Grounds and Gardens Technician

About the roleThis exciting permanent role is based at the Leckford Abbas hotel in Hampshire, once the original home of Spedan Lewis, set in beautiful countryside and close to the River Test.

This role would suit a self-motivated, passionate and experienced horticulturist who is available to deliver and maintain high standards throughout the gardens and grounds.

The Gardens and Grounds Technician will be responsible for managing the gardens within the hotel grounds, including maintaining two greenhouses, used for propagation of plants, fruit and vegetables and a walled kitchen garden used to supply the Abbas restaurant kitchens.

The Leckford Estate was purchased by John Spedan Lewis (the founder of the Partnership) in 1928 as his private estate, converted into a limited company in 1929 and is now part of the John Lewis Partnership. In August 2001 the Leckford Estate became part of Waitrose & Partners, providing a real focus for it to produce food for the Partnership’s food stores under the Leckford brand.

Located in the heart of rural Hampshire, Leckford Estate is an area of outstanding beauty and only 25 minutes from the New Forest. Join us and you’ll enjoy a remarkable and unrivalled working environment and setting.

• Salary - £24,400- £32,500 

• Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract.

• Working pattern/flexible working -

• Monday - Thursday 7.30 am - 4.00 pm Friday 7.30 pm -3.00 pm

• Location - This role is based at The Leckford Estate, Hampshire

Please be aware that due to the nature and activities of this role, all successful candidates will have a DBS check carried out on them through a 3rd party registered body. For more details on DBS checks and what these entail, please visit the Government website. A financial probity check will also need to be completed for this role.

Key responsibilities 

• To assist with the improvement and maintenance of the Gardens, ensuring they are presented at the highest standards, which retain the gardens in their pre-eminent position within the Partnership and the horticultural world at large.

• To efficiently undertake all horticultural and maintenance tasks as requested, ensuring high levels of craftsmanship

• To maintain and use a wide range of tools and powered equipment and complete any records required.

• To ensure and promote the health and safety of yourself and others in accordance with Partnership requirements.

• To establish good working relationships with other Partners and Managers.

• To welcome and communicate with visitors to the Gardens, which can include giving talks, selling tickets and answering questions.

• To maintain current knowledge of horticultural practices and environmental considerations and apply where appropriate.

• To provide Department out of hours cover on a rota basis.

• To support and take part in Estate events as required, which will involve occasional extra hours at weekends and evenings.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need 

• Relevant experience of working within a Grounds and/or Gardens Team

• Experience of propagation and working in a production garden

• Able to work with minimal supervision

• Minimum of 2 years professional gardening experience with a good understanding of plants, pests and soil types

• Full Driving Licence

• Minimum NVQ Level 2 Amenity Horticulture or equivalent professional experience

• Good communication skills

Desirable skills/experience you may have 

• Relevant experience of working within a Grounds and/or Gardens Team

• PA1 & PA6a Pesticide certificate

• NPTC CS30/31 Chainsaw certificate

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About The Partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting. If required, you’ll find out more about vetting throughout the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.