Gardener/Grounds Person

The closing date for completed applications for this post is 9am on Friday 07 August 2026, and it is anticipated interviews will take place week commencing 24 August 2026.

Hours: 37 hours

Salary: £28,711 - £33,289 (SCP 18-25)

JOB DESCRIPTION:

To assist in the development, management and maintenance of the gardens and grounds within the Rossie estate.

To participate with the Site Manager, Business and Facilities, in developing the gardens and grounds for use by the young people resident at Rossie.

To ensure all equipment and machinery is correctly maintained to manufacturer's requirements, in order to operate them safely and correctly, and to also ensure all equipment and machinery is stored safely and correctly to reduce/prevent the risk of accidents to staff and young people resident at Rossie.

Ensure that all cultivated areas of the grounds, including lawns and planted beds (but out with areas maintained within the gardens service contract) are maintained to a good quality standard by the effective implementation of planned work schedules:

• Maintaining cultivated areas using appropriate equipment, chemicals and machinery;

• Maintaining hedges, bushes and trees within the Estate;

• Establishing and maintaining flower beds, courtyards, rockeries, tubs and window boxes;

• Seeding grassed areas as required;

• Scarify all mown grassed areas as required;

• Weeding cultivated areas, paths and steps using mechanical/chemical methods;

• Clearing all litter from cultivated areas;

• Carry out soft and hard landscaping as required;

• Ensure that all purchases and deployment of materials are cost efficient and compliant with Financial Regulations.

Maintain the programme for the growing, care and harvesting of produce to meet the requirements of the central kitchen:

• Preparing growing areas, beds and tunnels for the growing season;

• Propagation of seeds/seedlings/bulbs/cuttings;

• Ensuring planting and growing to maintain optimum produce supplies throughout the seasons.

Ensure that woodlands are properly managed:

• Clear woodlands of any “wind blown” trees which may be in unsafe positions;

• Thin out young trees to allow growth into mature specimens;

• Conduct effective weed control to prevent the engulfment of saplings;

• Check that all saplings are provided with tree guards for protection against deer and rabbits;

• Replace any damaged saplings as required;

• Ensure that meadow areas are kept free of Ragwort.

To secure the effective maintenance of all machinery to maintain optimum operational efficiency:

• Assist in/undertake the servicing of all estate machinery as required, ensuring that such equipment is in a safe condition and fit for use at all times;

• Maintain records of servicing and repairs to machinery;

• Store all equipment securely, that it can be easily accounted for, and ensure that storage areas are secured.

To ensure all livestock are kept in a safe and healthy condition:

• Maintain the good health and wellbeing of livestock at Rossie by establishing and maintaining consistent high standards of care, shelter and nutrition.

Supporting young people resident at Rossie in the care and maintenance of estate grounds and safe use of machinery:

• Through work experience placements, support young people to assist in tasks involved in the management of the estate, including the core tasks of horticulture e.g. propagation, growing etc;

• Contribute to, and participate in, grounds maintenance and development projects with external agencies and volunteers;

• Support young people in the correct and safe use of hand and powered equipment and machinery;

• Contribute to the organisation's Eco-Schools initiative, as well as other identified initiatives.

Ensure that roads and paths are kept clear of snow and ice:

• Advise Site Manager, Business and Facilities, on stocks of grit and salt;

• Clear all blockages to roads and paths caused by snow;

• Grit roads and paths as required;

• Ensure equipment and machinery for this role is always maintained to enable it to be used without notice.

Assist Site Manager, Business and Facilities, in developing grounds and woodlands:

• On behalf of Rossie, liaise as required with external agencies e.g. Scottish Wildlife Trust, Forestry Commission, Nature Conservancy Council;

• Maintain existing paths through woodlands and lay new nature trails;

• Maintain and develop suitable habitats for rarer forms of wildlife e.g. red squirrel, spotted woodpeckers, reptiles, etc., with a view to encouraging Bioversity;

• Maintain and develop the existing recreational area.

Assist other Business and Facilities staff in maintenance duties when requested:

• Minor repair works and maintenance throughout the Estate as directed.

Ensure that all relevant Health and Safety Requirements are met within the scope of the job:

• Responsibility for all health and safety matters within the work area.

Please note this job description is to provide a clear and concise statement of the main tasks and activities of the post, and it is not intended as an exhaustive list of every aspect of the post holder's duties.  All the above duties will be carried out in line with Rossie policies and procedures. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Knowledge Base (Essential):

• Thorough understanding of horticulture issues

• Relating to forestry/woodland issues

• Health and Safety issues relating to machinery

Qualifications (Essential):

• Good standard secondary education

Qualifications (Desirable):

• HNC in Horticulture or Forestry

• NC in Tractor Operations

• Environmental Qualification

• SQA Supervisory Qualification

Experience (Essential):

• Minimum of 2 years within a horticulture environment

• Practical ground maintenance

• Practical maintenance of horticultural and forestry machinery

Experience (Desirable):

• Environmentally friendly practices

• Familiarity of forestry working

• Ability to keep and update records effectively

Skills (Essential):

• Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure

• Ability to communicate adequately

• Ability to work on own initiative

Skills (Desirable):

• Ability to instruct/guide young people

Qualities (Essential):

• Respectful of Young People and Colleagues

• Honesty

• Self Directed

• Ability to undertake further training in relevant areas

• Empathy

• Sense of Humour

• Adaptability

• Flexibility

Full Clean Driving Licence - Essential