The Hurlingham Club: Head Gardener

Since its establishment in 1869, The Hurlingham Club's gardens, croquet and tennis lawns and stately Georgian Clubhouse have made it a sought-after destination for exclusive sporting and social activities. The estate features a range of planting styles, encompassing herbaceous borders, formal rose beds and bedding, woodland, mixed borders, an exotic border, an historical English garden, and a two-acre lake with lakeside planting.The Club offers a unique and rewarding environment to work, blending a rich history with a progressive outlook. With over 20 specialised departments, each contributing distinct roles and functions you will have the opportunity to interact with vibrant, multi-faceted colleagues and members that share common interests and represent a wide range of backgrounds, professions and perspectives. The teamThe Gardens Team is part of the Estates Team and comprises 10 professional gardeners and horticulturalists, supported by two trainee gardeners and one horticultural student. The team is responsible for the care and maintenance of the estate's grounds.Through their continued work, members are able to enjoy award-winning green spaces that are carefully maintained and reflect the character of an English country garden within a central city environment. The roleAs Head Gardener you will work closely with your Senior Gardener and the Head of Grounds & Gardens. The role involves overseeing the daily operations of the Gardens Team, which includes two WRAGS trainees, an RHS Level 3 horticultural student, nine gardeners, and a senior gardener. You will organise and deliver personal development plans and training for all team members, while managing the budget for horticultural plants and materials to ensure cost-effective procurement.You will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing all required plants, trees, shrubs, and materials in line with agreed specifications, as well as developing and managing annual fertiliser, IPM, and chemical schedules, including ongoing reviews and purchasing. Acting as the primary BNG site contact, you will ensure compliance with biodiversity requirements and collaborate with members, committees, and staff to support cross-departmental projects.The role also involves working closely with Club consultants and landscape architects to deliver high-quality horticultural outcomes, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring COSHH compliance across all gardening operations. You will manage annual targets for biodiversity, water management, and sustainability, oversee pest and disease control in line with the biodiversity strategy, and supervise the Club's apiary, including volunteers, equipment, and training.The successful applicant will be given their own area of responsibility to maintain and develop. They will be expected to work on their own, in small groups and with the whole team on specific projects. They will need to use their initiative to enhance the plants under their care and utilise their skills for the benefit of the gardens and team. With an area of responsibility, each gardener must demonstrate good time management skills in which they can balance the demands of their areas with the ongoing, seasonal team tasks they will be involved in. Working Schedule. As Gardener you will work a 39-hour week, plus regular weekend overtime - one in three weekend mornings. The CandidateThe Hurlingham Club is looking for a candidate that embodies the Club's core values of excellence, responsibility, and courtesy. The candidate will substantial experience as a professional horticulturalist, ideally within a large estate, and a proven track record in leading and developing a team.Experience in managing diverse garden environments and maintaining high standards is essential, alongside sound and up-to-date knowledge of pest and disease management. Candidates should have strong experience in implementing planting schemes, managing budgets effectively, and sourcing horticultural resources.A thorough understanding of plant husbandry is required, including awareness of climate change impacts, biodiversity considerations, and relevant methodologies. Candidates must also demonstrate a strong grasp of safe working practices. Experience working on historical or heritage sites with visitor-facing environments is highly advantageous. Job details Location: SW6 3PR, Fulham Salary: Circa. £48k Working hours: 39 hours, over 5 days, plus occasional weekend working for special events, for which overtime or lieu is payable. BenefitsBenefits include: 23 days of annual leave (rising to 28 days after 5 years' continuous service) Generous contributory pension. Life assurance, group income protection and enhanced sick pay scheme. Opportunities for training, development and progression. Annual bonus scheme and annual performance pay review. Staff social events, free meals on duty and free onsite parking.Applicants are requested to send their applications directly to the Recruiting Manager and Head of Grounds & Gardens, Neil Harvey on be advised that due to the high volume of applications received, if you do not receive a response from the Club within four weeks, your application will have been unsuccessful on this occasion.