Gardening jobs in Winnersh

Gardening Team Leader

Pay: £17.00–£21.00 per hour, with potential progression to £23.00 per hour
Work location: In person

Avalonian Gardens is a small gardening company seeking an experienced, reliable and capable Gardening Team Leader to join our team.

Our work combines horticultural gardening and grounds maintenance, maintaining a varied portfolio of established private gardens and larger properties.

We are looking to gradually develop the business with the help of a dependable gardener who can take responsibility for day-to-day work at client properties, maintain high standards and help supervise less-experienced gardeners as the team grows.

The successful candidate will work closely with the business owner and should be confident undertaking a broad range of gardening, grounds maintenance and practical tasks.

This is a hands-on position requiring good practical ability, organisation, reliability and the capacity to work independently without continuous supervision.

We welcome applications from experienced horticultural gardeners, professional gardeners and grounds-maintenance workers who meet the qualification requirements and demonstrate the necessary practical competence.

Advanced horticultural expertise is highly desirable but is not a prerequisite. Candidates possessing substantial plant knowledge, specialist qualifications and senior-level capabilities will be recognised accordingly.

Horticultural Knowledge and Qualifications

RHS Level 2, an equivalent recognised Level 2 horticultural qualification, or a higher relevant horticultural qualification.

Applicants should possess a sound practical understanding of garden maintenance, including:

• Identification and care of commonly encountered garden plants.
• Basic pruning principles and appropriate seasonal timings.
• Border maintenance, planting and weed control.
• General plant health, growing conditions and seasonal requirements.
• Appropriate maintenance of established gardens.

More advanced horticultural knowledge is highly advantageous, particularly:

• Identification of a broad range of trees, shrubs, climbers, herbaceous perennials and weeds.
• Familiarity with botanical nomenclature and Latin plant names.
• Advanced pruning techniques and horticultural decision-making.
• Plant selection, soil management and plant nutrition.
• Recognition and management of common pests, diseases and plant-health problems.

Applicants are not expected to possess the horticultural knowledge of a senior specialist. However, they should demonstrate a sound foundation and a willingness to develop their knowledge further.

Demonstrable horticultural knowledge and practical competence are more important than qualifications or claimed years of industry experience alone.

Practical Skills

Good general practical ability is essential alongside horticultural knowledge.

Applicants should be competent with the usual tools and machinery associated with professional gardening and grounds maintenance, including mowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers and blowers.

They should also be comfortable using common hand and power tools and undertaking a broader range of practical tasks.

Our work can include irrigation installation and fault-finding, tool and machinery maintenance, the use of angle grinders for tool sharpening, installing trellis and plant supports, drilling and fixing into common materials, pressure washing and occasional handyman tasks.

Experience in these additional areas is advantageous, although specialist and Company-specific training will be provided where appropriate.

Applicants should demonstrate good practical judgement, problem-solving ability and a willingness to develop new skills.

Team Leadership and Independent Working

The successful candidate should be capable of:

• Taking responsibility for day-to-day work at client properties.
• Working productively and independently without continuous supervision.
• Organising and prioritising tasks to make effective use of available time.
• Maintaining appropriate standards of workmanship and productivity.
• Providing clear instructions and practical guidance to less-experienced gardeners.
• Identifying problems and communicating them promptly.
• Maintaining professional relationships with clients.
• Ensuring safe working practices and appropriate use of tools and equipment.

Previous supervisory or team-leading experience is advantageous, but we will also consider experienced gardeners who demonstrate the ability and willingness to take on these responsibilities.

Reliability, punctuality, consistent attendance and the ability to work independently are particularly important.

Administration, English and Numeracy

This is not solely a manual position. The Gardening Team Leader must be capable of independently completing Company records and forms, maintaining clear client notes, reading and following written instructions and safety documentation, using Company software, and assisting with work planning and administration.

A good practical standard of written and spoken English is essential. Written records must be clear, accurate and sufficiently detailed to be understood and relied upon by other members of the team.

Good practical numeracy is also required, including everyday calculations involving measurements, areas, quantities, ratios, percentages and time.

Typical Duties

• Horticultural gardening and grounds maintenance.
• Lawn mowing, edging, strimming and hedge trimming.
• Border care, planting and soft landscaping.
• Pruning trees, shrubs, climbers and other ornamental plants within the candidate's competence.
• Lawn treatments & renovation.
• General grounds maintenance.
• Irrigation installation, maintenance and fault-finding.
• Identification and treatment of weeds, pests and diseases.
• Tool and machinery maintenance, including tool sharpening using angle grinders where appropriately trained and authorised.
• Pressure washing and occasional practical/handyman tasks.
• Administration, record keeping and work planning.
• Maintaining organised work vehicles, tools and equipment.
• Supervising and supporting apprentices and less-experienced gardeners where required.
• Chainsaw and pesticide work where appropriately qualified and authorised.

Requirements

Applicants must have:

• RHS Level 2 or an equivalent recognised horticultural qualification.
• Professional experience in gardening, horticulture or grounds maintenance.
• A sound practical understanding of plant care and garden maintenance.
• Competence with standard professional gardening tools and machinery.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Good written and spoken English.
• Good practical numeracy.
• Good general practical and tool competence.
• Good organisational and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to work independently and maintain productivity.
• The ability to provide direction and guidance to less-experienced gardeners.
• Strong reliability, punctuality and consistent attendance.
• The ability to safely undertake the physical requirements of professional gardening and grounds maintenance, with reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• First aid certification, ideally including forestry-related training.
• Experience operating a broad range of professional gardening and grounds-maintenance machinery.
• Advanced horticultural qualifications or specialist plant knowledge.
• Familiarity with botanical nomenclature and Latin plant names.
• PA1/PA6 pesticide qualifications.
• Chainsaw certification.
• Irrigation installation and maintenance.
• Previous team-leading or supervisory experience.
• Towing experience.
• Machinery maintenance and repair skills.

Pay and Progression

£17.00–£21.00 per hour, depending on experience, qualifications and demonstrated competence.

The advertised range reflects differing levels of horticultural knowledge, practical expertise, professional qualifications and leadership experience.

The upper end of the range is intended for highly capable candidates who bring substantial additional skills and qualifications beyond the essential requirements. These may include:

• Advanced horticultural knowledge, plant identification and specialist pruning expertise.
• PA1/PA6 pesticide qualifications.
• Relevant chainsaw qualifications and experience.
• First Aid at Work certification, ideally including forestry-related training.
• Experience operating a broad range of professional gardening, grounds-maintenance and specialist machinery.
• Competence in servicing, maintaining, troubleshooting and repairing tools and machinery.
• Experience with irrigation installation, maintenance and fault-finding.
• Proven team-leading experience, including the ability to organise work, supervise others and maintain productivity.

Candidates are not necessarily expected to possess every qualification or skill listed above. However, remuneration towards the upper end of the range will reflect the breadth and depth of their demonstrated capabilities.

There is potential for progression up to £23.00 per hour as responsibilities increase, additional qualifications and competencies are attained, and the business develops.

Recruitment Process

Shortlisted candidates should expect a practical skills assessment covering relevant gardening and grounds-maintenance knowledge, practical problem-solving, tool competence, written English and numeracy.

Candidates claiming advanced horticultural expertise may also be assessed on plant identification, botanical nomenclature and horticultural decision-making.

The assessment is intended to establish existing practical competence rather than relying solely upon qualifications or stated years of experience.

Applications should be made through Indeed.

Please do not telephone the Company regarding this vacancy.

Pay: £17.00-£21.00 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 – 42.0 per week

Work Location: In person