Assistant Team Manager - Gardens

Chester Zoo; Chester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

An award-winning visitor attraction is seeking an Assistant Team Manager to join their Gardens team. This role focuses on managing and developing horticultural features while supporting conservation efforts. The ideal candidate will have a Level 3 horticulture qualification, supervisory experience, and knowledge of plant management. This position offers a salary of £30,000-£31,929, 33 days of annual leave, and various employee benefits.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Staff pass for zoo visits

Cycle to work scheme

Healthcare plan

Discounted gym membership

Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 9%

Qualifications

• Proven professional experience in a horticultural position, preferably within a garden open to the public.
• Experience managing horticultural work programmes.
• PA1 & PA6 pesticide application certificates.
• Full driving licence valid in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the management and development of plantings and garden features.
• Maintain high horticultural standards for plant collections.
• Support the Gardens Team Manager in staff management.

Skills

Knowledge of plant conservation activities

Team supervision

Horticultural machinery operation

Knowledge of garden plants and cultivation

Education

NVQ Level 3 qualification in Horticulture or equivalent experience

Job description

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

We are Chester Zoo

We're not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that's home to 30,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We're not just the UK's most popular zoo. We're a major wildlife charity that's committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we're making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it's needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

We currently have an exciting vacancy for an Assistant Team Manager to join our Gardens team within the wider Plants department, which manages all the zoo's horticultural features. With Chester Zoo recently gaining accreditation as a 'Botanic Garden - Conservation Practitioner', this position will play a key role in creating the greatest possible conservation impact for plants as well as animals.

The Role
As an Assistant Team Manager in the Gardens team, you will:

• Contribute to the management and development of the ornamental and naturalistic plantings, garden features and tropical houses on our 128 acre site.
• Use the highest horticultural standards for the care and cultivation of our extensive plant collections.
• Use your plant knowledge in the landscaping and planting of new development projects.
• You will support the Gardens Team Manager in staff and facility management and in maintaining a safe working environment, deputising for the TM as required.
• Have experience and knowledge of plant conservation activities.

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes...

We're a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK's biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there's always lots going on here. We're an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

The Package

• Full time, permanent contract working 40 hours per week
• Working 10 days in 14, including weekends and bank holidays as rostered. Summer operations are normally from 7.00am - 4.00pm, and winter operations are normally from 8.00am - 4.00 but this may be subject to change.
• Salary range £30,000- £31,929 per annum depending on experience.
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus multiple complimentary tickets for your family and friends
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions of up to 9%

The successful candidate will have:

• A NVQ Level 3 qualification in Horticulture or equivalent experience.
• Proven professional experience in a horticultural position, preferably within a garden open to the public.
• Experience supervising a team and managing horticultural work programmes.
• A good working knowledge of garden plants and their cultivation.
• Experience of using horticultural machinery and monitoring Health and Safety compliance.
• PA1 & PA6 pesticide application certificates.
• A full driving licence valid in the UK.

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Experience with plant record databases.
• Experience and knowledge of plant conservation activities.

Please be aware we reserve the right to close our vacancies earlier than the listed date if we have received a high level of applications. We would recommend that if you do wish to be considered that you complete the application as promptly as possible as shortlisting and interviews may be taking place whilst the advert is live.