Head Gardener, Scotland

Horticulture Jobs, brought to you by HortWeek; Glasgow; Remote; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Horatio’s Garden in Scotland is seeking a Head Gardener to oversee the hospital garden in Glasgow, lead a part-time Garden Coordinator and volunteers, and support patients with spinal injuries by creating a welcoming, therapeutic outdoor space.

You will work closely with NHS staff and Horatio’s Garden colleagues to deliver patient‑led activities, develop seasonal planting plans, manage maintenance and budgets, and run garden tours and fundraising events while maintaining high horticultural

Qualifications

• Practical experience as a gardener with garden management.
• Leadership of teams and volunteers, with stakeholder engagement.
• Experience delivering horticultural activities in a care setting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee hospital garden maintenance and seasonal planting plans.
• Lead a part-time Garden Coordinator and volunteers.
• Develop patient-focused garden activities and events.
• Collaborate with NHS staff and Horatio’s Garden team.
• Manage budget, reporting, health and safety, and DBS compliance.

Skills

Gardening

Leadership

Volunteer management

Horticulture knowledge

Budget management

MS Office 365

Education

RHS Level 3 or equivalent Diploma in Horticulture

Tools

MS Office 365

Job description

Head Gardener, Scotland

Employer: Horatios Garden

Location: Glasgow

Location: National Spinal Injuries Centre, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow

Salary: £38,470

Salary: £38,470

Hours: Full Time

Place Of Work: Office, Remote

Closing date: 19 November 2026

Closing Date: 8th November 2026 at midnight

Contract Type: Apprenticeship/ Internship

Contract: Permanent. Full time

Function: Garden and Landscape Design Jobs, Gardening Jobs, Horticulture

Sector: Garden Centres & Nurseries

Seniority: Specialist/ Consultant

Job Title: Head Gardener

Are you an enthusiastic, confident and experienced gardener? We are seeking a Head Gardener to join our team in Scotland, nurturing and developing one of the region’s most exciting hospital gardens.

Working alongside the Patient Experience Manager, you will oversee the care and development of the garden, support patients with spinal injuries, and help create a welcoming, thriving space for everyone who uses it.

You will lead a part-time Garden Coordinator and volunteer team, build relationships with NHS staff, supporters and partners, and work closely with colleagues across Horatio’s Garden. You will also play a key role in delivering patient-focused activities, improving access to the garden, and leading events including garden tours and fundraising open days.

Horticulture

• Maintain high horticultural standards at all times to keep the garden looking it’s best all year round
• Work to the garden maintenance plan, agreed with the designer, to develop and implement seasonal growing plans to ensure all year-round colour
• Be a driving force in eco-conscious gardening, water management, and biodiversity initiatives
• Run a varied programme of gardening sessions both individually and in groups for people with spinal injuries

People with spinal injuries

• Working closely with the Patient Experience Manager to develop relationships with patients and families to ensure the best experience for them in the garden at every stage of their stay
• Maintain a consistent garden activities programme appropriate for the current patient group, ensuring everything is patient led and an alternative to the hospital environment.
• Lead on developing a gardening role for patients who are on delayed discharge and interested in pursuing their interest/skills
• Work with the Impact Assistant and wider team to monitor the impact of the garden
• Lead on the garden doors project for patients to have easier access into the woodland garden

NHS staff

• Develop and maintain productive and collaborative relationships with NHS clinical teams, estates and voluntary services

Volunteers

• Recruitment and training of new volunteers to support with the gardening
• Manage the team of garden volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the garden and all processes are adhered to

Fundraising and Communications

• Work with Fundraising Managers and volunteers to develop opportunities to generate income in the garden through friends, corporate friends and third-party fundraising
• Support corporate sponsor events and fundraising opportunities and lead when it is gardening related
• Support with promotion on all local social media accounts and provide regular updates for content
• Represent the garden and charity at key events
• Lead all gardening related events
• Interviews with press/media as required

Administrative

• Ensure all administrative tasks associated with the role are monitored, completed and maintained, with assistance from the Garden Coordinator
• Assist with ensuring the garden rooms are kept clean and tidy at all times
• Manage the local garden budget
• Regular monthly reporting of gardening, maintenance and patient activities

Health & Safety

• Ensure the timely maintenance of all buildings, fixtures and fittings in the garden
• Organise and supervise any maintenance contractors
• Maintain all tools and equipment in safe working order
• Ensure all work in the garden is completed in a safe manner

Safeguarding

• Comply with all safeguarding policies and report any concerns to the Safeguarding Lead immediately
• This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check

It should be noted that the list above is intended to give an overall view of the position and should be taken as guidance only.

Person Specification

Knowledge And Skills

Essential

• Practical experience as a gardener, including experience of garden management
• RHS Level 3 or equivalent Diploma in Principles and Practices of Horticulture
• Experience of leading and managing teams
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Confident to work with and supervise contractors
• Stakeholder engagement and networking
• Good IT skills, specifically proficient with Microsoft Office 365: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Interest in the wellbeing benefits of gardens

Desirable

• Experience of delivering Social and Therapeutic Horticulture sessions
• Experience of volunteer recruitment and training
• Experience of building maintenance
• Experience of using SharePoint
• Budget management experience
• Knowledge of using social media to promote activities and events
• Experience of working with the NHS or in a health care setting
• Voluntary sector experienceDigital photography

Qualities

• Outstanding interpersonal skills, with the ability to successfully develop new working relationships
• Professional and confident
• Excellent communication skills
• Proactive, can-do attitude
• Empathetic and kind
• Calm under pressure
• Ability to prioritise and adapt to the changing needs of each working day
• Self-motivated and capable of working with the minimum of direction but understanding the limits of your knowledge and able to seek advice when required
• Able to meet the physical demands of the role

As a Charity we are committed to creating and promoting a culture that protects and preserves the welfare of the vulnerable people in our care. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining and evaluating information from and about candidates including criminal record checks, to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work for our Charity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all sectors of society.

NOTE: DBS, medical and reference checks will be conducted as part of the recruitment process.

Additional support document Head Gardener, Scotland

• Head-Gardener-role-Glasgow.pdf