Head Gardener

About us

The Royal Parks (TRP) is a charity managing over 5,000 acres of parkland, rare habitats, historic buildings, and monuments across eight Royal Parks in London, including Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, and Richmond Park.

Additionally, we manage other important spaces, such as Brompton Cemetery, one of London’s historic Magnificent Seven cemeteries and still a working cemetery. Our mission is to preserve these spaces for millions of visitors every year.

We are now looking for a Head Gardener with a passion for horticulture and a strong interest in nature conservation to lead and inspire our gardening team at this unique site. This is a full-time, permanent role, working 36 hours per week.

The Benefits

• Salary of £32,666 to £36,921 per annum depending on experience
• 26 days' annual leave plus public holidays, increasing to 29 days after 3 years’ service
• Pension scheme (3% employee contribution; up to 10% employer contribution)
• Hybrid/agile working options
• Private medical insurance and healthcare cash plan
• Employee assistance programme and access to mental health first aiders
• Learning and development opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme
• Offices in a beautiful location

Brompton Cemetery offers an exceptional opportunity for a passionate horticulturist with an enthusiasm for plants to join us at an exciting time as we look to increase the range, diversity and delight of our existing horticultural collection.

Unlike many cemeteries, Brompton was conceived as a ‘garden of rest’ and was laid out by Loudon as a designed landscape, and boasts some significant horticultural names resting within it. As a nod to this legacy, The Royal Parks has the ability to build on this sleeping horticultural fame, and coupled with the London microclimate, an opportunity to push gardening boundaries awaits.

Your interest in nature conservation will balance the twin needs of this role as Brompton Cemetery has extensive areas of rich, diverse habitat including meadows, native bulbs, scrub and trees which will be managed day-to-day by you.

With access to ongoing training, a supportive team, and a network of other Head Gardeners, you’ll have the chance to develop valuable experience and advance your skills as you grow with us.

So, if you want to help Brompton Cemetery remain a place of beauty, peace, and natural tranquillity for all who visit and for future generations, then apply today.

The Role

As our Head Gardener, you will manage and deliver all aspects of practical horticulture and nature conservation with an emphasis on high standards of presentation and quality.

In this varied role you will assist in the development, and evolution of new and existing horticultural schemes and nature conservation habitats through ongoing and new project work.

You will lead and manage a diverse group of volunteers undertaking horticultural and nature conservation activities including the Friends of Brompton Cemetery horticultural volunteers.

Additionally, you will:

• Supply and maintain sufficient tools, equipment and materials for gardeners and volunteers
• Monitor the performance of the landscape maintenance contractor
• Participate in the planning and delivery of a range of cemetery-focused events
• Support initiatives including the Apprenticeship scheme, Biodiversity, Sustainability and participate in Green Flag and Green Heritage Awards
• Carry out all work with the utmost care and respect for people, place and environment
• Administer memorial applications and manage the installation of memorials

About You

To be considered as a Head Gardener, you will need:

• Experience of practical horticulture and/or nature conservation experience in a public park or publicly accessible setting, ideally within the heritage sector.
• Experience of working with volunteers, particularly in a horticultural or nature conservation environment.
• A passion for plants with excellent plant knowledge, particularly around shrubs, trees, herbaceous and seasonal bedding
• Excellent leadership, motivational and communication skills in a practical work-based environment
• Proficiency in IT, including Microsoft Office

We want to put everyone in the best possible position to succeed and use Recite-me accessibility software. At the top of the application page, there is an “Accessibility Tools” button which you can use to complete the application form in a way that works for you. If you think that you may need more support to complete our application process, please do get in touch.

The Royal Parks is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

So, if you are interested in this unique opportunity as Head Gardener, please apply via the button shown. Successful candidates will be appointed on merit.