Part-Time Gardener (maternity cover)

Manpower UK; Oxford; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 17,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading college in Oxford is seeking a part-time Gardener for maternity cover. The role involves supporting garden maintenance and enhancement, ensuring the gardens remain an attractive asset. Contract is for one year at 22 hours per week, offering flexibility with workdays and times.

Benefits

Pro-rata of 38 days holiday per annum

Pension scheme membership

Free lunches provided when kitchens are open

Use of college sports facilities

Eligibility for Oxford Colleges Healthcare Scheme

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively with college members.
• Positive and helpful attitude towards work.
• Experience in gardening or horticulture.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head Gardener with maintenance tasks.
• Care for the College gardens and enhance their beauty.
• Perform seasonal gardening tasks, including planting and pruning.

Skills

Communication

Self-motivation

Physical fitness

Education

Horticultural qualifications or equivalent experience

Job description

Manpower Recruitment have teamed up with an established college on the edge of Oxford City Centre who are looking for a Part-Time Gardener (maternity cover) on a 1 yr. FTC.

The pay will be £16242-£16,779 p.a. for 22 hours per week, in which you can be flexible with days and times spread over three days during the week.

*** Interviews will take place on Monday, 30th June 2025, and will be in person.

Main purpose of job:

To support the Head Gardener in the care, maintenance, and ongoing enhancement of the College gardens, ensuring they remain an attractive and valued asset to the College community.

Key responsibilities

Maintenance and Upkeep

• Maintenance of Lawns - mowing, irrigation, feeding, edging, scarification, top dressing, spiking, rolling, turf lifting/laying, grass seeding and leaf sweeping.
• Maintenance of Borders - including planting, pruning and general care of all plants.
• Learning the identity and characteristics of annual, herbaceous and shrubby plants and trees.
• Working with the Head Gardener on seasonal tasks that will involve the use of hand tools.
• Planters & troughs - Seasonal planting for attractive displays
• Greenhouse - caring for greenhouse plants, propagation, watering, feeding
• Composting & recycling - where possible recycle green waste, including mowings and leaves on site, otherwise bag up shrubby material for removal from site or create wood piles for biodiversity.
• Weed Control - on hard surfaces, hedge lines, beds and borders by mechanical means. Chemicals to be applied on paths only following appropriate training.
• Principal's garden - general gardening, grass cutting, keeping neat and tidy with attention to patio planters.
• Leaf control - Clearing of all leaf litter in garden areas (not normally bicycle sheds).
• Litter Control - Attention to litter on external hard and soft surfaces.
• Machinery and tools - Operate college machinery as directed by line manager with appropriate instruction and training, and in accordance with the appropriate risk assessments.
• Ensure all machinery and tools are adequately cleaned at the end of each day.
• Tennis Courts - Keep clear of leaves and garden debris, cut overhanging branches and trim hedges as necessary
• Be mindful of subsidiary objective of biodiversity and sustainability, working with natural resources rather than against them.
• Encouraging beneficial wildlife, including birds and bats.
• Occasional working on outside properties as required
• Other related tasks as appropriate

Health & Safety

• Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act and other relevant legislation. Follow safe working practices at all times.
• Risk and COSHH Assessments - maintain Risk and COSHH assessments for all work tasks and chemicals used within the gardens.
• Liaise closely with your line manager and Peninsula regarding all Health and Safety issues.
• Snow and Ice - clear snow and ice as required to help keep main routes safe during inclement weather. Special attention to be given to external steps and ramps.

Training

• Training will be provided in specific areas such as manual handling, use of ladders, safety at height to ensure work is carried out in a safe and healthy way.
• The option to train for PA1 and PA6, the Theory and Practice of knapsack spraying for the use of chemicals, will be made available.
• Other training as required for personal and career development.

Sustainability & Biodiversity

• Work in harmony with natural processes, supporting sustainable gardening practices.
• Encourage and protect beneficial wildlife, including birds, bats, and insects.

Person Specification

Essential

• Some horticultural qualifications necessary or equivalent experience
• An ability to communicate effectively with college members at all levels
• A positive and helpful attitude towards work and colleagues
• Self-motivation and the ability to work unsupervised as well as in a team
• The applicant must be physically fit

Desirable

• A good sense of aesthetics is held desirable

Hours

22 hours per week

Holiday

Pro-rata of 38 days per annum (including Bank Holidays and college closure days).

Pension

The post is pensionable and the post holder eligible for membership of the Universities' OSPS contributory pension scheme.

Duration of contract:

This post is required to cover maternity leave which is expected to be for one year.

Other benefits

• Eligibility for Oxford Colleges Healthcare Scheme (paid by employee through salary deduction)
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Sick pay, related to length of service, rising to six months full pay and six months half pay after five years
• Interest-free travel to work loan
• Parking is currently available on a first-come first-served basis (this is not a contractual right for staff, and it may be removed at any time)
• Free lunches are provided when the kitchens are open
• Use of college sports facilities including tennis, squash, punt and gym
• University Card giving free access to the Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, libraries and other college gardens (by appointment)

If interested, please get in contact with a Manpower representative.