Garden Team Leader

Boschendal; Franschhoek; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Boschendal, set in the Cape Winelands, seeks a Garden Team Leader to guide our landscapes and nurture biodiversity on a regenerative farm. You will lead a small team, plan daily tasks, and collaborate with the Supervisor to deliver high-quality outdoor spaces that greet guests.

You should have at least three years in gardening with two years in a supervisory role, knowledge of irrigation, pruning, lawn care, and a passion for sustainable farming.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years’ practical gardening/landscape experience.
• At least 2 years in a team-leading or supervisory role.
• Sound knowledge of garden maintenance, pruning, planting, fertilising, weed control and lawn care.
• Basic irrigation and water-wise gardening understanding.
• Knowledge of indigenous plants, biodiversity and regenerative practices is advantageous.
• Ability to plan and execute daily and weekly work schedules and lead a team.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills; health and safety aware.

Responsibilities

• Manage all gardens daily following the workflow; ensure team adherence.
• Plant nutrition, hedging, pruning, weed control and lawn care.
• Maintenance of fountains and water features; mowing and lawn upkeep.
• Parking, pathways maintenance; tree pruning and staking.
• Assist with landscape installation projects and infrastructure upgrades.
• Support new garden or lawn establishment; lead the team with supervision.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Gardening

Horticulture

Irrigation knowledge

Biodiversity awareness

Planting & pruning

Health & safety

Communication

Planning & scheduling

Tools

Lawnmowers

Brush cutters

Hedge trimmers

Landscaping tools

Job description

At Boschendal, work follows the rhythm of the farm – shaped by seasons, people, produce, and care.

Set in the heart of the Cape Winelands, Boschendal is a living farm where hospitality, retail, food, wine, craft, and land come together in experiences that feel warm, generous, and grounded.

Every detail matters: what we grow, make, stock, sell, and share with our guests.

Our Purpose: Regenerating our Future through People & Soil

At Boschendal, regeneration begins with the land and is carried forward by our people. We are a farm with purpose, caring for our soil, nurturing our teams, strengthening our community, and creating meaningful guest experiences through genuine hospitality – all rooted in the future we are shaping together.

A Gardens Team Leader on a regenerative farm plays a vital role in not only leading a team in maintaining Boschendal standards but also nurturing and taking pride in the natural world while enhancing biodiversity on the land. The Garden Team Leader’s responsibility is to work closely and assist the Supervisor to complete garden projects and add value and purpose within your team.

The Garden Team Leader is responsible for almost all guests facing living landscapes; you and your team showcase the first impression of the farm. The Landscapes are one of the windows that showcases what we are about and our approach to regenerating people and soil.

You are required to be organized and motivated and spend most of your time enhancing your teams’ skills and gardens, actively and deliberately working through your daily workflow sheets and understanding where your team needs more training.

Working in a seasonal fashion, you will need to complete the well thought out plans that are prepared well in advance to ensure you know what to do, when to do it and have the resources to undertake the role efficiently and effectively with pride.

Working collaboratively with and reporting directly to your supervisor with a strong “can do” attitude, you represent an important part of a large team whose purpose is to support the operating business to be successful and achieve Boschendal’s vision and mission.

Key Responsibilities:

Planning and Responsibilities:

Daily: Undertake proactive management of all gardens, including but not limited to:

• Ensuring your team follow the workflow sheet
• Plant nutrition, hedging, and pruning.
• Weed control.
• Maintenance and cleaning of fountains and water features.
• Mowing and maintenance of all lawns.
• Parking and pathway service and maintenance.
• Tree pruning and fertilizing.
• Tree staking.
• Seasonal plant division and replanting.
• Recommendations for improvements of gardens and conversion to re-wilding / waterwise gardens.
• Equipment checks and cleanliness

Project Support (Ad Hoc)

• Assist with landscape installation projects
• Support new garden or lawn establishment
• Assist with infrastructure upgrades (paths, edging, etc.)
• Assist with fallen trees, or tree felling ( cut and remove)

Minimum Requirements & Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ practical experience in gardening, landscaping, horticulture or estate grounds maintenance.
• At least 2 year’s experience in a team-leading or supervisory role.
• Sound knowledge of garden maintenance practices, including pruning, planting, fertilising, weed control and lawn care.
• Basic understanding of irrigation systems, water-wise gardening and seasonal garden maintenance.
• Knowledge of indigenous plants, biodiversity and regenerative gardening practices would be advantageous.
• Experience operating and maintaining gardening equipment, including lawnmowers, brush cutters, hedge trimmers and other landscaping tools.
• Ability to plan, coordinate and execute daily and weekly work schedules.
• Good understanding of workplace health and safety procedures when handling gardening tools and equipment.
• Physically fit and able to perform outdoor duties in varying weather conditions.
• Good communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead, motivate and support a team while maintaining high standards of workmanship.
• Strong leadership and teamwork skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and pride in maintaining high-quality landscapes.
• Good time management and ability to prioritise tasks.
• Proactive, reliable and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Passion for nature, sustainability and regenerative farming practices.
• Ability to identify training needs and support the development of team members.
• Positive attitude with a hands-on approach to daily operations.

Join Our Team