Experienced gardener jobs

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Garden Manager

Location: Fullers Mill Garden, West Stow, Suffolk

Accountable to: Commercial Development Director

Staff reports: The Gardens team, Visitor Services team

Fullers Mill Garden is an enchanting and tranquil waterside and woodland garden, situated on the banks of the River Lark at West Stow in Suffolk. It combines a beautiful site of light dappled woodland with a fabulous collection of rare and unusual shrubs, perennials, lilies and marginal plants, collected over the course of 50 years by the creator of the garden, the late Bernard Tickner MBE.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead Fullers Mill Garden into its next chapter as a Perennial garden, maintaining and evolving a beautiful garden with a team of gardeners, volunteers and trainees – to give our garden loving visitors a magical experience on each visit. The garden is currently undergoing a process of proposed investment in its visitor infrastructure. The Garden Manager will be a key member of the project team.

Overall purpose

1. Through high standards of garden and landscape management and garden maintenance, ensure that the history, ecology, evolved design and artistic integrity of Fullers Mill and other grounds associated with the site are conserved and presented to an exemplary standard.

2. To recruit, train, manage and develop staff to achieve high standards of garden presentation and visitor satisfaction.

3. To build a culture that makes involvement in the garden a rewarding, rich and enjoyable experience for visitors, volunteers and staff.

4. To identify and develop opportunities for the promotion of the garden and the development of the visitor experience managing partnerships and relationships

Main responsibilities and duties

1. Management of gardens and landscape

a. To be responsible for the maintenance and management of the garden and its associated landscape within an approved budget.

b. To maintain high standards of garden and facilities presentation at all times.

c. Responsible for the day to day running of the garden and supervision of staff, volunteers and contractors to ensure that appropriate horticultural and service standards are maintained.

d. To oversee the management and delivery of educational, training and skills activities and events, utilising the facilities and buildings within the site.

e. To undertake the direct delivery of activities on selected topics relating to horticulture and the garden.

f. To contribute as a key member of the Perennial project team in the formulation and delivery of the plan for the long-term future of Fullers Mill garden and buildings.

g. To co-ordinate the Fullers Mill Garden Committee, establishing sound relationships with its members and utilising their knowledge and experience in maintaining and developing the garden.

2. Financial Management:

a. Work alongside the Commercial Development Director to manage allocated budgets, prepare and provide bids for capital expenditure and small projects associated with the site.

3. Staff management, training and development:

a. To be responsible for staff recruitment, training and development of competencies to deliver agreed maintenance and presentation standards and to be responsible for staff welfare, discipline and other employee issues in consultation with the organisations central support team.

4. Projects and coordination:

a. To participate in the project team overseeing the creation of new visitor facilities and infrastructure;

b. To manage and oversee work delivered by external contractors or agencies.

c. To ensure a coordinated approach for all site-based garden maintenance, development, visitor facilities and services and to effectively manage change as appropriate.

5. Business Development and Public Relations:

a. To work with the marketing team to explore and deliver initiatives both nationally and regionally to increase awareness of both the charity and its gardens.

b. Where appropriate explore and support local marketing opportunities to encourage greater access for visitors, to identify and engage in opportunities which promote the charity and the garden as a high quality visitor attraction.

c. To act as site representative, promoting the charity and the garden to ensure positive relationships.

6. Documentation:

a. To ensure that all site documentation is maintained and distributed where appropriate.

b. To create and maintain records relating to changes to the garden through maintenance, restoration and conservation.

c. Maintain appropriate records for the effective management of staff, equipment, machinery and health and safety on site.

7. Health and Safety:

a. To conduct, review and maintain all risk assessments across site

b. To ensure all staff and volunteers are trained and have a good understanding of health and safety requirements where applicable

c. To ensure correct PPE and COSHH records are reviewed and maintained

d. To ensure correct documentation and risk assessments are provided by external contractors

8. Other:

a. Any other duties as instructed by the line manager that may be required within the general purpose of the job.

