Our clients, with a beautiful property in North Oxfordshire, are looking for a full-time Head Grower. The ideal candidate will be seeking a hands-on gardening and management role focused on the production of cut flowers and foliage.
The ideal candidate will oversee and attend to the day-to-day needs of the cut flower production within the grounds of a historic estate, working closely with the Operations Manager and floristry team. The ideal candidate must have extensive hands on experience with productive gardens and cut flowers, knowledge of species and what they need relative to the vagaries of the weather and seasonal flow. The productive gardens must generate blooms through all periods of the season and each year strategic analysis and evaluation of what has performed well – both in the garden and the vase.
Duties outlined but not limited to:
- Garden and manage all aspects of the cutting garden – including maintenance, propagation, planting, pruning, staking, weeding, picking – ensuring that our produce keeps to our existing high standards.
- Working with the team to create annual planting plans, reflecting on each season to move forward to the next.
- Sourcing crops, adhering to organic and regenerative no-dig or minimum-till systems, composting, and sustainable practices such as rotational planning, use of green manures, implementation of new infrastructure as needed with requisite budgeting, quoting etc.
The ideal candidate will:
- Have at least 3 years’ experience growing cut flowers in a productive garden, with strong seasonal planning and species-specific planting knowledge
- A creative and visual eye is essential, along with the can do attitude and hard grafter’s ability to work in all weather and plan around soil health and picking schedules
- Hold a full UK manual driving licence and be comfortable regularly driving the business van
- Be highly organised, responsible, positive, and a strong communicator
- Be flexible with working hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends
Hours: 40 hours per week (Monday-Friday). Flexibility with working hours, including early morning, evenings, and weekends, is required.
Salary: £38,000-£42,000 gross per annum
REF: S&W#3242571
