Gardener jobs in Chipping Ongar

Gardener

Permanent; Full time

Closing date: 30 September 2026

Haileybury is seeking to appoint a passionate Gardener to join our Estates team.

Role

The Gardener will play an important role in maintaining, developing and enhancing the landscaped and garden areas across the School site, helping to ensure that our grounds are consistently well presented, attractive and maintained to a high standard throughout the year.

Reporting to the Head of Grounds and Gardens, the successful candidate will also support the maintenance and set-up of sports playing surfaces when required. The role will involve a range of practical duties, including lifting and manual handling, and the successful candidate will be expected to follow appropriate procedures and safe working practices at all times.

The successful applicant should have a good general level of education (GCSE or equivalent) and hold a full, clean UK driving licence. An NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualification in Grounds Maintenance, Horticulture or a related subject would be desirable, as would PA1/PA2/PA6, First Aid and Chainsaw qualifications.

This is a full-time role, with the successful candidate required to work some weekends and additional weekday hours on a rota basis to support the set-up and smooth running of sports fixtures, training sessions and other external events. The role therefore requires a flexible approach to working hours, in line with the operational needs of a busy school environment.

About Haileybury

Haileybury is an outstanding independent co-educational boarding and day school of around 900 pupils aged 11 to 18. Established in 1862, the School is situated on a beautiful 500-acre estate in Hertfordshire.

Haileybury has an exceptional reputation in the UK and internationally, and is pleased to share an excellent outcome from its most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate visit in October 2025, highlighting a broad and balanced curriculum, enthusiastic teaching and an extensive range of sport, outdoor education, drama, and music. We are also thrilled that Haileybury has been awarded the prestigious title of Boarding School of the Year 2024 by Tes.

Benefits offered include membership of the Operations staff pension scheme, lunch in the School’s magnificent Dining Hall (subject to hours of work), and use of the School’s facilities including gyms, a swimming pool, tennis club, and our Health and Wellbeing Centre.

How to apply

To apply for the above position, please click the following link: https://www.haileybury.com/working-at-haileybury/support-staff-vacancies/gardener-2/

Please be aware that we cannot consider an application unless the application form has been filled in completely, including details of your full employment history.

The School reserves the right to make an appointment before the closing date; candidates are therefore encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The School has a diverse pupil body and is committed to its strategy of equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of backgrounds to enrich our collective knowledge and experience. Appointments will be made on merit.

Haileybury is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants for the above post must be willing to undergo child protection vetting, including reference checks with previous employers, prohibition checks and a criminal record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Work Location: In person