Estate Garden Steward — Luxury Grounds & Orchards

Inn at Little Washington; Virginia; On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision and dental insurance

Paid time off

401(k) retirement plan with match

On-the-job training

Employee education allowance

Advancement potential

Flexible schedules

Employee appreciation events

Complimentary uniforms

Free meal daily prepared by the chefs

Referral bonuses

Competitive pay

Job summary

The Inn at Little Washington seeks an experienced estate gardener to maintain formal gardens and landscape spaces to Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star standards. You will collaborate with culinary and floral teams, manage garden health, and contribute to a pristine guest environment on a historic Virginia estate.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years in high-end garden management, strong horticultural knowledge, and a hospitality mindset. Weekend work and occasional crew supervision may be required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of full-time estate garden management or luxury resort maintenance.
• Polite, professional, discreet hospitality demeanor.
• Knowledge of Forbes Travel Guide standards valued.
• Strong horticulture and pruning techniques; safe operation of premium landscaping equipment.
• Valid driver’s license with light truck experience; trailer experience desirable.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2–3 years plant knowledge and fertilization experience; pruning and deadheading.

Responsibilities

• Plant, cultivate, weed, mulch, prune, and care for formal landscapes across multiple garden areas.
• Maintain Estate Presentation: precise lawn mowing, trimming, leaf cleanup, sweeping, and edging for pathways and suites.
• Support orchard and pastoral areas connected to the estate.
• Collaborate with florists and culinary team to ensure fresh blooms and herbs.
• Handle setup and breakdown of outdoor guest spaces and seasonal displays.
• Serve as Five-Star ambassador, greeting guests and sharing design inspirations.
• Learn to operate small engine equipment as needed and maintain it.
• Maintain equipment care and storage after use, ensure quality and safety.
• Perform duties promptly with attention to detail and quality.
• Work weekends/holidays as needed and potentially supervise a crew.
• Take responsibility for projects including crew management, safety, and inventory.
• Diagnose plant health and provide treatments as required.

Skills

Estate garden management

Hospitality mindset

Forbes Travel Guide knowledge

Fine horticulture

Driver's license / light truck

Plant knowledge & pruning

Garden design VA/Europe

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Premium landscaping equipment operation

Job description

The Inn at Little Washington seeks an experienced estate gardener to maintain formal gardens and landscape spaces to Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star standards. You will collaborate with culinary and floral teams, manage garden health, and contribute to a pristine guest environment on a historic Virginia estate.

Ideal candidates have 3+ years in high-end garden management, strong horticultural knowledge, and a hospitality mindset. Weekend work and occasional crew supervision may be required.