Land Crops Team Leader

Brunswick Organic Nursery is a registered charity based in Bishopthorpe, York, which provides a productive and rewarding workplace environment for people with learning disabilities (‘workers’) to grow and thrive in. We build skills and confidence, support wellbeing and develop independence through offering opportunities in different work areas. These include horticulture (growing organic fruit and vegetables, growing plants at the garden nursery, and a contract gardening service for the local community), crafts, woodwork, cooking, and office administration.

About the role

Are you passionate about organic vegetable growing?

Do you enjoy enabling and supporting others to learn and develop? 

Can you build genuine connections with the people you work alongside?

Are you organised and able to plan ahead and keep records up to date?  

Are you a thoughtful and supportive team manager? 

Our Land Crops teams work across two sites: our main site and a listed walled garden, and grow a wide range of organic vegetable and fruit crops. We sell these in our shop and also to local businesses. In this role, you will lead small teams of people with learning disabilities, who have a range of skills and abilities, to grow organic vegetables and fruit. You have responsibility for leading the work area of Land Crops including all the planning for crop rotations, growing and care of the land and soil.  

Who are we looking for?

This role is about both growing and people. Growing-wise, you will be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about growing a range of vegetable and fruit crops on at least a smallholding scale. Our ideal candidate will have a good knowledge of organic growing and/or some experience of it. In addition to good knowledge and experience of growing, we’re looking for someone who thrives on enabling and supporting others with a range of skills and abilities to learn and develop. You must be able to build genuine connections with the people you work alongside, be able to think holistically about people and take responsibility for the team’s welfare whilst at work. Finally, the responsibilities of this role need you to have excellent organisation skills, an understanding of, and ability to ensure, that documents and records are completed using our IT system, and supportive people management skills.   

Skills and experience required:

·         Experience of growing a wide range of vegetable and fruit crops, preferably with experience of organic growing.

·         Experience of maintaining growing records.

·         Experience of working with and supplying customers.

·         Knowledge and ideally experience of working inclusively with others.

·         Experience of supporting people with a range of skills and abilities.

·         Ability to motivate others and create a positive and rewarding work environment.

·         Good IT skills using Word, Outlook and Office 365.