Craft Gardener

Job title: Craft Gardener (Lotherton Hall)

Salary: B3 £27,274 - £29,071

Hours: 37

Contract: Full Time

Location: Lotherton Estate

As a Craft Gardener at Lotherton you'll thrive on planning and detail. As an experienced and accomplished supervising gardener with a specific passion for Heritage gardens you will tend to our listed gardens and landscape whilst working with heritage groups and volunteers collectively to be the latest custodian of our cherished gardens.

It's not just about gardening. As part of a small operational team, you will also help with summer and winter event set ups, and planning, as well as organising garden tours and delivering a high level of customer satisfaction

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 Craft Gardener, you will bring to the role:

• A great work ethic working collaboratively and inspiring others
• A real pride in your work, 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 in heritage gardens and an infectious enthusiasm to deliver results

About the role

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 in heritage gardens 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 be responsible for helping with guidance and training of Gardeners and new Gardening Apprentices in horticultural methods and practices and in specific machinery use.

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 be a team player. 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 are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - 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 and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job description

Job purpose

To undertake all aspects of horticultural maintenance within the Leeds City boundaries.

Responsibilities

• To have the ability to carry out tasks, without direct supervision.
• The supervision and training of staff, including seasonal staff, trainees, volunteers and work placements.
• To undertake mentoring of gardening apprentices.
• To prepare land for planting.
• To undertake the planting and aftercare of annual, biennial and perennial plants.
• To interpret and work on complex planting plans.
• To repair and maintain ornamental and amenity turf areas.
• To undertake basic soft and hard landscaping construction and aftercare.
• To prepare sports areas, marking out and maintenance.
• To undertake other manual labouring duties as required.
• To respond to enquiries from parks visitors on basic horticultural techniques and plant varieties.
• To refer concerns expressed by visitors to the parks, to line managers or supervisors.
• To undertake such training as is required to meet the needs of the maintenance of the parks and surrounding areas.
• To supervise and undertake the training of small teams of mixed horticultural ability.
• To undertake other site related horticultural maintenance duties commensurate with the skill levels expected of a craft gardener as directed by the Chief Officer, Head of Service or the Senior Estates Manager.

Qualifications

Minimum of NVQ Level 2 in Amenity Horticulture or equivalent, with a considerable practical experience. Candidates who can demonstrate a significant period of work experience, but who do not have a formal qualifications, will be considered for the post.

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's 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.