Assistant Gardening Services Manager (ref:DS8373)

Location: Lincolnshire
Salary: £20,000 - £25,000
Date: 20 May 
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

We are seeking an Assistant Gardening Services Manager for a small, privately owned team of gardeners offering a service to clients across the south west of Lincoln, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Skegness and Boston. They work within the domestic gardens and commercial sectors. 

Their service is underpinned by garden design and the business experience brought by the owner. They work to high standards and aim to charge a premium for their service though this is a competitive market sector. They are looking to recruit someone who will help to take the business forward while understanding what it has taken to get to this point. 

The Role

Undertake garden work,which may include some regular clients, covering absences, project work and taking on work while they build a meaningful portfolio that will allow further recruitment.
Plan diaries and workload and liaise with staff members.
Oversee others work and agree programmes of work with staff and clients.
Identify opportunities for additional work within exiting gardens and elsewhere.
Undertake regular client visits and client liaison
Develop our social media presence and keeping this up to date - with MD and outside suppliers.
Agreeing plans for digital marketing - with MD and outside suppliers.
An individual with a feel for garden design would be a bonus, particularly if the skill set included plant good knowledge - both in terms of care and compatibility/suitability as well as for overall looks.
Someone who understands that Lincolnshire is a big county and that a lot of travelling may be involved which will inevitably extend the day.

The Candidate

Experience: 
The successful candidate should have direct experience of the following key components of our work: 
Lawn cutting & strimming. Working with a range of machinery including mowers (pedestrian and ride-on) hedge cutters and brush cutters/strimmers. 
Hedge trimming and Border maintenance. 
Chainsaw training and certification (small projects only) 
Planting and seeding skills. 
Consultancy and advice
Design and development expertise. 
Equipment hire requirements 
Maintenance of capital items - equipment and vehicles. 
Experience of working with contacts within the supply sector. 
Lawns and lawn care including, seeding, fertilizing, pest, weed & disease control. 

Personal Attributes:
Personable, pleasant and polite, demonstrating high standards - personally and professionally.
Superb interpersonal skills
A 'can do' attitude and approach.
Able to demonstrate excellent literacy and communication skills.
A willingness to do what it takes to see the job through.
Ambitious
Able to understand people and people management - these skills are extremely important.

Qualifications: 
Essential - Minimum Level 2 or 3 Horticulture. A level 3 would mean some form of management study and working practices had been undertaken and would be distinctly preferable. 
GCSE/GCE 'O' Level minimum grade C in English and Mathematics 
PA1 and PA6 NPTC pesticide application certificates however, training can be arranged for this. 
Desirable Advanced National Certificate Horticulture, National Diploma Horticulture or above.

Package:
Salary, van, mobile phone, work place pension
20 days holiday plus Bank Holidays