JOB DESCRIPTION. Seed, Fruit & Vegetable, School of Horticulture, Apprentices and Garden Volunteers. 2 Team Leaders and 1 Curatorial Administrator

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1 JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Department/Division Reports to: Staff reports: Job Purpose: Dimensions: Garden Manager Seed, Fruit & Vegetable, School of Horticulture, Apprentices and Garden Volunteers Curator 2 Team Leaders and 1 Curatorial Administrator As a key member of the garden senior management team, to play an important role in the development and implementation of the objectives as defined in the RHS Strategic Plan and the Garden Master Plan; to lead, manage, develop and empower the team to set and deliver high standards in horticulture/support services and customer services using and planning resources to best effect. Overall responsibility for a team of approximately 10 employees, 26 training posts and up to 80 volunteers. Responsible for the performance management and development of the team in accordance with HR policies and procedures. Management of the Wisley School of Horticulture and Apprenticeship Scheme in conjunction with the RHS Horticultural Courses Manager. Management of Garden Volunteers in line with RHS Volunteers Policy. Outward looking across the RHS Gardens, RHS Divisions and the appropriate sectors of the Horticultural Industry. Budget approximately 800,000. Managing the Edible and Seed Teams. Accountabilities 1. To lead and manage the Curatorial Department to achieve objectives and the delivery of the RHS strategy and Master Plans. 2. The strategic and operational leadership, management and development of operations and people within the curatorial team for effective, efficient ways of working to deliver high levels of quality and productivity and agreeing best use of site resources and skills with colleagues. 3. To manage the School of Horticulture and Apprenticeship Scheme in conjunction with the RHS Horticultural Courses Manager. This will include leading on recruitment, induction, practical training schedules and other line management functions. Guide and support Team Leaders in management of trainees and apprentices. (Our Ref: 1139) Page 1

2 4. To manage the Wisley Garden Volunteers in accordance with the RHS Volunteers Policy and under the guidance of the RHS Volunteers Manager. 5. Delivering relevant support environmental and technical expertise to the staff, trainees and volunteers, RHS Committees, RHS events, demonstrations, displays, shows, and educational activities. 6. Act as an ambassador and expert for the RHS to the external audience. 7. Ensuring high quality customer service to all visitors, events attendees, work colleagues and other RHS departments. 8. To develop and manage budget and other resources. 9. Ensuring the delivery of the practical education programmes through work placements with garden teams. 10. Acting as a Site Duty Manager on a rota basis where you will be accountable for coordinating site emergencies, taking site closure decisions and taking a lead on setting high site standards of customer care. 11. To adhere to current Health & Safety legislation and best practice in accordance with the Society s Health and Safety Policy Statement. 12. Responsibility for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their staff and volunteers; and that the activities for which they are responsible do not expose anyone to risks to their health or safety. Specific areas of responsibility include: ensuring staff and volunteers are adequately supervised, trained and provided with adequate instruction and information to carry out their work safely; ensuring that RHS procedures are followed and risk assessments are carried out; and procedures are in place to deal with emergencies. 13. To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required of you in the post. (Our Ref: 1139) Page 2

3 PERSON SPECIFICATION Garden Manager KNOWLEDGE Essential: 1. High level general horticultural knowledge and technical horticultural expertise and/or high level knowledge of, and technical expertise in, relevant garden support services. 2. Relevant qualification in horticulture or allied subject. EXPERIENCE Essential: 1. Significant post qualification experience in horticulture or relevant discipline. 2. High level management skills and the capacity to educate and motivate teams of staff. 3. Excellent analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills. 4. High level of administrative responsibility, including professional correspondence. 5. Strong background of involvement in and understanding of the training and development of future horticulturists. Desirable: 6. Ability to lead and undertake strategic and operational planning. SKILLS - RHS COMPETENCES Planning (level 3) Able to plan own work and the work of others in the short and medium term. Plans may cover a number of different or related activities. Change (level 4) Leads change at departmental level. Identifies and removes barriers to change. Managing (level 4) Motivates the team by setting objectives and delegating responsibilities. Provides management and support to ensure targets are met and individual performance is developed. Decisions (level 4) Able to integrate a range of information & knowledge to assess the best course of action. Ensures decisions are supported by involving key individuals. Teamwork (level 4) Ensures own team have, and promote, good working relations with others. Identifies and targets problems to team working. Communication (level 3) Able to adapt own communication skills to varied situations. Communication involves a high degree of influence and motivations of others. (Our Ref: 1139) Page 3

