Gardener

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

Since 1978 The Inn at Little Washington, located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, has been one of the most decorated restaurants and hotels in the world. There is no better time to join in out growing team of exceptional people. On-the-job training, advancement potential, flexible schedules, amazing benefits, and competitive pay. Your next career awaits.

Some of our awards include Michelin 3 Stars, Forbes 5 Stars, AAA 5 Diamonds, and Wine Spectator Grand Award. Member of Relais & Chateaux.

Why join our team:

We offer:

• Health, vision and dental insurance (full time employees)
• Paid time off (Full time employees)
• 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

www.theinnatlittlewashington.com

SUMMARY

Maintain the living artistry, historical charm, and pristine aesthetic of the estate’s formal gardens, walking trails, and cultivation spaces to Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star standards Maintain responsibility for all aspects of proper horticultural care and maintenance of plant material and gardens throughout the property. Maintain 5-star standards of excellence through all phases of the workday.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Plant, cultivate, weed, mulch, prune, and care for formal landscapes, including the Low Garden, the Garden of Scents herb garden, and the walking paths surrounding Swan Lake.
• Estate Presentation: Execute precise lawn mowing, string trimming, leaf clean-up, sweeping, and edge maintenance to keep public pathways and private garden suites looking flawless.
• Farm & Orchard Support: Assist with the upkeep of the Montmorency cherry orchard and pastoral areas connected to the property's mini-farm and culinary harvesting zones.
• Cross Departmental Collaboration: Work directly with the estate's full-time florists and culinary team to ensure an abundant supply of fresh, seasonal blooms and herbs.
• Special Events & Features: Handle the physical setup and breakdown of outdoor guest spaces, seasonal displays, and evening features like the property fire-pits.
• Five-Star Ambassadorship: Act as an extension of the hospitality team. Warmly greet guests strolling the grounds, answer their gardening questions with poise, and share the property's design inspiration.
• Ability and willingness to learn the use of small engine equipment as deemed necessary by Management.
• Proper care and maintenance of all small engine equipment before and after use, and equipment cleanup and storage once finished.
• Proficient and professional execution of all assigned duties, tasks and responsibilities in a timely manner while maintaining quality control and safe practices.
• Attention to detail and following instructions. Maintain flexibility, a to do attitude to get the job done at any given time.
• Strong ethics and willingness to deliver quality workmanship. Reliability and accountability are always expected.
• Flexibility to work beyond scheduled time occasionally as required is essential. Able to work on weekends and holidays
• Employees may be required to manage labor within a crew setting and be responsible for the performance of crew members while under his/her supervision.
• Attain responsibility for the success of specific projects and/or responsibilities which include crew management and development, safety, quality, and inventory control, and ensuring project completion to a 5-star level in all ways.
• Plant health diagnosis and treatment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

1. Minimum of 3 years of full-time experience in estate/fine garden management, high-end residential design/build, or luxury resort maintenance.
2. Hospitality Mindset: A polite, professional, and discreet demeanor.
3. Prior knowledge of Forbes Travel Guide standards is highly valued.
4. Comprehensive understanding of fine horticulture, pristine trimming techniques, and safe operation of premium landscaping equipment.
5. Must have a valid driver’s license with light truck experience, trailer operation desired.
6. High School Diploma or equivalent.
7. Must have at least 2-3 years of documented plant knowledge, bed layout and fertilization experience, pruning, deadheading etc. Well organized and detail oriented.
8. Garden design skills with a strong affinity to historical gardens of Virginia, and classical estate gardens of Europe.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

1. Position requires regular lifting of 50 lb. bags of material for extended periods as needed. Position requires full mobility across uneven terrain.
2. Able to stand and walk for extended periods.
3. Able to work under extreme and variable weather conditions.
4. Ability to work in an outdoor environment, performing a wide variety of landscape related tasks in an often-dusty environment with exposure to pollen and other such natural conditions.

The Inn at Little Washington is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.