Head Grower (Market Garden)

Knepp Swallows Ltd; Baildon; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An organic market garden in England is seeking an experienced grower to lead site operations and manage diverse crops. The candidate should have commercial horticulture experience, strong team management skills, and proficiency in IT tools. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to innovative practices in a rewilding environment, with benefits including paid holiday and staff wellness activities.

Benefits

28 days paid holiday

Pension

Staff yoga and Pilates

Discounts in restaurant and shop

Free hot drinks

Qualifications

• Experience with propagation and managing diverse crops from growth to harvest.
• Understanding of commercial cropping values.
• Experience managing a small team and basic HR practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of site operations.
• Manage a small team of growers.
• Collaborate with chefs and market routes for produce.

Skills

Commercial horticulture experience

Team management

IT proficiency

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Tools

Tractor operation

Small-scale machinery

Job description

Job Overview

We're looking for an experienced grower to help lead on all aspects of the site operations. Our site is on heavy clay soil, which brings its own set of challenges, so familiarity with this soil type and a progressive approach to soil management is highly desirable. The site has enjoyed a record year in 2025 with fantastic cropping, quality and profitability. Following this, planning work is under way for 2026 for 40 different crops but the successful individual will have the opportunity to present any significant changes for 2027 onwards if desired. The growing team is four people strong and you will work alongside three existing team members. There is the potential for a co‑head grower if skills dovetail with existing team members and this is desired by the applicant.

• Essential: experience of commercial horticulture with practical experience of propagation and managing a diverse range of crops through all stages of growth to harvest.
• Essential: an understanding of cropping for value and what it takes to make a commercial operation work.
• Essential: experience of managing a small team and an understanding of basic HR practices. Support available.
• Essential: comfortable with IT. We use Xero for invoicing; Workforce for logging hours and social media platforms for marketing. Training available.
• Desirable: experience with a tractor and a range of small‑scale machinery.
• Desirable: experience collaborating with chefs and other routes to market.
• Desirable: experience managing SA organic certification.
• Desirable: experience growing and harvesting cut flowers.
• Desirable: experience working with volunteers and speaking to the public about growing practices, open‑minded with a positive attitude towards working outdoors in all seasons.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work in a small team.
• Good observation, attention‑to‑detail, precision, and speed.
• Strong organisational skills, ability to self‑manage and plan ahead.

About Knepp Market Garden

Knepp Market Garden is a 3‑acre, organic, commercial vegetable production growing for the on‑site restaurant, shop, and a local wholesaler. The market garden is surrounded by the renowned 3,500 acre rewilding project that has been running for over 20 years. We reflect the principles of the rewilding project with regenerative growing practices, including use of cover cropping, living mulches and promoting biodiversity wherever we can.

Benefits

• 28 days paid holiday
• Pension
• Statutory sick pay
• Staff yoga, Pilates, free vegetables for personal consumption
• Free hot drinks
• Discounts in restaurant and shop