Salary: £25 – 29,000 PA Depending on experience
Hours: 5 days per week Monday to Friday, 8.00am – 5.00pm, with occasional weekend work as business needs require
Contract: Permanent (subject to probation period)
Location: Offices: Acton, Hounslow London. However, day to day work will be undertaken at sites across West London, or as business requires. These sites may include, but are not limited to private, community-based or public spaces
Reporting to: CEO
Cultivate London (CL) is a London-based charity and social enterprise, that uses horticultural activities to support and enhance local communities in London. Our activities comprise:
1. Commercial Gardening Services: for commercial clients, property developers and local authorities in London. Income generated through our commercial activities is ploughed back into supporting our charitable work.
2. Community Gardening: CL has created community growing spaces in Ealing, Hounslow, Richmond (Kew Gardens), Southall and Battersea.
We have three main objectives:
To create and maintain enjoyable & sustainable green space for the local community to improve the wellbeing of members
To give opportunity to learn, train & work to young people and local residents and ultimately help them into sustained employment or education
To generate appreciation and engagement in green space and its preservation to improve the physical environment and social cohesion of local communities
Job Description:
A great opportunity to use your skills and experience in gardening, landscaping and growing to help increase Cultivate London’s offer to both commercial and community clients. Oversee efficient operation of CL’s garden maintenance and landscaping services on a commercial and community level as well as expand the service by seeking out new business and opportunities. This role is for a motivated, energetic person focused on achieving set targets with the ability to think creatively and inspire others.
Contract Deliverables
The main roles of the job:
- Carry out maintenance tasks and upkeep of a wide range of green areas and growing spaces, including the use of powered, non-powered tools & equipment, the application of pesticides / herbicides in line with good operational practice
- Liaise with clients and provide excellent customer service
- Produce competitive estimates and quotations for landscape and garden maintenance work
- Look for all opportunities to expand the client portfolio and upsell within existing contracts
- Maintain accurate records
- Set an excellent example, supervise and deliver on-the-job coaching for Apprentice gardeners and work experience trainees to develop their horticultural skills and knowledge
- Review and provide feedback on the performance of jr staff and work experience trainees
- Attend team and supervision meetings as requested
- Ensure that all vehicles, machinery, tools and equipment are kept clean, safe, safe, secure and in a serviceable condition at all times
- Provide tool box talks to the relevant personnel
- Be responsible for the maintenance of personal health and safety and development of best practice, as well as that of our clients and fellow staff, as required by law
- Work as part of the CL team and carry out cover for other staff as and when required
- Undertake any other duties and training that may reasonably be required by Cultivate London
As this post involved working with children, young people and vulnerable adults appointment will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosures and Barring Service check
Personal Specification
Essential
- A passion for gardening and plants, and strong knowledge of both
- Proven experience of landscaping and horticultural work with a sound knowledge of horticultural procedures and processes
- Able to operate and maintain a range of horticultural equipment and machinery
- The ability to carry out a full range of horticultural operations to a high standard across various sites
- A horticultural qualification at Level 3 or above and or significant gardening experience
- An ability to produce, read and accurately interpret planting plans and garden design instructions
- Demonstrable knowledge of workplace health, safety and welfare practice and requirements
- Full clean UK driving licence
- Ability to work effectively as part of the CL team and on your own
- Excellent customer service skills and experience of positively engaging clients and stakeholders
- Supervisory and management skills and experience with an ability to supervise and coach inexperienced team members
- Willingness to work outside of normal working hours including weekends, as agreed in advance with CL
- The ability to produce and maintain accurate & legible records as required
- Competent in the production and use of spreadsheets and word documents
- Trustworthy, dependable, motivated, a good time keeper and communicator
Desirable
- Experience of growing food crops and nursery production ornamentals
- CSCS (supervisor level) & SSSTs qualified
- Design skills and experience of creating planting plans
- Experience in completing hard landscaping and garden construction
- Experience of working with community projects, volunteer groups or vulnerable people
- Level 3 Award in Education and Training
- PA1 & PA6 qualification
- CS30/31 chainsaw qualifications
To apply please contact Auberon Bayley via e-mail: auberon@cultivatelondon.org. Enquiries may also be made by calling Auberon directly: 07495 183669
Equal Opportunities: Cultivate London is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage or Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity, Race, Religion or Belief, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Carer responsibilities, or offending background
Cultivate London has a pool of sessional staff and we are always interested in hearing from people who have the following skills and are looking for part-time or occasional work:
- Good gardening or food growing skills and experience
- Good people skills
- The ability to work unsupervised
- The ability to plan and lead sessions
- Experience of working with volunteers or children
To apply please e mail your CV to auberon@cultivatelondon.org, applications will be considered on an on-going basis.
Equal Opportunities
Cultivate London is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage or Civil Partnership, Pregnancy and Maternity, Race, Religion or Belief, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Carer responsibilities, or offending background.