Estate Manager

JR United Kingdom; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious role for a Head Gardener / Estate Manager at a private residence in Chelmsford, Essex, focusing on the horticultural care and development of a classical 'Plantsman's Garden'. This full-time position includes leading a small team and ensuring the highest standards of garden maintenance year-round.

Benefits

Dog-friendly environment

Stable, full-time hours with seasonal adjustments

Support from gardening staff and contractors

Qualifications

• Extensive horticultural knowledge and hands-on gardening experience in a private estate or heritage garden.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills essential for supervising a gardening team.
• Familiarity with rare and exotic plant species required.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, maintenance, and development of the estate's garden.
• Supervise and mentor a small gardening team to ensure high horticultural standards.
• Implement pest and disease control measures while monitoring plant health.

Skills

Horticultural knowledge

Leadership

Organizational skills

Knowledge of rare plants

Education

RHS Levels 1 & 2 minimum

RHS Level 3

Full UK driving license

Tools

Garden machinery

Irrigation system

Job description

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Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm (4pm in winter)

We are seeking a highly skilled, passionate, and experienced Head Gardener / Estate Manager to lead the horticultural care and development of a stunning classical 'Plantsman's Garden' at a private residence near Chelmsford, Essex. This is a full-time, permanent role for someone who takes pride in their craft and is ready to take ownership of a prestigious garden.

• Dog-friendly environment
• Stable, full-time hours with seasonal adjustments
• Support from full and part-time gardening staff and external contractors.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, maintenance, and development of the garden, including exotic and rare plant collections and topiary.
• Supervise and mentor a small gardening team, ensuring high horticultural standards
• Operate and maintain a wide range of garden machinery and tools
• Programme and maintain multi zone Hunter irrigation system
• Liaise with the property owners to align garden design and planting schemes with their vision
• Monitor plant health and implement pest and disease control measures
• Maintain records of planting, treatments, and seasonal tasks
• Ensure and maintain botanical identification and labelling of specimens.
• Ensure the garden and grounds are presented to the highest standard year-round

Requirements:

• Extensive horticultural knowledge and hands-on gardening experience, ideally in a similar private estate or heritage garden
• RHS Levels 1 & 2 minimum and ideally Level 3
• Full UK driving licence
• Strong leadership and organisational skills
• Familiarity with a wide range of plants, including rare and exotic species
• PA1/PA6 pesticide certificates (or willingness to obtain)