Lead Gardener

Coast and Vale Learning Trust; Felsted; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Healthcare options

Free lunch on full days worked

Gym and pool access

On-site parking

Staff discounts

Job summary

Felsted School is seeking a Lead Gardener to join our Grounds and Gardens Department. The role is permanent, full-time, all-year round, with specific hours and occasional weekend support for events. The position requires horticultural experience and a driving licence, with NVQ L2 in Horticulture preferred.

Starting salary is £28,392 per annum. Benefits include generous leave, pension, healthcare options, staff lunch, and gym access. The school sits on a 90-acre campus in rural North Essex.

Qualifications

• Experience in horticulture in a school or similar environment.
• NVQ L2 in Horticulture or equivalent preferred.
• Full UK manual driving licence essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead role in Gardens Department maintaining school gardens and other open spaces.
• Oversee landscaped areas and ensure high standards of presentation.

Skills

Horticulture

Driving licence

Education

NVQ L2 in Horticulture

Job description

Starting Salary £28,392 per annum

Permanent | Full-time | All-year Round (52 weeks per year)

Felsted School, a leading Independent Day and Boarding School, is seeking an enthusiastic, experienced, and passionate Lead Gardener to work within our Grounds and Gardens Department. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in maintaining and developing our beautiful 90-acre campus in rural North Essex, ensuring that our gardens are always presented and maintained to the highest standards.

The main responsibilities of this role is to take a lead role within the Gardens Department responsible for the maintenance of the school gardens, landscaped areas and other open spaces.

Our ideal candidate will have previous experience of horticulture, working in a similar environment and preferably hold a NVQ L2 in Horticulture or equivalent. It is also essential that all candidates hold a full UK manual driving licence.

This role is a permanent position working full-time, all-year round. The hours of work are Monday to Thursday from 8:00am to 4:30pm and Fridays from 8:00am to 3:30pm, with a thirty-minute unpaid lunch break each day. Weekend working may be required to support school open days and sports fixtures.

Felsted is a leading day and boarding independent school based in a stunning village campus in North Essex. Founded in 1564 by Richard Lord Riche, who had been a Lord Chancellor under King Edward VI, Felsted today provides an exceptional holistic education to approximately 1000 boys and girls aged three to eighteen. We celebrated our 450th anniversary in 2014, one of only a handful of Schools in the country that have claimed this historic milestone. We employ more than 500 staff in a community orientated environment, ensuring our pupils receive the very best in learning and co-curricular activities.

Benefits

• 20 days annual leave each year (plus public holidays)
• free life assurance, uniform and parking
• contributory pension scheme (matched at 4%)
• membership availability to the School's healthcare scheme (via BUPA)
• free lunch on full days worked
• annual salary reviews
• free use of the Felsted Gym and pool facilities
• subsidised on-site Coffee Shop
• membership to Felsted Connect
• an online multi-platform engagement tool where employees have access to hundreds of exclusive discounts and offers from online and high-street retailers

More information on our rewards package can be found on our website felsted.org/employment-opps/rewards.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday 02 September 2026 at 9.00am Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a high number of applicants. Interviews will be held shortly after the closing date.