Head Gardener

ob title: Head Gardener
Location: West London
Salary: Dependent on skills and experience
Main purpose of job:
You will be an experienced Horticulturist with a “can-do” attitude and have strong leadership skills to maximise performance. Under direction from the Contract Manager, take responsibility for all aspects of grounds maintenance across sites within your area of responsibility, deliver contract objectives, people management, safety compliance and client relationships
Principal accountabilities
Contract performance & delivery
- Responsible for the day to day grounds maintenance activity at designated housing estates and parks.
- Prepare, implement and monitor weekly, monthly and annual maintenance programmes to ensure required standards are maintained
- To utilise best, most economic and effective work practices
- Proactively manage all areas of delivery, in order to solve problems before client raises them as an issue
- Manage the work planning process to ensure optimum utilisation of human resources
- To act as the day to day contact for client officers
- To support the operational management team
Relationships
- Establish and maintain excellent client relationships
- Attend and act as an ambassador at client meetings or related events
- Initiate client communication to foster open lines of communication
- To be proactive and well prepared at Progress Meetings with clients
- To be approachable and responsive to the needs of your direct reports and minimise conflict
- To communicate effectively and confidently both on a one-to-one basis and in groups
- To develop teamwork by effective communication and regular meetings
Customer/client care
- To create a positive impression with clients, presenting a professional and proactive attitude
- To build strong, long term relationships with customers
- To understand the benefits of the Company’s Complaints and Customer Contact procedures
General
- Communicate with colleagues across the Group in order to share best practice and pool knowledge and resources
- Constantly seek to improve and change to deliver best value
- Complete all maintenance activities to contract specification and to desired quality standard.
- Keep all machinery and equipment breakdowns to a minimum by ensuring all company policies are followed regarding defect reporting and service scheduling
- Keep accidents and other H&S incidents to a minimum by implementing good working practices, training and adhering to company H&S policies
- This role may include on-call commitment (1 week in 4) sometime in the future
Quality, Health & Safety
- To understand the law relating to Health & Safety and implement the Company’s Health & Safety Policy
- To understand and implement risk assessments and COSSH
- To understand machinery basic maintenance requirements and have systems in place to ensure maintenance takes place
- To ensure that all members of staff behave in a professional manner: wear the correct corporate clothing, keep vehicles and machinery clean and well maintained and that sites are kept clean and tidy at all times.
Financial management
- To understand and operate within the company’s financial procedures
- Manage according to budget
- Assist the Contract Manager with the completion of performance reports
Knowledge & Skills
- An experienced Horticulturist/Groundsman with a proven work experience in a similar role
- PA1, PA2 and PA6 spraying certificates (training given)
- Full Driving Licence
- NVQ Horticulture
Personal qualities
- Competent
- Able to work to consistently high standards
- Professional attitude
- High level of enthusiasm and motivation
- Decisive
- An approachable personality
- Strong relationship building skills with clients and users