticultural operations involving digging, planting out, weeding, shrub maintenance, hard and soft landscaping. The work will involve digging and repetitive lifting of heavy objects outside in all weathers. 5. The accurate completion and return of inspection records, job sheet documents, staff timesheets and other administrative duties as required. 6. To deputise as required for the estate officer. 7. To ensure that the safety policy and relevant safe working Practices are adhered to by the staff under the post holders control. 8. Where necessary to implement the Authority grievance and disciplinary procedures. 9. To undertake any training as is deemed necessary to improve performance 10. Additional duties as assigned by Senior Estates Manager or their designated officer. Qualifications

NVQ Level 2/ Diploma Horticulture or equivalent, and actively working towards levels 3.

PA1 / PA6 spraying certificate is desirable.

Essential Behavioural & Other Characteristics

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
  
  
  

Apply for this job