Horticultural and Gardening Administrator

Sunnyside Rural Trust; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunnyside Rural Trust is seeking a dedicated Horticultural and Gardening Administrator to coordinate administrative functions across four rural sites and support off-site contracts. The role emphasizes accuracy, confidentiality and strong customer service while working with adults with learning disabilities.

You will manage enquiries, records, scheduling, quotes, invoices, and EPOS/stock tasks, reporting to the Head of Horticulture and Offsite Contracts.

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent.
• Good IT skills and confidence using Microsoft Office.
• Good understanding of administrative processes and record keeping.
• Strong understanding of the importance of accuracy and confidentiality.
• Good organisational and time management skills.
• An interest in horticulture, gardening or rural environment.

Responsibilities

• Off Site Gardening Contracts: manage enquiries and contracts across four sites.
• EPOS, Stock and Plant Administration: oversee stock takes and plant deliveries.
• Administration Across Four Rural Sites: coordinate admin across sites.
• Staff Training and Compliance Administration: support training records and compliance.
• Recruitment Administration: assist with recruitment records and onboarding.
• Senior Leadership Support: provide admin support to Head of Horticulture and Offsite Contracts.
• Communication and Customer Service: interact with customers and external contacts.
• Working with Adults with Learning Disabilities: uphold inclusive practices.

Skills

General IT skills

Microsoft Office

Record keeping

Communication

Time management

Education

GCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent

Tools

EPOS systems

BrightHR

Job description

Our organisation operates across four rural sites and provides horticultural, gardening, training, and social enterprise opportunities. We also support adults with learning disabilities and other vulnerable needs through meaningful work, training, and community activities.

The Horticultural and Gardening Administrator will provide a central administrative and coordination function across the four rural sites, ensuring that horticultural and off-site gardening activities are well organised, accurately recorded and effectively communicated.

A key responsibility of the role will be the administration and coordination of our off-site gardening contracts. This will include managing enquiries, maintaining customer and job records, supporting quotes, scheduling gardening work, maintaining job schedules, recording completed work, and supporting the administration of invoices.

The role will also oversee relevant EPOS and stock administration, including stock takes, plant deliveries and transfers between sites. In addition, the post holder will coordinate key organisation wide administration relating to staff training and recruitment and provide administrative support to the Head of Horticulture and Offsite Contracts.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, methodical, and confident communicating with customers, colleagues, and external contacts. They will be able to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records and develop effective administrative systems across a busy organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Off Site Gardening Contracts
• EPOS, Stock and Plant Administration
• Administration Across Four Rural Sites
• Staff Training and Compliance Administration
• Recruitment Administration
• Senior Leadership Support
• Communication and Customer Service
• Working with Adults with Learning Disabilities
• Collaborating across all four sites

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The post holder will promote a respectful, inclusive, and culturally sensitive approach in all aspects of work, in line with the organisation’s values and policies

General: This job description outlines the main responsibilities of the role and is not exhaustive. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties consistent with the nature of the position.

Personal Specification

Essential Qualifications and Knowledge:

• GCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent.
• Good general IT skills and confidence using Microsoft Office.
• Good understanding of administrative processes and record keeping.
• Strong understanding of the importance of accuracy and confidentiality.
• Good organisational and time management skills.
• An interest in horticulture, gardening or working within a rural environment.

Essential Experience:

• Experience working in an administrative or coordination role.
• Experience maintaining accurate records, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Experience coordinating administrative processes involving multiple staff, deadlines and confidential records.
• Experience maintaining compliance, training, HR or recruitment records would be advantageous.
• Experience coordinating schedules, appointments, or work programmes.
• Experience responding to enquiries by telephone and email.
• Experience dealing professionally with customers, clients, or members of the public.
• Experience managing competing priorities within a busy working environment.
• Experience working independently and using initiative.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience working within horticulture, gardening, plant retail or a rural environment.
• Experience administering off-site contracts or service-based work.
• Experience scheduling gardening, maintenance, or other mobile services.
• Experience maintaining records of quotes, invoices and completed jobs.
• Experience using EPOS systems.
• Experience undertaking stock takes or stock control.
• Experience preparing meeting agendas and taking minutes.
• Experience providing administrative support to Senior Managers or a Senior Leadership Team.
• Experience working across multiple sites.
• Experience working with or supporting adults with learning disabilities or other vulnerable people.
• Experience within a charity, social enterprise, care, or community organisation.
• Experience coordinating staff training, maintaining training records or monitoring compliance.
• Experience providing recruitment administration, including interview coordination and new starter documentation.
• Experience using HR systems such as BrightHR or similar platforms.

Personal Qualities:

• Highly organised and methodical.
• Reliable and conscientious.
• Accurate and detail focused.
• Proactive and able to use initiative.
• Positive and solution focused.
• Approachable and professional.
• Confident and friendly when dealing with customers and colleagues.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Comfortable managing changing priorities.
• Collaborative and supportive.
• Committed to equality, inclusion and providing meaningful opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and other vulnerable needs.