Experienced Gardener
Posted 3 days ago by Manpower UK
£33,002 Per year
Undetermined
Undetermined
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The role of Experienced Gardener involves working within a team to maintain and enhance the horticultural landscape of the College gardens and grounds. Candidates should possess a minimum of three years of experience and a high level of horticultural knowledge, with responsibilities including expert pruning, turf management, and grounds care. This fixed-term position offers a supportive environment for professional development and training. The role requires physical outdoor work year-round and a commitment to biodiversity enhancement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Expert pruning, training, and seasonal care of various plants to enhance the College grounds.
- Understanding of meadow management.
- Cultivation of shrub and herbaceous borders, including weeding, edging, planting, and deadheading.
- Professional turf management, including mowing, fertilisation, and lawn renovation.
- Proactive grounds care to maintain paths and landscapes.
- Operation and maintenance of tractors and specialist equipment.
- Supporting greenhouse and nursery production and propagating plants.
- Mechanical, manual, and chemical control of weeds and seasonal clearance tasks.
- Contributing positively as part of a collaborative team while managing independent tasks.
- Upholding health, safety, and environmental compliance standards.
- Performing any other reasonable tasks expected of a Qualified Gardener.
Key Skills:
- Horticultural qualifications, minimum level 2 in practical horticulture.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in an amenity horticultural environment.
- Good plant knowledge and understanding of horticultural practices.
- Experience in pruning wall shrubs, roses, and ornamentals.
- Experience in fine turf management.
- PA1 & PA6 certification.
- Conscientious and professional work ethic.
- Ability to work both in a team and independently.
- Excellent time management and interpersonal skills.
- Flexible approach to the work environment.
- Desirable: CS30/31 chainsaw certificates, manual handling certificate, experience with greenhouse care, and first aid training.
Salary (Rate): £33,002.00 yearly
City: Oxford
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: undetermined
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: Other
Manpower Recruitment are recruiting for a passionate and enthusiastic qualified Gardener with at least 3 years’ experience to work within a friendly and experienced team in the College gardens and grounds. Candidates must have a high level of horticultural knowledge combined with good craft gardening skills. Excellent opportunity to work within a pleasant environment offering an interesting and varied work experience. Salary will be in the range £26,707 to £33,002 per annum (pro-rata) according to qualifications and experience, plus Oxford Location Allowance of £1,730 per annum. This is a fixed term role from 1 May 2026 – 31 October 2026. Working hours will be Monday-Friday 8am-4.30pm As Gardener, you will work within a friendly and experienced team consisting of six full-time staff and one full-time apprentice. You will assist in the preservation and enhancement of the estate’s horticultural landscape, undertaking a broad range of duties to include seasonal operations. The role requires regular outdoor work throughout the year and the ability to carry out physically demanding tasks essential to horticultural practice. Amongst the Head Gardener’s key priorities is the continued enhancement of biodiversity across the entire estate. I’m looking for an experienced Gardener who is enthusiastic and committed to assist in the continued delivery of these aims, and in turn we will support your development and training. As a qualified gardener, you will take responsibility for areas varying in horticultural expertise, requiring the following skills and experience:
- Expert pruning, training and seasonal care of shrubs, wall shrubs, climbing plants, roses, topiary and hedges to enhance the College grounds.
- Understanding of meadow management
- Cultivation of shrub and herbaceous borders, including weeding, edging, planting, dividing, staking, pruning and deadheading to enhance flowering potential.
- Professional turf management, precision mowing, application of fertilisers, biological pest and disease control, top dressing and re-seeding, plus full seasonal manual and mechanical lawn renovation.
- Proactive grounds care, keeping paths, open spaces and landscapes pristine, safe and welcoming for our students, staff and visitors.
- Skilled operation and maintenance of tractors and specialist equipment to support efficient estate management.
- Supporting greenhouse and nursery production, application of IPM program, propagating shrubs and trees and growing bedding plants for seasonal displays.
- Mechanical, manual and chemical control of weeds, litter picking and seasonal leaf clearance
- Contributing positively as part of a collaborative team, while confidently managing independent tasks.
- Upholding the highest standards of health, safety and environmental compliance across the Estate.
- Any other tasks, duties and responsibilities not listed above which can reasonably be expected to be performed or undertaken by a Qualified Gardener and estate worker.
Person Specification Essential
- Horticultural qualifications, minimum level 2 in practical horticulture (e.g., RHS, City & Guilds, NVQ or equivalent)
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience working as a qualified gardener in an amenity horticultural environment.
- Good plant knowledge and understanding of correct horticultural practices.
- Experienced in all aspects of pruning wall shrubs, roses and ornamentals.
- Experience in fine turf management
- PA1 & PA6
- Conscientious and professional in all aspects of work and engagement
- Proven ability to work in a team and alone.
- Excellent time management skills.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Proven ability to have a flexible approach to the work environment.
Desirable
- CS30/31 chainsaw certificates.
- Certificate for Safe Use of Steps & Ladders.
- Manual handling certificate.
- Experience in caring for greenhouses and nursery stock.
- Experience in working with animals.
- First Aid trained
- Experience of driving tractors and operating relevant machinery such as shredders, ride on mowers, mulch /flail mowers.
If interested, please get in contact with a Manpower representative.