Head Gardener, St Michael’s MountRecruitment PackMay 2019

St Aubyn Estates has been part of the West Cornwall landscape for more than 600 years. Lord and Lady St Levan and their senior team are at the helm of this family owned enterprise spanning 5,000 acres with a diverse portfolio of businesses which include land and property management, tourism and hospitality, building and farming. Lord and Lady St Levan live on St Michael’s Mount, which they run in partnership with the National Trust.

www.staubynestates.com

About the Company

One of the most instantly recognisable landmarks in the UK, St Michael’s Mount is a family home, island community, National Trust (NT) property and entrancing visitor destination all in one.

Underpinning the Mount is the partnership between the St Aubyn Family and the National Trust. This is reflected in the garden where the family own the formal garden and the NT own the wider landscape, but both work together successfully for the good of the whole island.

Both are committed to the vision of the garden continuing to become known for its life-affirming beauty and their compelling interest of design and horticulture.

The garden evokes astonishment and awe amongst our visitors due to its location and unusual plant collection with many different, more tender, species taking advantage of the mild climate.

With the energy and skill that has gone into the garden, it is now a draw for visitors in their own right as well as a delight to the many castle visitors who look down on the plantings from the battlements above.

As with many historic properties, there is a real debate about how best to balance visitor numbers and enjoyment of the garden (over 70,000 in 2018) with the conservation of this unique environment.

www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk

About the St Michael’s Mount Garden

The community on St Michael’s Mount is 30+ strong and defined by a real passion and commitment to the island and its way of life and the 350,000 visitors who make their way to visit us here from all over the world.

Life here follows a cyclical pattern with the main visitor months being April through to the end of October when the island community is joined each day by at least 90+ seasonal staff who help look after our visitors and create a magical day out.

The village has a restaurant, café and two gift shops as well as a picturesque harbour. The ferry boats and the tidal causeway link us to the mainland. Twelve families live on the island and all have a vital role to play in its upkeep such as running the boats, tending the gardens, the conservation of the castle and keeping the island in working order. On a summer’s evening, when all is quiet, there is a chance to enjoy a swim in the harbour or take out a kayak round the island.

During the winter, the amphibious vehicle provides a lifeline to Marazion and the community has time to draw closer together. As you can imagine, there are many occasions when islanders need to help one another out and to pull together for the good of the island and castle. A cheerful disposition and positive attitude are essential attributes for any islander.

Island Life

Our Vision is:

To be a force for growth

• to ensure the prosperity of the Estates for future generations

• to help maintain the unique character of St Michael’s Mount

• to benefit the wider community in West Cornwall

Our Values are:

We each should be

• honest

• considerate

• energetic

• responsible

• resourceful

Applications

To apply, please submit your CV along with a covering letter detailing your suitability for the role to enquiries@staubynestates.com

Closing date for applications: Friday 7th June at 5pm

Telephone interviews will be held on: 13th and 14th June

Interviews will be held on: 27th June – all day

Our Vision and Values

Role profile for Head Gardener

Principal Purpose of Role

You will be responsible for the management and development of all areas of the garden and wider landscape, as well as the village borders and containers, ensuring the highest standards of horticulture, conservation and visitor experience.

Core areas of work

• To work closely with Lord and Lady St Levan, garden designer Michael Harveyand the NT Gardens Advisor to ensure the Masterplan for the garden evolvesand is adhered to.

• To be an ambassador for SMM and build strong links with other significantgardens both locally and nationally, participating actively in NT and other HGforums.

• To lead, manage and develop the gardening team of three and a handpicked,small group of volunteers.

• To understand and nurture the unusual plant collection.

• To manage financial performance through a thorough understanding of theresources needed and a good control of the budget.

• To continue to enhance the visitor experience of this stunningly beautifulgarden in ways which are in tune with the garden’s spirit.

• Manage and ensure the commercial success of the plant sales area, whichreflects the plant palette in the garden.

• Oversee the development of the NT Plant Database for the Mount.

• To be a constructive member of the Mount’s Management Team to helpin the operational running of the island in its many facets.

Health and Safety:

You will identify and manage risks to the business and specific risks to the garden (e.g. plant diseases) and take responsibility for ensuring that the actions of you and your team are safe, secure and compliant with all relevant legislation and SAE and NT procedures.

Scale and Scope of the Role:

Job Title: Head Gardener

Reports to: Island Manager

Line Managements: Direct Reports – Assistant Head Gardener, two gardeners, volunteers

Operational day: 60% practical horticultural work

Pay and benefits: Up to £28,500, plus auto-enrolment pension, plus 25 days holiday and 8 Bank Holidays.

This is a live-in role, and a house is provided in the harbourside village on St Michael’s Mount. The house is a modernised, 2 or 3 bedroom Victorian terraced house with wonderful views from the south side up to the castle.

Role profile for Head Gardener

Knowledge, skill and experience needed:• Significant practical experience within a garden of horticultural merit,

supported by appropriate qualifications to at least RHS Level 3(or equivalent level of vocational experience).

• Excellent level of plantmanship.

• Knowledge of a wide range of horticultural techniques covering arange of plant types.

• A strong visual eye.

• Knowledge and understanding of conservation of historic landscapes.

• Leadership skills including coaching, team development, motivationand communication.

• Good people skills enabling strong relationships to be built andmaintained externally and internally.

• Proven track record of managing budgets, finances and small projects.

• Experience in managing contracts.

• Significant experience in managing operational risk, including how to manage risk effectively.

• Knowledge of all H&S and Compliance requirements relevant to horticulture.

• Good written and verbal communications skills including public presentation, influencing and negotiating.

• Due to the nature of the garden, you will need a high level of physical fitness.