Horticulture Technician - Outdoor Gardens

Full time, permanent

£25,043 per annum

We are looking for a self-motivated, temperate gardener to join the dynamic horticultural team in the 30 acre temperate gardens of the Eden Project. to work at the highest standards covering a range of flora, including crops, vegs, trees, shrubs and perennials. The role will include daily maintenance as well as involvement in developing new areas in a garden where there is always something happening.

The closing date for this position is Monday 30th September 2024

JOB DESCRIPTION                                                  

Job Family Definition

Roles within Horticulture (Cultivation, Education and Landscape) job family are dedicated to understanding, developing, designing, protecting, sharing, teaching and managing Eden's living collection of plants, in a landscape environment where visitors and students are encouraged to experience and learn about plants, habitats and eco-systems and their importance in providing a sustainable future.

Role Purpose

Implements the effective propagation, cultivation, maintenance of plants, landscapes and ecosystems within Eden, protecting, enhancing and sustaining Eden’s living theatre as a leading green destination. Developing and implementing planting and landscape schemes as directed by the management to the highest possible level.

Different roles within this job family:

Outdoor Garden Technician: Your work will be mainly concentrated in the outdoor garden arena with temperate plants, temperate crops and temperate habitats. There are steep slopes in cultivation and normal variations in the seasonal climate, sometimes harsh. A connection with agronomy and crops would be advantageous.

Key accountabilities

1. Maintains the living landscape exhibits and living landscapes.  Securing Eden’s long and short-term horticultural and landscape planning to be implemented in time and with quality expected considering the environmental strategy, ethical values and educational aspirations of Eden.
2. Implements maintenance programmes, ensuring appropriate soil preparation, cultivation, propagation, irrigation, amelioration and pest control activities to the required standards in terms of timescales, quality and budget. 
3. Monitors, evaluates and gives feedback to the management for improvement of quality, efficiency and experience. Ensuring all activities are carried out with adequate training and instruction in compliance with company policy and Health & Safety regulations.
4. Determines the requirements for supplies and equipment.
5. Actively engages and interacts with external professionals, visitors and colleagues, providing practical guidance and imparting field knowledge to promote and enhance Eden’s reputation as a leading attraction in the area of agronomy, landscape design, green tourism and ethnobotany.
6. Actively promotes the work of horticulture within other areas of the organisation, thereby developing and maintaining the culture of collaboration and co-operation across all departments and functions.  Imparts specialist knowledge and skills to ensure the successful delivery of Eden’s programmes.

Demands of the Role

Education & qualifications

Preferred level of education: RHS Level 3 with some special area of interest.

Knowledge & skills

Minimum of 3 years’ experience within the field of horticulture and/or landscape. An accomplished and knowledgeable practitioner within the subject field with practical and professional expertise developed within horticulture and landscape preferably with an identified specialised skill. The job holder must possess a willingness to excel and eagerness to learn and develop within the field.

Decision- making

Ability to work alone as well in small teams and make balanced practical decisions on plans and priorities.

Resourcefulness

Collaborates with colleagues and other staff to devise innovative and practical ways to improve planting schemes, habitats, landscaping and foremost knowledge transfer. The job holder will be required to be flexible and use creative thinking to resolve unusual practical challenges or situations.

People & asset management

Implements projects by example within a small dedicated and knowledgeable horticultural/landscaping team, students and designated volunteers and providing on-the-job training to students as required. A shared responsibility for the health, integrity, maintenance and presentation of Eden’s living collection; Identify procurement requirements as well as sourcing and ordering for approval by budget holders.

Communication & visitor experience

Effective oral and written communication skills are important for this role which requires the job holder to engage and interact with a variety of visitors, colleagues and students in various situations requiring the use of a range of techniques and approaches. Visitor engagement includes some media writing, public walk/talks, and alike.

Operational environment

The role regularly requires physical effort and prolonged working on slopes within a variety of demanding and at times harsh climatic environments.

Character

The job requires a decisive practical orientated, flexible, communicative person with a social creative personality who cares about the world we live in and understand and agrees to the Eden mission. Someone with a positive responsible outlook wishing to make a difference in this world.

Additional features

The job holder is required to continuously develop their technical expertise and skills while keeping abreast of current Health & Safety regulations.  The job holder may be required to travel nationally and internationally to work on specific assignments or projects.