Head Gardener

Job Summary

Our five-acre site in South Kensington has been transformed into a welcoming, accessible and biologically diverse green space in the heart of London. Our gardens are place for people to learn about the diversity of life on Earth and how our planet is changing over time. As a living laboratory and teaching hub, they support large-scale scientific research and outdoor education programmes and encourage Museum visitors to connect with nature.

There are four principal elements within the NHMs new gardens at South Kensington each with a different management focus: The Evolution Garden, Central Courtyard, Nature Discovery Garden and Darwin Courtyard. More information on the Gardens layout and Urban Nature Project can be found on the Museum website. Urban Nature Project | Natural History Museum. 

The Head Gardener plays a lead custodial role in the management, maintenance, advocacy and public facing communication of the Museums’ Gardens as a large living exhibit. Responsible for the day-to day management and presentation of the Museums external spaces they lead the delivery of high-quality horticultural and habitat maintenance as well as general oversight of the Gardens in facilitation of scientific, learning and formal and informal engagement activities.

As part of the Estates, Projects and Masterplanning department the role is to manage the Museums’ Gardens Team and to plan their work in accordance with management and maintenance schedules. This includes the development and delivery of Gardens Apprenticeship and volunteering programmes designed to develop skills while caring for the gardens, ecology and skilling up ambassadors to share the garden’s many wonders with our visiting public.

Due to the nature of the role it is anticipated that the role will be predominantly based on site in South Kensington.

Main Responsibilities

Horticulture

• Plan and undertake plant care and horticultural management including monitoring of plants to ensure their health and presentation.
• Undertake or instruct necessary seasonal horticultural activities, overseeing the use of irrigation and specialist systems.
• Develop, review and implement the Landscape Management and Maintenance Plan to reflect best practice Horticulture and Ecology
• Maintain a stock or supply of replacement plants
• Seek advice from specialists as required
• Maintain a register of plant records

Gardens Management

• Provide managerial oversight of external spaces at South Kensington to maintain a safe and presentable environment which showcases the Museum and enhances first impressions
• Conduct regular inspections of the Gardens environment and all other external (public and non-public) spaces ensuring components are well presented, protected and all facilities and features (such as the pond) are operational
• Monitor and induct the work of specialists and support contractors in the Gardens working with the Soft Service Manager to audit Grounds Maintenance undertaken by Facilities Management contractors
• Proactively resolve any operational issues in collaboration with the appropriate teams

Ecology, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation

• Implement habitat improvement projects that promote nature-positive principles and monitor wildlife activity
• Provide managerial oversight of external spaces at South Kensington to maintain a safe and presentable environment which showcases the Museum and enhances first impressions
• Contribute to sustainability reporting, helping to track progress and communicate the Museums commitment to protecting and enhancing urban nature

Team Management, collaboration and General duties

• Line management of the Gardens team and development and delivery of Gardens Volunteering opportunities and a Gardens Apprenticeship programme liaising with the Museums HR teamand undertake plant care and horticultural management including monitoring of plants to ensure their health and presentation.
• Meet regularly to collaborate with internal teams to co-ordinate grounds-oriented Museum activities (inc. Events, Learning, Engagement, Science, Safety, Security) or instruct necessary seasonal horticultural activities, overseeing the use of irrigation and specialist systems.
• Ensure the Health, Safety and Wellbeing of Gardens Team in relation to all activities including safe storage, maintenance and use of tools, PPE and equipment. Maintain Risk Assessments and Method Statements on the Museums system.
• Engage with visiting public in the gardens and enable the Gardens Team to do the same
• Provide regular support and advice for other Museum sites including NHM at Tring presenting to internal committees as required
• Plan Gardens activities to deliver Museum Objectives and deliver regular reports on Activity, Performance and Risk (Gardens)
• Liaise with the NHM Gardens Management Group, appointed horticultural specialists and develop and maintain relationships with external bodies, partners and peer organisations such as Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)
• Connect with Horticultural Networks, attend and host educational tours / events / symposiums in liaison with NHMs fields of expertise
• Manage the Gardens Operational Budget

Person Specification 

Essential

• Practical horticultural experience, ideally in a Botanical Garden, public park or publicly accessible garde
• Good knowledge of Health & Safety in the workplace
• Excellent plant care, cultivation and identification knowledge
• Practical experience of conservation management of urban UK habitats including grasslands, woodland and hedgerow, ponds and wetland
• Experience of green waste management and composting
• Excellent leadership, motivational and communication skills
• A formal horticultural qualification e.g. National Certificate in Horticulture, National Diploma, NVQ Level 3 (amenity horticulture) or RHS, or equivalent experience
• Experience of leading Teams
• Experience of recruiting and managing Apprentices and Volunteers

Desirable

• Qualification or relevant experience in a related subject such as Ecology, Conservation Biology, Horticulture, Countryside Management, or related subject
• Significant garden management experience.  This might include experience in the care and management of nationally important plant collections, climate sensitive species and sites with high levels of visitor use.
• Experience in the implementation of Landscape Management and Maintenance Plans for heritage landscapes.
• Experience of managing budgets
• Experience of working within a similar high-profile public and/or scientific institution
• Experience of engaging with the public proactively to support an organisations learning and engagement objectives
• An understanding of collections curation and maintenance of plant records

Thriving at the Museum: the way we work

We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.

We are ambitious. To make a difference on a global scale we are big and bold in our thinking and set goals which may seem impossibly high. We act with integrity, but we are not rigid or inflexible.  We are excellent at what we do and look for opportunities to make a difference for the Museum wherever we can.

We are curious.  We never stop learning. We look outwards beyond the Museum and ask questions to advance our understanding. We seek out and actively listen to different perspectives. We take time to reflect, are thoughtful and open to new ideas.

We share the wonder. We are captivated by the natural world, proud of our treasures and trusted guardians of our collections. We are passionate about the Museum, enjoy telling its stories and sharing our knowledge and expertise to inspire others. We don’t take this for granted; we feel proud to work here.

We are pioneering. We are not afraid to try something new and use good judgment and evidence to take risks. We experiment, innovate, and embrace complex problems by adapting our approach. We do not dwell on setbacks or get preoccupied with problems. We find solutions.

We team up. We respect the expertise of others and recognise that we produce the strongest outcomes when we put the best ideas together. We trust each other, keep things simple and make it easy for others to do the right thing. We share information and skills so everyone is equipped and enabled to succeed. We never let bad moments grow into bad relationships. We inspire and empower each other to give our best.