Landscape Maintenance Team Leader

Natural Habitats; Wellington; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Natural Habitats is seeking an experienced Team Leader / Senior Landscape Gardener to join our Wellington-area operations, based out of Otaki on the Kapiti Coast. This hands-on role requires guiding a small team while delivering high-quality landscape maintenance across commercial and residential sites.

You will lead by example on-site, coordinate daily activities, and ensure safety and presentation standards are consistently met.

Qualifications

• 3+ years landscape gardening or horticulture experience.
• Strong plant knowledge and maintenance skills.
• Experience guiding or supporting team members.
• Reliable, organised and proactive work approach.
• Strong communication skills and professional presentation.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on landscape maintenance with a two-person team.
• Maintain high presentation standards and plant health.
• Coordinate daily work for a small team.
• Carrying out mowing, pruning, hedging, planting and garden care.
• Monitor plant health, pests and diseases and respond as needed.
• Apply agrichemicals and weed control safely.
• Communicate professionally with clients and represent Natural Habitats on site.
• Identify maintenance improvements and report site requirements.
• Ensure safe work practices and proper equipment use.
• Operate and maintain professional horticultural equipment.

Skills

Team leadership

Landscape knowledge

Communication

Reliability

Driver's licence

Education

Amenity horticulture qualification (Level 3+)

Growsafe / spraying certification

Site Safe or First Aid

Tools

Irrigation knowledge

Job description

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Natural Habitats - Wellington Central, North Island

Natural Habitats is New Zealand’s most awarded landscaping provider, delivering premium landscape construction and maintenance services across commercial, education, and residential environments.

We are looking for an experienced Team Leader / Senior Landscape Gardener to join our team based out of Otaki on the Kapiti Coast. This is a practical, hands-on role for someone who enjoys working outdoors, takes pride in quality workmanship, and is confident guiding a small team while maintaining high standards on site.

You will typically work in a two-person team, maintaining multiple sites each day and ensuring our landscapes are presented to the highest standard.

The Role

This is a working team leader position where you’ll actively carry out landscape maintenance alongside your team while guiding daily activities, supporting quality outcomes, and interacting professionally with clients.
You’ll work across a mix of commercial and residential properties, delivering consistent, high-quality garden and landscape maintenance.
A typical day may include travelling between sites, coordinating work priorities, maintaining gardens and landscapes, communicating with clients, and ensuring safety and quality standards are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on landscape and garden maintenance
• Maintain high standards of site presentation and plant health
• Coordinate daily work for a small team (typically two-person team)
• Carry out mowing, pruning, hedging, planting, and garden care
• Monitor and treat plant health issues, pests, and diseases
• Apply agrichemicals and weed control treatments safely
• Communicate professionally with clients and represent Natural Habitats on site
• Identify maintenance improvements and report site requirements
• Ensure safe work practices and proper equipment use
• Operate and maintain professional horticultural equipment

What we are looking for

• 3+ years landscape gardening or horticulture experience
• Strong practical plant knowledge and maintenance skills
• Experience guiding or supporting team members
• Reliable, organised, and proactive work approach
• Strong communication skills and professional presentation
• Pride in quality workmanship and site standards
• Full driver’s licence

Highly Regarded

• Amenity horticulture qualification (Level 3 or higher)
• Growsafe / spraying certification
• Site Safe or First Aid
• Irrigation knowledge or experience
• Experience in commercial and high-quality residential maintenance
• Work for an industry leader with a strong reputation
• Stable full-time employment
• Supportive team environment
• Ongoing training and career development
• Work across diverse, high-quality landscapes
• Opportunity to grow your career in professional horticulture