At Dunster Castle and Gardens we are looking for an experienced Head Gardener who is ready to shape the next chapter of the gardens at this busy historic site. This role requires the ability to balance both the demands of managing and developing our gardens with those of a busy, high profile, visitor environment.

Please be advised that this role will involve some weekend and Bank Holiday working. Additionally, you’ll be part of our Duty Management rota.

What it's like to work here

Seton the edge of Exmoor, overlooking the Bristol Channel, there’s been a castle here for around a thousand years. These days this busy historic property welcomes around 210,000 people a year who come to enjoy its stunning setting and host of things to discover and do. The slopes that link the parkland and the river Avill to the castle shelter a wealth of micro-climates and exotic plants. This planting has been considerably enriched both by the Luttrell family and latterly by the Trust. The climate here is exceptionally mild, offering scope for adventurous gardening. Furthermore, the hill provides slopes facing in every direction, encompassing a range of habitats from sun-baked terraces to moist, shady dells. We are a growing and busy site, with an energetic and focused team, keen to deliver the best standards in the west!

As Head Gardener you’ll be working as part of a small, motivated management team delivering a great experience for our visitors; this is all done with a very flexible and adaptable approach and we aim to have fun in the process too! The garden department is supported by a team of over forty volunteers, who are at the heart of everything we do. Inspiring them as individuals or leading larger groups will be an essential and rewarding part of the role. It’s a beautiful part of the world and you’ll be working amongst other dedicated people who thrive on delivering a first class experience and presentation. The garden forms an important component of National Trust visits, so we’re passionate about providing consistently high standards of horticulture and customer service every day.

What you'll be doing

As Head Gardener, you’ll be responsible for leading a team of 5 Gardeners and some 40 volunteers who care for both the 17 acres of garden, with its distinct micro-climates and character zones, and 24 acres of parkland. You will also oversee the garden at Coleridge Cottage; working with the dedicated volunteer team there to further embed the spirit of place. You’ll inspire and develop your high performing team of staff and volunteers, to maintain the gardens to the highest professional horticultural and presentational standards, whilst showcasing the uniqueness of the place through delivery of effective garden management plans.

You’ll develop and coordinate a wide range of horticultural operations, commission specialist contractors, and build relationships with stakeholders both internally and externally. You’ll instil a culture of exceptional service, ensuring every visitor receives a high quality, consistent welcome with access to our unique stories which bring this special place to life and ensure that service to internal colleagues is just as important.

You’ll be responsible for all outdoor spaces and visitors’ safety and enjoyment within them, so you’ll be ensuring that processes are in place to ensure that.

You’ll be responsible for effectively managing the budgets, equipment and resources, and ensuring we get the best value when purchasing assets and services. It’s a busy operational site and few days are the same, so you’ll working across the portfolio and with colleagues in a collaborative way to achieve the best for the places.

This post will be required to be on a duty management rota to provide daily cover as key point of contact for escalation of emergency and security issues or customer complaints. Whilst on duty you will form part of the primary emergency response team. Possession of a first aid qualification will be desirable, but certainly the successful candidate should be willing to undertake the training.

Who we're looking for

To deliver this role successfully, you’ll need to be proud to work in such a beautiful location and thrive on delivering exceptional care for our environment and our visitors. So, you’ll be:

• An experienced people manager with the ability to lead a team to deliver effectively; one who can demonstrate great leadership skills, including coaching, team development and motivation.

• Experienced in relevant horticultural environments (especially historic gardens) and skills (RHS level 3 or equivalent)

• An excellent communicator, with experience in stakeholder management.

• Able to demonstrate a clear knowledge of, and passion for, plants and gardens and have the ability to share that with the team and the public

• Able to show excellent understanding of garden history and development

• Able to understand both the big picture thinking, and the finer detail requirements of the garden

• Customer focussed and take pride in delivering excellent customer service

• Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, organised and self-motivated

• Confident in managing budgets, finances and contract

• Knowledgeable in health and safety requirements and other compliance issues relating to horticultural and visitor activities

•  Experience of tree safety inspections

The package

Benefits

Benefits include flexible working whenever possible plus free parking at most locations. You’ll be entitled to discounts in high street stores and cinemas, National Trust shops and NT cafes, and have free entry to NT properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18).

Your health and wellbeing is important to us and is supported through generous annual leave and the option to buy additional days (minimum contract length applies), a cycle to work scheme, subsidised health cash plan and confidential access to a free support service 24 hours a day should you need it.

Your future financial health is helped by an employer matched - up to 10% of basic salary - contributory pension scheme and you can further your career with training and development tailored to you.

All of this and the opportunity to give something back to your community with up to 5 days of paid volunteering per year!