Softscape and Horticulture Manager

Takaynar; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Takaynar in Melbourne's north is seeking a Softscape & Horticulture Manager to own the living side of our projects. You'll lead softscape works across construction projects and run our maintenance program, with hands-on involvement and real ownership over horticulture.

You will plan, schedule and supervise labour, materials and plant orders while maintaining high planting quality and garden presentation across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Diverse hands-on horticultural experience and plant knowledge.
• Experience coordinating and delivering softscape installations.
• Strong organisation, scheduling and time management.
• Confident managing labour, materials and budgets.
• Knowledge of soil preparation, planting technique and plant establishment.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and a real eye for detail.
• Current driver's licence.

Responsibilities

• Own softscape works across our landscape projects, from soil prep to the final mulch.
• Coordinate soil preparation, planting, mulching and garden establishment.
• Plan labour, materials, plant orders and installation schedules.
• Lead horticulture crew to ensure work is done well, on time and on budget.
• Hold a high bar for planting quality and garden presentation.
• Work closely with construction team for seamless handover from hardscape to planting.
• Run and deliver the garden maintenance program across clients' gardens.
• Diagnose and resolve plant health, soil, irrigation and establishment issues.
• Schedule horticultural staff across multiple sites.

Skills

Horticultural experience

Plant knowledge

Leadership

Budget management

Scheduling

Education

Certificate III in Horticulture

ChemCert (AQF3)

Job description

Takaynar is an ecological landscape design, construction and maintenance studio based in Melbourne's north. We design, build and care for native, edible and habitat-rich gardens for homeowners across suburbs like Coburg, Brunswick, Camberwell and Balwyn. Everything is done in-house – no subcontractors and no handoffs – so the people who plant a garden are the same people who help it thrive for years afterwards.

We're a proud member of Landscaping Victoria.

About the role

We're looking for a Softscape & Horticulture Manager to take ownership of the living side of everything we do. You'll lead the softscape works on our landscape construction projects and run our ongoing garden maintenance program, making sure every garden we create establishes beautifully and keeps getting better. It's a hands‑on role – you'll be on the tools as much as you're planning the week – and you'll have real ownership over how horticulture runs at Takaynar.

What you'll be doing

Owning softscape works across our landscape projects, from soil prep to the final layer of mulch

Coordinating and undertaking soil preparation, planting, mulching, jute matting and garden establishment

Planning labour, materials, plant orders and installation schedules

Leading and developing our horticulture crew so work is done well, on time and on budget

Holding a high bar for planting quality, plant health and garden presentation

Working closely with our construction team so the move from hardscape to planting is seamless

Running and delivering our garden maintenance program across our clients' gardens

Diagnosing and resolving plant health, soil, irrigation and establishment issues

Scheduling horticultural staff across multiple sites

What you'll bring

Diverse, hands‑on horticultural experience and excellent plant knowledge

Proven experience coordinating and delivering softscape installations

Strong organisation, scheduling and time management

Confidence managing labour, materials and budgets

Strong knowledge of soil preparation, planting technique, plant establishment and ongoing garden care

A proactive, hands‑on approach and a real eye for detail

A current driver's licence

Highly regarded

Certificate III or higher in Horticulture

ChemCert (AQF3)

Experience with Australian native and indigenous plants, naturalistic planting and sustainable horticulture

Why you'll love working with us

Gardens you'll be proud of – plant‑led, ecological design, not mow‑and‑blow

Real ownership of horticulture in a growing business, with room to grow alongside us

You get to see your plantings mature – we stay with our gardens long after the build

A team that cares about doing things properly