4 Commitment (level 4) Generates commitment within the team to achieve departmental/divisional goals. Addresses problems across functions and works to solve them. Development (level 4) Ensures development plans contribute to departmental/divisional objectives. Creates situations where others can develop. Customer Care (level 4) Lead excellent service delivery within the department to support departmental/divisional objectives. Takes responsibility for improving quality of service in their area. Identifies and overcomes barriers to customer care within own team/department. Shaded areas indicate two/three RHS Competences that are particularly important for this role. They are addressed by the applicant, as part of the recruitment process. Numbers denote the level required on the RHS Competency Framework. 1=lower, 5=higher SKILLS - RHS MANAGEMENT COMPETENCES Leadership Measures an individual s ability to lead their team at the right level as defined in their job description. To engage and motivate their team, cascade the necessary messages and communications from the top, be approachable and listen, feedback the ideas and views of their team to their manager and take responsibility for the work of their team and encourage cross team working. Resources Measures an individual s ability to manage the resources within their control, again, at the right level as defined in their job description. To understand what resources they have, to plan the use of these to meet team needs and objectives, to use them effectively and efficiently, to cut down on wastage of time, effort, cost etc., to review working practices and ensure they are appropriate and effective, to manage these resources when things change and to practice budgetary control. SKILLS CURATORIAL COMPETENCIES Horticultural (Level 4) Develops planting schemes and production routines. Uses horticultural knowledge that covers a wide range of subjects, some of which are specialist. Sets levels of horticultural excellence. Ensures plant records information is used and kept current within section. Applies a broad range of technical horticultural skills and experience to complex activities. Technical (Level 4) Applies and uses technical knowledge to plan and implement projects, which are often complex. Select the best specialist equipment/practices to be used in department. Set the standards required for optimum usage of equipment/practices. (Our Ref: 1139) Page 4

5 IT (Level 3) Computer use includes Excel and PowerPoint for standard reports and presentations. Use of Word includes mail merge, envelopes and labels. Interrogates databases to retrieve customised plant record information and directly updates standard plant information. Health and Safety (Level 4) Carries out induction sessions into section Health and Safety issues. Responsible for ensuring all section staff work within Health and Safety legislation. Actively develops safety codes of practice and identifies training requirements of team. Resource Management (level 4) Plans and carries out services and repairs to specialist powered machinery or equipment. Ensures best value is obtained when ordering equipment or services. Manages/advises and plans section budgets accurately, some of which are significant or complex. Public Outreach (Level 4) Relays information on varied topics to audiences of both professionals and amateurs e.g. lectures. Plans and writes editorial for publication within own work area. Undertakes presentation on radio or television regarding departmental work. Technical Training (Level 4) Sets the overall departmental standards and oversees content for master classes. Evaluates training needs and identifies appropriate training requirements including the training of Trainees, Volunteers and Horticulturists. OTHER REQUIREMENTS Accommodation This is a key worker role and you will be required to occupy Society accommodation for the proper performance of your duties for which a deduction of 16.7% of salary will be made. Your occupation of such accommodation will be as a licensee and you will be provided with written information in relation to the terms of such licence. The main point is that ownership, management and control of the property remain with the Society who will have the right to enter the accommodation at any time. Updated: April 2015 HR Post Ref: 229 (Our Ref: 1139) Page 5