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Head Gardener / Housekeeper/Cook Couple - Live In - EC7710

Employer
English Country Gardeners
Location
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Salary
£60,000 Combined + Accommodation
Closing date
16 Oct 2019

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Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Full Time
Function
Gardening Jobs
Sector
Horticultural Specialist

A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head Gardener and Housekeeper/Cook couple to join an impressive private estate in North Yorkshire, on a permanent full-time basis.  An excellent combined salary and a splendid three-bedroom lodge house are offered in return for experience, professionalism and discretion.  Applications are sought from experienced and qualified Head Gardeners, and from Housekeepers with demonstrable experience in private service.

An experienced Housekeeper/Cook is also required and will ideally form part of a couple in conjunction with the Head Gardener.  The Housekeeper/Cook should be well organised, enthusiastic and well qualified with extensive knowledge of working in established private households and have many years’ experience and understanding of caring for fine clothing, china, crystal, silver and antiques. Typical duties will include responsibility for cleaning and upkeep of the house and will include washing, cleaning, ironing and cooking.

Both the Head Gardener and Housekeeper/Cook should hold full driving licences as occasional airport runs, railway station drop-offs and similar may be required.

The private estate extends to approximately 200-acres of parkland and grassland and incorporates a stud, which currently numbers 12 broodmares and a large quantity of young racing bloodstock.  The stud is under the management of the Stud Manager and the Stud Groom.

The formal garden extends to approximately three acres and comprises a Ha-ha, impressive mixed herbaceous borders, a small number of flower beds and mixed shrubs, with formal lawns and surrounding woodland.  The property also includes numerous young and mature trees, with pleached hornbeam and clipped limes.  A large greenhouse is used for propagation and will fall under the management of the Head Gardener.  A walled kitchen garden produces vegetables, soft fruits and cut flowers for the house.  A courtyard contains climbing roses and hanging baskets, with stone troughs containing summer bedding plants to provide colour and an attractive feature.  A tarmac tennis court is located adjacent to the formal garden and will require basic maintenance.

The Head Gardener is retiring after many years of loyal service, leaving an opening to be filled by an enthusiastic and time-served replacement Head Gardener with experience in each of the above garden areas.  Applicants for the role will ideally have excellent horticultural knowledge, physical fitness and experience at Head Gardener level on private estates.  The successful applicant will have responsibility for a long-serving and dedicated Assistant Gardener, so should have demonstrable experience of staff management. 

The Head Gardener will be responsible for a range of gardening tasks associated with the smooth running of the estate, i.e. plant propagation, planting and pruning (including young trees from the ground), hedge cutting, lawn care, kitchen gardening and the management of fruit trees.  Applicants must also be competent in the safe operation and basic maintenance of a range of garden machinery and be used to working within established health and safety standards.  Spray certificates (PA1/PA6) and a chainsaw certificate of competence would be beneficial.

Additional responsibilities such as responding to alarms, general security, etc will be expected of the couple.

It is of paramount importance that applicants for each of the above positions possess an awareness to their working environment, i.e. the fact that the estate is a family home and requires a degree of discretion, sensitivity and flexibility.  Applicants should be positive and friendly in character with initiative, excellent time management skills and a desire to ensure pride in their work by upholding exceptional standards at all times.  Applicants with previous experience in a similar role(s) are encouraged to apply.  The position is offered with a splendid three-bedroom lodge house on site as well as a generous combined salary (as stated below).  Due to the nature of the estate, this vacancy is unfortunately unsuitable for young children.

SALARY:      £60,000 Combined + Accommodation

LOCATION:  Harrogate area, North Yorkshire 

JOB No:        EC7710

If this Head Gardener / Housekeeper/Cook Couple vacancy is of interest please apply or contact Mark Read on 01233 733510 or info@englishcountrygardeners.co.uk.

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this Head Gardener / Housekeeper/Cook Couple 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 Gardener / Housekeeper/Cook Couple vacancy will have been unsuccessful.

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