Mobile Horticultural Team Leader (Lead Gardener)

The role

A great opportunity has arisen at the University of Bristol for a full-time Lead Gardener to lead a small team maintaining, enhancing, and developing many of our floristically interesting modern and historic landscapes, primarily in the centre of Bristol.

What will you be doing?

The role will be to lead a small van-based team of two dedicated Horticulturists undertaking high-quality amenity horticultural which ensures the university’s green spaces and grounds are maintained as a welcoming, accessible, safe & attractive environment for students, staff & visitors.

In addition, you will contribute to the development of the gardens through new landscapes, planting projects and biodiversity enhancements and occasionally assist with external groups undertaking horticultural & conservational activities.

Largely a horticultural role, rather than a grounds role, tasks will range from shrub & tree pruning, herbaceous bed maintenance, hedge cutting, weed control & pond maintenance, as well as mulching, some litter picking and seasonally essential task, such as leaf clearance and snow & ice treatments.

You should apply if

We are looking for a passionate, self-driven & motivated gardener, who has previously worked in a similar amenity horticultural environment and has supervisory experience. You should have good attention to detail and be a good team player, who can use their initiative when required.

You should have a recognised horticultural qualification, a supervisory qualification or willingness to attain it, reasonably good plant knowledge, a good understanding of Health & Safety, full driving license, experience with trailer towing, and ideally hold certificates of competence such as PA.1 & PA.6, although a willingness to attain these would be acceptable as we are keen to develop the skills of our teams and provide you with an environment that you can flourish.

You should also have good communication and interpersonal skills and be happy to assist and work with our other horticultural and grounds teams.

Additional information

Work pattern: Full time - 35 hours

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on Thursday 12th March.

For informal queries please contact: James Fiddock (Gardens and Grounds Manager) on 07990 540279 or James.Fiddock@bristol.ac.uk.

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

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