Job Alert: Gardener at Buckingham Palace £22k

Moneymagpie Team 13th Aug 2019 One Comment

Reading Time: 2 minutes

This is a job that is a little out of the ordinary. Royal, some would say. Literally. Do you have a bit of a green thumb? Well, we’ve got just the right garden for you to look after. The Queen is looking to hire a new gardener. Well, not her directly, but you will be looking after her palace. And imagine your friends’ faces when you tell them about your new boss…

The Job

The advert states:

“Our dedicated Gardens and Grounds team care for and present Buckingham Palace Gardens and it’s surrounding areas to an exceptional standard.

“From day one, you’ll have ownership of your own section within the garden, and you’ll help to deliver its annual plan of maintenance and work.

“Leading a small team, you’ll organise and allocate daily tasks, as well carrying out some of the work yourself, from all important lawn maintenance, to caring for shrub, herbaceous and rose borders.

“Helping to shape the future of the gardens, you’ll have creative input into planting new shrubberies, bulbs and seasonal flower displays, ensuring that they continue to provide a spectacular setting for the palace.

“You’ll also grow your management skills, monitoring Health & Safety and training records, as well as guiding the performance and development of the team.

“And conserving the garden’s rich biodiversity, as well as its unique history, will continue to inspire you.”

Sounds pretty intriguing to us! So what kind of person are they looking for?

The Skills

The job advertisement states:

“With a passion for horticulture, backed up with a relevant qualification (such as HND, ND / NVQ 3 or RHS Level 3 or even a Botanic Diploma in Horticulture), you’re exactly who we’re looking for.

“You’ll have previous experience carrying out cyclical maintenance for a high quality landscape garden, ideally within a historic environment. This means you have excellent knowledge of lawn maintenance, and cultivating a broad range of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.

“Able to demonstrate a range of horticultural craft skills, you’ll be well equipped to use the wide range of garden machinery we have here, including rotary machines and large mowers. Ideally holding a clean UK driving license, you’ll also be confident driving a lorry as part of your duties.

“It’s a busy environment, so your excellent time management and organisation will be an asset to the team.

“Working closely with colleagues will be important to you, and you’ll have an adaptable communication style and a collaborative approach to work. You’ll also have some supervisory experience and will be keen to develop your skills to effectively lead a small team.

“With lots of initiative and a creative eye, you’ll also be keen to contribute new ideas for developing the gardens and grounds. And overall you’ll take great pride in your work, delivering beautiful results in all you do.”

Right, so now you’re probably wondering how much it pays?

The Pay and Perks

How does £22k sound? Pretty good right. Plus benefits include a 15% employer contribution pension scheme (with the option for flexibility – to increase contributions or draw down as salary),training and development, as well as a range of catering and recreational facilities.

What are you waiting for? Applications close 21/08.