Gardening jobs in Kirriemuir

HEAD GARDENER

Cambo House and Gardens, Fife

Cambo House and Gardens is seeking a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and dynamic Working Head Gardener to lead and inspire our garden team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified horticulturist to help maintain and develop one of Scotland’s most renowned gardens and designed landscape.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on gardener with the enthusiasm, practical skills and leadership ability to work alongside a team of trained gardeners, volunteers and students.

Reporting to the Grounds Manager for Cambo Estate, the Head Gardener will play a key role in the ongoing development and presentation of the gardens, while contributing to Cambo’s charitable and community engagement work.

About the gardens

Cambo’s gardens are open to the public seven days a week and encompass a diverse range of horticultural areas, including:

• Kitchen Garden
• Walled Garden
• Glasshouses
• Winter Garden
• Prairie Garden
• Gardens and lawns surrounding the historic Cambo House
• Gardens around the restored stables, housing the Visitor Centre and Cafe
• Plant Sales area, offering plants grown in the garden and other selected plants

Cambo is particularly renowned for its National Collection of snowdrops and spectacular snowdrop displays throughout the designed landscape, extending down towards the sea. The gardens around the main house also play an important role in the estate’s wedding and events business, requiring a consistently high standard of horticultural presentation throughout the year.

The role

The Head Gardener will spend a significant proportion of their time outdoors and must be physically fit, active and comfortable working in all weathers.

You will lead by example, remaining actively involved in the day-to-day horticultural work while supporting and developing the wider garden team.

The role will include:

• Maintaining and developing the gardens and wider designed landscape to a high horticultural standard.
• Leading and supporting the garden team, volunteers and students.
• Planning and organising seasonal horticultural work.
• Working collaboratively with the wider Cambo Estate team when required.
• Helping to maintain the high standards expected across the public gardens and wedding areas.
• Supporting the National Collection of snowdrops and its associated displays.
• Working with visitors and contributing to Cambo’s public engagement activities.
• Giving garden talks and tours when required.
• Building and maintaining good professional networks with other gardens and horticultural organisations.
• Supporting the charitable objectives and community engagement work of Cambo Heritage Trust.

About you

We are looking for an energetic, motivated and inspirational horticulturist who takes pride in their work and enjoys working as part of a team.

You will be:

• A confident and capable hands-on gardener.
• Positive, enthusiastic and well organised.
• A supportive team player with the ability to lead and inspire others.
• Physically fit and happy to spend much of your working day outdoors.
• Willing to pitch in wherever your skills and effort are needed.
• Comfortable engaging with visitors and representing Cambo positively.
• Passionate about horticulture and keen to continue developing your knowledge and skills, with a commitment to biodiversity-led gardening.
• Interested in the garden as an evolving place that responds to the changing climate and adapts to be more resilient and sustainable for the future.
• Enthusiastic for systems-oriented approaches to growing and gardening - for example caring for soil health and creating compost.

Cambo welcomes applications from experienced gardeners who have not previously held a Head Gardener position but can demonstrate the skills, knowledge and leadership potential required for the role.

Essential requirements

• Level 3 or above horticultural qualification, or equivalent experience and knowledge.
• Strong practical horticultural skills.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team and take responsibility for leading others.
• A positive, organised and proactive approach to work.
• The physical ability to undertake a predominantly outdoor, hands-on role.

Desirable but not essential

• Experience of managing or working with a National Collection.
• Experience working in a public garden, historic garden or visitor attraction.
• Experience of giving garden talks, tours or other public engagement activities.
• Experience having worked with late season naturalistic planting.
• A current chainsaw licence.

About Cambo

Cambo Gardens is a private garden managed by Cambo Heritage Trust, a charitable trust committed to caring for the estate and sharing its horticultural, cultural and natural heritage with the public and wider community.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious horticulturist to join a distinctive garden with an exceptional plant collection, a strong public profile and a passionate team.

If you are an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener looking for the opportunity to lead a team, develop an outstanding Scottish garden and play an active role in its future, we would love to hear from you.

To apply: Please send a CV and covering letter telling us how you fit the role to: Kay@camboestate.com

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person