Head Gardener

The Landscaper Magazine; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 19,200 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The London Cremation Company in Sittingbourne, Kent, is seeking a Head Gardener to oversee the grounds at the Garden of England Crematorium. You will lead a small gardening team, manage memorial gardens, and ensure lawns, borders, and memorial areas are kept to a high standard throughout the year.

The role requires strong horticultural knowledge, experience with roses and memorial planting, and competence with gardening machinery.

Qualifications

• Strong horticultural knowledge and plant care experience.
• Experience with roses and memorial planting.
• Experience supervising or leading a small team.
• Experience operating and maintaining gardening machinery.
• Knowledge of sustainable gardening practices.
• Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• PA1 spraying
• PA2 spraying
• PA6 spraying
• Experience using tractors, ride-on mowers, hedge trimmers, and similar equipment.
• Basic groundwork or fencing experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee horticultural maintenance, including planting, pruning, lawn care, and seasonal work.
• Supervise and support a small gardening team.
• Manage supplier relationships, ordering, and other administrative tasks.
• Develop and maintain planting schemes and memorial gardens.
• Ensure gardening equipment and machinery are maintained and used safely.
• Promote sustainable gardening practices and wildlife-friendly habitats.
• Maintain chapel flower courts and visitor areas to a consistently high standard.

Skills

Strong horticultural knowledge

Roses & memorial planting

Team leadership

Machinery operation

Sustainable gardening

IT basics (MS Office)

PA1 spraying

PA2 spraying

PA6 spraying

Tractor operation

Ride-on mower

Hedge trimmer

Groundwork / fencing

Tools

Tractor operation

Ride-on mower

Hedge trimmer

Job description

Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
Salary: Up to £32,000 per year + Benefits
Job Type: Full-time

The London Cremation Company is recruiting a Head Gardener to oversee the maintenance and development of the grounds at the Garden of England Crematorium in Sittingbourne, Kent.

The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining memorial gardens and landscaped areas, managing a small gardening team, and ensuring the grounds are presented to a high standard throughout the year.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of horticultural maintenance, including planting, pruning, lawn care, and seasonal work.
• Supervise and support a small gardening team.
• Manage supplier relationships, ordering, and other administrative tasks.
• Develop and maintain planting schemes and memorial gardens.
• Ensure gardening equipment and machinery are maintained and used safely.
• Promote sustainable gardening practices and care for wildlife-friendly habitats.
• Maintain chapel flower courts and visitor areas to a consistently high standard.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants should have:

• Strong horticultural knowledge.
• Experience with roses and memorial planting.
• Experience supervising or leading a small team.
• Experience operating and maintaining gardening machinery.
• Knowledge of sustainable gardening practices.
• Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• PA1, PA2 and PA6 spraying certificates.
• Experience using tractors, ride-on mowers, hedge trimmers, and similar equipment.
• Basic groundwork or fencing experience.

The successful applicant will also complete FBCA Cremator Technician training, which is fully funded by the employer. The role involves some manual handling and lifting.

Category

Details

Job Title Head Gardener

Job Type Full-time

Salary Up to £32,000 per year

Location Sittingbourne, Kent

Employer The London Cremation Company

Training FBCA Cremator Technician training provided