PERSON SPECIFICATION (E = essential; D = desirable)

1. Experience and Qualifications

a. Managing a garden of quality to a high standard (E)

b. RHS level 3 or equivalent qualified by experience (D

c. Managing and controlling complex budgets to reduce costs and exceed income targets

d. Staff management within a horticultural, conservation or visitor attraction setting (E)

e. Experience of visitor attractions (E)

f. Representation and speaking in public (E)

g. Health and safety in a garden environment (E)

h. Working with and leading volunteers (E)

i. Willingness to develop professionally and to undertake training (E)

j. Holder of HSE recognised First Aid at Work certificate (D)

k. Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders (D)

l. IOSH trained (D)

2. Circumstances

a. Holder of a full UK driving licence (E)

b. Able to work flexibly, including weekend rotational working hours in season (E)

MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS

General: This is a full-time post working 5 days across 7.

Location: Fullers Mill Garden, West Stow, Suffolk

Salary: £42,000 + benefits

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Pension: up to 7% employer’s contribution to matched employee contribution to the

charity’s stakeholder pension.

Holidays: 25 days per annum plus Bank holidays

General: Sick pay; death in service benefit (3 x salary); Perennial has a number of well-established flexible working policies including ‘buying’ extra (unpaid) leave, time off for dependents, variations to normal working hours, private health care on completion of probation

The outline of terms and conditions are provided for information only and do not represent a contract.

Closing date for applications is midnight on 2nd August 2026 Interview dates TBC

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive sufficient applications.

SCHEME MANAGER

Are you looking for a varied, people-focused property role?

Do you want to make a real difference to a resident community?

The Trust Partnership provides management services to almshouse charities, supporting residents and ensuring high-quality property and community management. They are now seeking a dedicated and proactive Scheme Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of a site in Southwark.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys a hands-on, people-focused role combining property management with community support.

About you:

• Experience in housing, estate or property management
• Strong organisational and IT skills
• Confident communication skills with a professional approachable manner
• Able to work independently and manage a varied workload
• Calm, practical and resident-focused approach

About the role:

• Manage daily site operations and contractors
• Support resident wellbeing and maintain positive communication
• Ensure safety, security and high site standards
• Maintain records and support compliance and allocations

This is a varied and rewarding role where you will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the site, maintaining high standards of property care, and supporting resident wellbeing. 

This role is subject to a DBS check.

If you feel you have the skills and experience to be successful in this role then please submit your CV and a supporting statement via the Charisma Charity Recruitment website.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. 

Please see the JD and PS for full details. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Sandra Smith, Senior Consultant at Charisma Charity Recruitment.

• Closing date for applications: 28th July 2026
• Interview date: TBC

Applications are being reviewed on receipt and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, so please apply without delay to avoid disappointment.

Do you want to make a positive difference to the lives of others? 

Barnet Mencap has been helping people with learning disabilities and/or autistic adults in the London Borough of Barnet for over 65 years. We provide supported accommodation, leisure and learning activities, information, advice, and guidance, and so much more. All while being committed to equal opportunities and the safeguarding of children and adults. 

We know job satisfaction, flexibility, work/life balance, and a great team are incredibly important. So, at Barnet Mencap, in addition to offering 30 days of annual leave per year (including Bank Holidays), we have a TOIL system to allow flexible working, and our team can benefit from other perks, including the Blue Light Card. Please note that this is predominantly an office-based and community role, but there may be the possibility of home working, subject to the needs of the project. 

We are seeking two Deputy Managers to support adults with moderate learning disabilities and autistic adults to live independently. One post will lead the Shared Houses team, and the other will lead the Outreach team. 

  The role will suit you if you:  

• have two years’ experience of working with adults with a learning disability and autistic people in a community setting  

• have the passion to enable people with a learning disability and autistic people to participate fully in decisions that affect their lives  

• understand the issues faced by people with a learning disability and autistic people living independently and have the skills to meet their practical, social and emotional needs  

• have a good working knowledge of safeguarding issues  

• have experience of managing and supervising staff  

• have excellent communication and IT skills  

• are working towards (or would like to work towards) a management diploma/NVQ Level 5 

Please read the Person Specification and Job Descriptions for more details, and if you have any questions, please get in touch.