Job title: Craft Gardener

Salary: B3 £26,403 - £28,142

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent / Full-time

Location: Temple Newsam Estate

As a Craft Gardener, you’ll thrive as part of the team at Temple Newsam in delivering a high quality, Green Flag standard attraction.

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

You will require considerable practical horticultural experience, together with an NVQ2 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 Craft Gardener will assist in the mentoring and training of new Gardening Apprentices in horticultural methods and practices and in specific machinery use.

As a Craft Gardener you will bring to the role:

The ability to support and work as part of a team.
Relevant skills to maintain a top quality attraction.
Embrace the Council Values.
Treat people fairly and with respect.

About the role

This post is based in the beautiful Walled Gardens at Temple Newsam Estate, Leeds, where the team are responsible for all aspects of horticulture and general grounds maintenance of this 600 hectare historic parkland, formal gardens, sports fields and amenity grassland. Contributing to the delivery of an excellent heritage visitor attraction. This role will assist in the development, management and delivery of the historic gardens and grounds and their use for public access and events.

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.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Mark Darwell mark.darwell@leeds.gov.uk 07860855039.

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 visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: To undertake day-to-day gardening maintenance and horticultural operations.

Responsibilities

Undertake manual labouring duties as required, including the lifting, and carrying of materials and tools.

Prepare land for planting digging and forking and establish plants.
Undertake the planting and aftercare of annual, biennial and perennial plants.

Maintain turf and grassed areas by using mowing machinery.

Assist with the construction of basic hard landscape features and surfaces.

Carry out tasks, without direct supervision.

Supervision and training of staff, including seasonal staff, trainees, volunteers and work placements and undertake the training of small teams of mixed horticultural ability.

Undertake mentoring of gardening apprentices.

Interpret and work on complex planting plans.

Repair and maintain ornamental and amenity turf areas.

Undertake basic soft and hard landscaping construction and aftercare.

Respond to enquiries from parks visitors on basic horticultural techniques and plant varieties.

Refer concerns expressed by visitors to the parks, to line managers or supervisors.

Undertake such training as is required to meet the needs of the maintenance of the parks and surrounding areas.

Undertake other site related horticultural maintenance duties commensurate with the skill levels expected of a craft gardener as directed by Line Manager.

Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.

Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.

Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications NVQ Level 2 in Amenity Horticulture or equivalent is essential. PA1 /PA6 spraying certificate is desirable.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.

Able to communicate with a wide range of people individually, in groups and at all appropriate levels.

Able to prepare land for planting and establish and maintain plants.

Able to establish turf by seed and by laying and maintain turf and grassed areas by using mowing machinery.

Able to maintain course, amenity and sports turf grass surfaces.

Able to assist with the construction and maintenance of hard landscape features and surfaces.

Able to undertake digging, forking and heavy lifting work.

Able to work on own initiative and as part of a team.

Able to assist with maintenance of hard landscape features and surfaces.

Able to interpret and work on complex planting plans.

Able to repair and maintain ornamental and amenity turf areas.

Able to refer concerns expressed by visitors to the parks, to line managers or supervisors.

Able to undertake such training as is required to meet the needs of the maintenance of the parks and surrounding areas.

Knowledge of current, modern horticultural machinery and its uses.

Experience in the use of ride on mowing machinery.

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 policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity 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.

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Able to supervise and train staff, including seasonal staff, trainees, volunteers and work placements and undertake the training of small teams of mixed horticultural ability.
Undertake mentoring of gardening apprentices.
Plant knowledge and identification
Experience in the use of hand mowing machines