Do you love to collaborate and help businesses thrive? At Qualis as a Lead Gardener you will be leading a small team of up to 5 gardeners undertaking a range of gardening activities whilst delivering a high-quality grounds maintenance service to our customers and stakeholders.

The exciting opportunity will be based at Oakwood Hill in Loughton, though you will be required to work across various areas within the Epping region. You will join us on a full-time basis in return for a salary of £29,000 - £33,000 per annum dependant on previous experience.  

You will also receive other benefits including:

- Opportunity to earn a performance related cash bonus of up 15% of salary

- Pension scheme contributions set at 7% of salary

- Life Insurance cover at 4 x your annual salary

- Private healthcare

- 25 days a year holiday, plus bank holidays

Your role and responsibilities:

• To deliver excellent customer focused services, resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction.

• To lead a gardening team undertaking general grounds maintenance duties and horticultural operations as required including but not exclusively grass cutting, hedge trimming, shrub pruning, weeding, chemical applications

• To drive and maintain vehicles, machinery and tools as required and report any damage or malfunction.

• Ensure that the work of the service is high quality and ensure that relevant health and safety guidelines and safe working methods are always observed and in accordance with our policies and procedures

• Achieve relevant performance targets are met, and activities are completed on time, to the correct quality.

• To conduct team member performance reviews, facilitate regular 1-2-1 meetings with team members, and manage return to work processes to support employee development and address performance and wellbeing issues. Logging all data on relevant HR system.

• Duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exclusive nor exhausted as the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities, commensurate with the grading of the post, without changing the general character of the post.

What you will bring to the team:

Knowledge and skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively with work colleagues and be courteous to members of the public.

• Ability to maintain an effective and professional approach at all times.

• Enthusiasm for the work and a positive ‘can do’ attitude.

• Ability to prioritise work and give instruction to members of your team.

• Be capable of providing written feedback to team members and supporting senior staff colleagues as required.

• Ability to use IT & mobile phone apps for recording working routes and rounds

• To be physically fit and use equipment requiring agility, strength and dexterity.

• Ability to work outside in all weathers

• Good time keeping skills and ability to provide consistent attendance.

• To be willing to accept flexible work patterns and duties as required.

Desirable qualifications and experience:

• Evidence of managing a small operational team and using own initiative.

• Previous experience of general grounds maintenance including the safe use and operation of pedestrian mowing equipment, strimmer’s, hedge cutters and hand tools associated with the role.

• Knowledge of basic IT skills such as answering emails and use of android mobile phones

• Some evidence of soft landscaping skills such as planting.

• Maintenance and operation of a Ransomes Highway 3 or similar ride on mowing equipment.

• Formal horticultural training such as a PA1 and PA6.

• The ability to drive and operate associated Qualis vehicles and machinery

• A full clean current driving licence.

• A satisfactory DBS check is required as part of this role.

Your team:

You will join a team where you will feel supported, trusted, and appreciated. Our existing team have a wide-ranging background and knowledge but most importantly, appreciate the unique skills and passions that each co-worker brings to the team.

If you have the experience and believe you will be a great for the role, we'd love to hear from you.