Post title: Highdown Gardens Senior Gardener

Salary: From £23,969 to £28,370 per annum (Pro Rata)

Scale / Band: Grade  5 (Subject to Job Evaluation)

Hours: Average 35.5 hours per week

Place of work: Highdown Gardens

Closing date: 11th October 2020

Interviews: 20th October 2020

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Gardener to lead a small team of Craft Gardeners maintaining the prestigious Highdown Gardens situated on the South Downs near Worthing, West Sussex. This role would suit an academically qualified and well-rounded gardener with at least 3-5 years’ experience in a prestigious garden setting with proven experience leading a team in high quality horticultural maintenance.

It is essential that you hold a Current Driving Licence, and hold a college diploma in horticulture or provide evidence of equivalent knowledge. 

The 8.5 acre garden, started at the beginning of the 20th Century,  holds the Plant Heritage National Collection of Plants introduced by Sir Frederick Stern, all of which are adapted to growing on chalk.  Garden entry is free to the public, and the gardens have been managed by Worthing Borough Council for over 50 years.

Highdown Gardens was recently awarded a significant National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to provide new facilities and a research opportunity to catalogue the rare plants, and the successful candidate will need to demonstrate a wealth of plant knowledge and previous relevant experience in order to provide high quality care for the rare and fragile plants located in the gardens.

Being located on the slopes of the South Downs, the role will require sustained physical activity, working outdoors throughout the year. 

The successful candidate will be expected to be skilled and experienced in the operation of various powered machinery and its use in a safe manner.

You will have a positive approach to working and take pride in the work that we do.  You will be able to demonstrate high standards of behaviour and professionalism in dealing with the public.

Does this sound like you?  For an informal discussion about this post, contact Gary Prescod on gary.prescod@adur-worthing.gov.uk

No CVs or agency applications accepted.