/ JOB DESCRIPTION / June 2017
Role:First Gardener – Gardener Crarae / Business Function: North East Built Heritage Region
Reports to:Head Gardener, Crarae / Pay Band/Starting Salary: Band D : £22, 631 + gardening retention bonus of £1,752
Location:Crarae, Argyll, Bute & Loch Lomond, Inveraray, PA32 8YA. / Type of Contract: Permanent, full-time
Terms and conditions
The post is subject to the standard terms and conditions provided with the application pack and the following special terms also apply: hours of work = 39 per week on 5 days out of 7 days and at times to suit the needs of the job (this will include regular weekend duties on a rota basis).

KEY PURPOSE

To support the Head Gardener/ Property Manager in managing, maintaining and developing Crarae Garden and its plant collections, in line with the garden’s Management Plan and the other aims and objectives of the National Trust for Scotland.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Key Purposes of the job will be met by:

  1. Supporting the Head Gardener to ensure the conservation and practical maintenance of the garden and policies –through delegation to other staff/volunteers and personal participation - in terms of:
  2. Practical horticulture (e.g. managing trees and shrubs, roses, herbaceous plants, and bulbs; turf care; pest/disease/weed control; composting and soil improvement; hard-landscaping; path care, etc.);
  3. Plantsmanship (e.g. the identification, recording (using Demeter database), labeling of individual plants and recognised collections);
  4. Research and development (e.g. research into historical precedents and practical contemporary solutions to inform proposed activities and projects);
  5. Interpretation (e.g. answering general horticultural enquiries from visitors; developing and delivering events such as introductory talks, guided walks/tours or practical demonstrations, contributing to guide-books or leaflets);
  6. Ensuring an appropriate management regime of the garden and policies that includes the management of:
  7. staff and volunteers (recruitment, induction, development, performance management) such that they are fully equipped and motivated to undertake their duties to the required Trust standards;
  8. health, safety and the environment in line with stated Trust policies and approaches to ensure the health and welfare of staff/volunteers (including supporting the Head Gardener/Property Manager in maintaining and updating the property’s Safe Systems of Work;
  9. recognition of the Trust’s Environmental Policy with respect to sustainable gardening activities, including energy, water, peat & pesticide-use;
  10. input into daily, weekly, yearly and longer-term operational workplans and reporting in the context of the properties’ statements of significance and action plans (and contribution to these action plans) to ensure that activities are prioritised and planned to optimise the use of resources;
  11. customer service and care from garden staff/volunteers, and in the broader sense of facilities and “visiting experience”, to ensure that the properties’ reputation for excellence is maintained and enhanced;
  12. administration to enable gardening activities to be undertaken and recorded efficiently.
  13. Fostering positive relationships with local communities, promoting the work of the Trust, and actively seeking opportunities to increase Trust membership.
  14. Participating fully in the property’s wider “management team”, deputising for the Head Gardener as required.

Your role is one for which the duties/responsibilities/accountabilities of the role require you to become a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, which replaces the ‘Enhanced Disclosure’ check and is administered by Disclosure Scotland.

SCOPE OF JOB

People Management

Not a line manager but will be responsible for day to day supervision of gardening staff and will, on occasion, supervise volunteers and other staff under instructions from Head Gardener;

Will work closely with other property colleagues, and will have some interaction with other technical/specialist advisory colleagues based in other locations and departments (e.g. Gardens department);

Will have regular (daily) interaction with members of the public of all ages and abilities;

Will have frequent interaction with suppliers and contractors.

Finance Management

Not a budget-holder but will be expected to take responsibility for effective management of Trust resources in the garden and garden buildings.

From time to time may use computerized finance system for the raising of Purchase Orders for the supply of goods and service; input into producing finance reports, input into producing finance reports, input into monitoring and setting of revenue budgets and managing capital project work relating to garden activities.

Tools/equipment

Will be a frequent user of driven vehicles such as tractor; ride-on mower and Pick-up truck;

Will be a frequent user of powered tools such as, winches, chainsaws, mowers, strimmers, hedge-cutters;

Will be a frequent user of hand-tools such as spades, forks, trowels, rakes, hoes, shears, and secateurs;

Will be a frequent user of IT equipment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

The above outlines the key skills the post-holder will need to possess and exercise. In addition, either knowledge of or experience in the following is required:

Essential

  • A college or botanic garden Diploma in Horticulture or demonstrable equivalent knowledge
  • Demonstrable practical experience in general amenity – and heritage gardening
  • Sound demonstrable plant knowledge and identification skills
  • Skills in arboricultural techniques, basic chain-saw certificates - CS30 & 31
  • PA1 and PA6a spraying certificates
  • Sound knowledge of basic tool and machinery use and maintenance
  • Driving Licence, valid for driving within the UK
  • Practical knowledge of Health and Safety processes and procedures and the ability to work effectively within these processes
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; confident in interacting and dealing with a wide range of people, and able to represent the Trust
  • Demonstrable experience of working with and supervising a mixed-team that includes short-term/seasonal staff and/or volunteers
  • Good organisational and time-management skills – including the ability to prioritise work where necessary
  • Eye for detail and finish
  • Able to live and work in a relatively remote rural environment with little public transport
  • Competent IT skills sufficient for maintaining plant records, use of the internet/intranet, raising purchase orders, etc.

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a garden open to the public
  • Knowledgeable about rhododendrons
  • ability to plan, design and execute projects (eg. replanting)

The Key Responsibilities, Scope of Job, and Required Skills, Experience & Knowledge reflect the requirements of the job at the time of issue. The Trust reserves the right to amend these with appropriate consultation and/or request the post-holder to undertake any activities that it believes to be reasonable within the broad scope of the job or his/her general abilities.

Applications

Interested applicants should forward a completed application form to people Services Department (Applications), The National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins RoadEdinburgh EH11 4DF, by mail or by email via , by first post (i.e. 10.00am) onFriday 14th July 2017. Interviews are likely to be held during July.