Horticultural Foreman – Low Farm Landscapes Team 1

Job Summary:

The post holder will play a key role supervising the daily operations of a team of gardeners in key Lower Farm landscapes, working with the Curator to create high impact displays and maintain high horticultural standards in the area’s greenhouses, specified roadsides, trails and other Lower Farm landscapes. They will perform horticultural practices such as planting, weeding, transplanting, mulching, fertilising, pest control and plant protection to a high standard. They will be responsible for maintaining safe work practices and help to ensure the spaces they work in are safe for both the public and the organisation staff.

Major duties:

• To supervise a team of staff to look after theme gardens, roadside plantings, trail side vegetation, potted plant displays and greenhouses within the organisation’s lower landscapes, including irrigation, mulching, fertilizing, pest control and plant protection as and when necessary.
• Maintain workplace safety, including keeping trails free from slip and trip hazards and rubbish, safe and tidy use of the worker’s restroom, and to report potential safety issues to the Curator. Ensure that team members carry out their work within the safety guidelines.
• Discuss and report details of daily work to the supervisor.
• Safely operate powered gardening tools for site maintenance.
• To assist with the propagation and cultivation of potted plants for sale in the organisation’s shop.
• To assist with the occasional maintenance of vegetation on green rooves working safely at height and the occasional maintenance of streamside vegetation.
• To supervise and assist in the training of volunteers to help the team to perform their routine tasks.
• To assist the Curator in occasional supervision of contractors

Requirements:

• You are expected to strive to work in line with the organisation values, in pursuit of the Vision and Mission of the organization, and to self-assess your performance in this regard.
• At least 2 years’experience in horticulture, including physical work in an outdoor setting in a tropical/sub-tropical environment. Candidates possessing some knowledge of native plants and practical experience working with them would be at an advantage.
• Experience supervising staff and/or volunteers, or other relevant activities.
• Experience in using powered gardening tools.
• Friendly, hardworking, and self-disciplined.
• Good organisational ability.
• Physically fit for outdoor work.
• Able to work on occasional Sundays if necessary, or in holidays.
• You are expected to participate in activities arranged by the organisation with the intention of developing the organisational culture.