Horticulture Technician (Cultivate)

ShaftesburyGroupUK; Guildford; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits a dedicated individual to join a unique educational setting as an Enterprise Technician. This role focuses on overseeing Conservation Horticulture activities, ensuring a safe and engaging learning environment for students with disabilities. The position involves hands-on work in beautiful outdoor settings, including nurseries and nature reserves, while supporting student learning and growth. If you are passionate about the outdoors and education, and enjoy working in a collaborative team, this role is perfect for you. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to bridging education and employment opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in Horticulture and Conservation is essential.
• Ability to maintain clean and safe learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Conservation Horticulture enterprise areas.
• Maintain health & safety records and inspect grounds regularly.
• Support ordering materials for Enterprise activities.

Skills

Horticulture

Conservation

Health and Safety Compliance

Communication

Multi-tasking

Education

Relevant vocational qualifications in Horticulture or Conservation

Tools

Gardening tools

Safety equipment

Job description

Description

An exciting opportunity has now arisen for an enthusiastic and experienced individual to join the Shaftesbury Millie College Enterprise team as an Enterprise Technician within the Cultivate team. This team focuses primarily on the outdoor Enterprises areas, including Horticulture and Conservation. The two areas work closely together, aligning curriculum areas with the natural environment.

Shaftesbury Millie College is a post 16-25 education setting helping young people with a range of learning and physical disabilities in Dorset and the local area, bridging the gap between education and employment. It is a one-of-a-kind work environment, set on a 350-acre countryside site near Poole. The college’s curriculum is directly aligned to its natural environment and the enterprise activities that operate there, including creative crafts, catering and retail, conservation, horticulture and animal care.

As Conservation Technician, part of the Enterprise Cultivate Team, you will be responsible for ensuring the smooth running of Conservation Horticulture Enterprise activities on site. You will work directly with the Horticulture Technicians and liaise with the education team, operating and maintaining clean, safe and accessible learning environments. These areas include our plant nursery, greenhouse, polytunnels, kitchen gardens, and food forest. The conservation areas cover habitats like woodlands, wetlands, and heathland on the 350-acre nature reserve, along with designated learning areas such as ponds, a forest school, bird hides, the cabin workshop, and an accessible conservation paddock.

The successful candidate will be a dedicated, enthusiastic, self-motivated person with a passion for the outdoors and supporting student learning in this unique environment. Confidence in Horticulture and Conservation Enterprise areas and the ability to identify learning and growth opportunities within your role are essential.

This role requires a calm working approach, multi-tasking abilities, responsiveness to change, flexibility, and commitment, as weekend work will be required on a rota basis. Part-time working patterns are available and can be discussed with potential candidates.

Main Duties

1. Oversee the Conservation Horticulture enterprise areas across Shaftesbury Millie College.
2. Maintain records for health & safety and compliance.
3. Inspect grounds and structures regularly for health and safety concerns, ensuring high standards of maintenance.
4. Communicate effectively with Enterprise managers to ensure successful enterprise delivery.
5. Identify repairs or replacements needed for equipment and fencing, and ensure routine checks are performed.
6. Alert the Maintenance Team about site or building damages and coordinate repairs or removals by contractors.
7. Support in ordering materials and equipment for the Enterprise activities.
8. Undertake any other duties as required.
9. Follow all relevant Health and Safety procedures.
10. Be prepared to work out of hours and on weekends as directed.
11. Work at other local sites if needed.
12. Adhere to all existing and future Shaftesbury / School policies.
13. Support the Christian aims of Shaftesbury.
14. Assist with College events and Open Days.
15. Help capture information, progress, and good news stories for newsletters and social media.