Job Summary:

We are excited to announce the launch of a new division of our business–Rooted Garden Care. This innovative venture focuses on the maintenance of large estates and designer gardens, both in rural and urban settings. Rooted Garden Care embodies a niche business model designed to meet the evolving needs of our clients, and we have ambitious growth plans for this exciting new business, supported by a dedicated platform. Rooted Garden Care is seeking a passionate and highly experienced individual to lead our approach to garden maintenance. The primary objective of this role is to enhance efficiency and productivity in maintaining exceptional gardens while effectively controlling budgets. As a Garden Consultant, you will oversee the management and maintenance of a diverse portfolio of high-quality designer gardens, ensuring they thrive under your supervision. This role is suited to an experienced Head Gardener looking for an exciting new challenge where they can impact multiple gardens whilst utilising their wealth of knowledge. We are looking for a strong communicator with the ability to provide guidance and direction to other gardening professionals who may initially be hesitant to embrace an outside perspective. Drawing on your expertise and enthusiasm for horticulture, you will build trust and respect with external teams while ensuring the best possible care for the gardens. By empowering outsourced teams to adopt best practices and upskill within the industry, you will be instrumental in delivering our unique maintenance methodology, which prioritises and schedules tasks to ensure effective communication and management practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Garden Management: Oversee the maintenance and health of a diverse range of gardens and estates, ensuring they meet the desired aesthetic and horticultural quality while controlling costs.
• Soil Moisture Management: Implement soil moisture management techniques to optimise irrigation practices and maintain healthy soil conditions for garden growth.
• Consultancy Approach: Act as a consultant to instruct team members and contractors on executing tasks, ensuring that meticulous standards are upheld across all maintenance activities.
• Efficiency and Productivity Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, productivity and sales growth by managing, training, and guiding weekly maintenance teams, ensuring the gardens thrive without requiring excessive resources.
• Task Prioritisation and Scheduling: Develop and implement a detailed methodology for prioritising and scheduling maintenance tasks based on garden needs and client expectations.
• Empowering Teams: Empower outsourced teams to embrace best practices in horticulture while providing training and support to upskill the industry and improve overall service delivery.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure that all outsourced maintenance work is executed to the highest standards, regularly reviewing outcomes and providing feedback to the team.
• Team Leadership: Lead and motivate the maintenance team, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages teamwork and professional growth.
• Training and Development: Work closely with the horticulturist to provide training and support to team members, enhancing their skills and knowledge in garden care practices and technology utilisation.
• Pest Control and Management: Implement pest control measures and oversee seasonal jobs such as turf management, hedge cutting, planting, pruning, and river conservation monitoring.
• Client Communication: Maintain effective communication with clients to understand their needs and expectations, ensuring that all work aligns with their vision for the garden.
• Technology Integration: Utilise technology to facilitate reporting, flagging issues, and monitoring garden health to improve management practices.
• Contractor Management: Coordinate with various private contractors daily to ensure smooth operations of maintenance activities.
• Financial Management: Manage the budget for maintenance tasks, ensuring costs are kept within limits while prioritising quality and aesthetics.
• Identifying New Sales Opportunities: Proactively identify and pursue new sales opportunities through networking and relationship-building with clients, garden designers, and industry professionals.
• Planting Design: Develop and propose planting improvements that enhance established gardens, ensuring aesthetic appeal and alignment with client preferences.
• Pricing of New Jobs: Assess and price new projects accurately, taking into account site conditions, materials, and client requirements to develop competitive quotes.

Person Specification:

ESSENTIAL

Qualifications & Knowledge: Minimum 8 years experience in garden management or horticulture, preferably in a leadership role Strong understanding of garden design principles and horticultural practices.

Experience: Extensive horticultural knowledge in plant care, horticultural techniques and industry best practices Diagnosing garden issues like pest, disease or poor soil conditions and providing effective solutions.

Language Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, combined with the ability to explain garden concepts and give instruction Mentoring and guidance to colleagues and subcontractors. Producing professional reports, plant care guides and garden plans that are clear and actionable through the use of video, written word and other AI platforms.

Aptitude & Abilities: Ability to work independently with robust knowledge of business operations, budget control, process and client management within the landscape industry. Attention to detail, being resourceful and capable of addressing challenges. Confident in making sales and networking.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary, including London weighting.

• Private health insurance.

• Company small van provided.

• Full compulsory corporate clothing will be provided, including PPE.

• Technical equipment essential to the role will be provided (iPad, MacBook, iPhone).

• Opportunities for professional development and training.

• 28 days holiday (including bank holidays), plus Christmas shutdown.

Code of Conduct

The postholder is expected to uphold the values and standards set by The Alaster Anderson Group, consistently reflecting these principles in their conduct. Individuals holding CPCS cards or machinery tickets are required to maintain professional standards and practices at all times. It is the responsibility of the postholder to familiarise themselves with these requirements and ensure compliance at all times. They must actively engage in performance reviews, pursue continuous professional development, and work towards addressing identified growth areas. The postholder must operate within their defined level of competence. If there are any concerns about their ability to carry out a task, they should promptly consult their direct report. Additionally, it is essential for the postholder to inform their direct report if they feel unqualified to perform a duty.

Health and Safety

The postholder is responsible for ensuring their own safety and the safety of others by effectively managing risks and adhering to the health and safety policies and procedures established by The Alaster Anderson Group. All staff are expected to access occupational health services, staff support services or other relevant assistance whenever necessary for guidance and support. The postholder is accountable for tracking and evaluating the progress of project plans concerning risk management, health and safety. Records Management The postholder is responsible for ensuring that records are maintained accurately and promptly, adhering to professional guidelines where applicable.

Flexibility Statement

The evolving and dynamic nature of the Company necessitates a high degree of flexibility from the postholder. This job description outlines the primary functions and responsibilities of the role but is not an exhaustive list. Duties and responsibilities may be adjusted as the Company’s requirements change. Any amendments to the job description will be made in consultation with the postholder, particularly in response to future organisational developments, professional shifts, or personal growth. Outside Employment/Outside Interests Any external work or personal interests must not conflict with the postholder’s responsibilities or their ability to fulfil their duties as an employee of The Alaster Anderson Group.

Environmental

The Alaster Anderson Group is dedicated to upholding its environmental responsibilities. We acknowledge that our activities --including energy use, waste production, transportation, emissions, and water and resource consumption–have a significant impact on the environment. As part of our commitment to providing high-quality services, all staff are required to comply with the environmental policies and procedures at both an organisational level and within their specific roles to ensure legal adherence. Employees are expected to actively work towards minimising the environmental impact of the Company’s services and continuously seek improvements to reduce these effects. Staff should take note of relevant communications and participate in mandatory training sessions as needed.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From £43,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company car
• Company pension
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Private medical insurance
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

• How do you approach the management and planning of garden maintenance for various projects? Can you describe your process for scheduling tasks and ensuring that maintenance aligns with design intentions?
• This role requires frequent travel to various garden sites, including urban gardens in inner London and country estates across Surrey, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and nearby areas. Are you willing and able to travel regularly for site visits , team guidance and consultations?
• In this role, you will be responsible for creating maintenance strategies. How do you approach training and guiding less experienced gardeners in implementing these strategies effectively? Can you provide an example of a time you successfully mentored a team member in this area?

Experience:

• Horticulture: 8 years (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Winchester SO21 2JN