JOB TITLE:                          Horticultural Charge Hand

REPORTS TO:                    Contract Manager

LOCATION:                        Greenwich Park

REQUIRED:                        Minimum 3 years’ experience as a GM Team Leader.  NVQ Horticulture Level 3 OR at least 5 years demonstratable commercial horticulture experience.  Full clean driving license.  Vetting may be required to access some sites so candidate must be confident of ability to obtain clearance.          

HOURS PER WEEK:          39

SALARY:                             £14.35ph            

1.            MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

We are currently looking to recruit an experienced Horticultural Team Leader to join our dedicated team of gardeners at Greenwich Park in London. We are looking for someone ambitious, driven & self-motivated with a recognised level of horticultural training/certification.  The job will focus on leading a small, designated team in the provision of a high specification ground maintenance service for The Royal Parks.

Principal responsibilities

Leading a dedicated team of gardeners to provide a high-quality grounds maintenance service at Greenwich Park in London. You will assist the Head Gardener in organising daily work schedules, providing direct support, training & supervision to the team & will ensure all daily checks have been completed by the team on relevant plant and machinery. You will ensure compliance with Health and Safety procedures are met and followed You will have excellent industry knowledge and be able to demonstrate this.  It would be desirable that you have had experience in a similar role. Responsibilities would include grass cutting, strimming, leaf-blowing, sports pitch, pruning, seasonal bedding, tree planting & weed control. You will need to possess a full clean UK driver’s license. It is important that you are able to deal with the general public and customers alike. This role requires the ability to work under the direct supervision of both the idverde & TRP, but also to work independently & lead within a given remit.  The Charge Hand will also be responsible for supporting the implementation of HR, Health & Safety & other internal & external compliance procedures & practices.  These including carrying out inductions, training & compiling/submitting reports.

The teams under the Charge Hand’s control may consist of operatives of varying skill levels & experience.  You will be expected to manage the teams effectively so as to ensure maintenance is carried out efficiently & in accordance with the output specifications, but also to encourage and maximise operative output by providing a supportive framework of experiential training.  High horticultural standards & practices are expected to be delivered across the whole team’s operations.

The Charge Hand will be required to lead the team members in delivering agreed improvements in development.& management plans, seasonal work programmes, ensuring all activities are undertaken in full accordance with prevailing Health & Safety guidelines.

2.            PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

CUSTOMER AND CLIENT CARE

Customer Care

• To create a positive impression with our customers and work to exceed their expectations Presenting a polite and responsible attitude at all times To understand what is important to the customer and to exceed their expectations

Customer Contact / Visitor Engagement

• To communicate with customers politely and professionally Accurately report customer comments to Management

Customer Promotion

• To understand what the services of the company are and promote wherever possible

Corporate Image

• To promote and ensure the Team wear the correct corporate clothing To ensure that areas are professionally presented, cleaned and that all sites are kept clean and tidy

INTERNAL

Personal Effectiveness

• To act in a professional and confident manner, to accept responsibility, to work effectively to achieve results. To plan and organise your own time efficiently and to respond positively when under pressure and when confronted with problems

Communication

• To communicate effectively, to keep the Team informed, and to listen and ask questions to ensure understanding To ensure that all required documentation is filled in accurately & processed/submitted in accordance with the stipulated deadlines.

Planning and Organisation

To be efficient and organised, working to company systems, e.g. timesheets, works control tick sheets, rotas, absence request forms, etc to ensure that contractual performance obligations are met  

Health & Safety  

• To read, understand and work to the company’s Health & Safety Policy and ensure the correct use of PPE:  high-viz vest, ear defenders, gloves etc and to ensure that all staff in the company are wearing appropriate PPE at all times To ensure that any plant/equipment is used safely and only after suitable training has been given To understand and work to risk assessments and COSHH assessments and to report accidents and near misses  To report any potential health & safety issues to your Team Leader/Manger/Supervisor.

Work Attendance

• To ensure that yourself & your team be reliable in attendance at work and follow company rules and procedures if absent from work for any reason

Human Resources

• To ensure familiarity with all Company Policies & be effective in implementing the expectations of the standards outlined within To carry out/implement Company HR procedures & practices relevant to your role – including carrying our disciplinary investigations, staff inductions & return to works  

Company Systems  

• To be efficient and organised, ensuring that the Team work to company systems: e.g. job tick sheets, time sheets, weekly vehicle inspection sheets

LEARNING

Development Reviews

To make good use of the opportunity to discuss your work and review your job specification and to take an active part in planning changes and improvements as appropriate Training

• To ensure you & the Team are suitably trained/qualified for all work tasks undertaken, taking training opportunities where relevant.

Innovation

• To identify opportunities and suggest alternative, better, more effective ways of doing things

FINANCIAL

Cost Control

• To act to help the company control costs and avoid wastage wherever possible To manage any abuse to plant and machinery that you are aware has taken place

Care of Machinery

• To understand the correct machinery items for the job and to understand the maintenance requirements of machinery Ensure appropriate checks and records are kept

Productivity

• To utilise best, most economic and effective work practices To take responsibility as part of the team for delivering a quality service To show initiative and make suggestions for improvements that may lead to increased productivity

Security

• To show a rigorous concern for the security of company buildings, vehicles, machinery and materials

5.            KEY OBJECTIVES

• Effective delivery of operations under your control Effective communication with your Team & Line Management Effective implementation of all Company policies and procedures