Keeper of the Walled Garden
Job now closed
Hillsborough
Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, the Banqueting House, Kew Palace and Hillsborough Castle & Gardens.
Departments: Hillsborough Castle
Estimated Start date: 1 August 2023
Salary: £30,302 – 31,058 (depending on experience)
Salary Rate: Per AnnumDays/
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
About the role
Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, the Banqueting House, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle.
We are a team of people who love and look after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. We create space for spirits to stir and be stirred.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the brilliant Gardens Team at Hillsborough Castle in the prestigious role of ‘Keeper of the Walled Garden’.
Hillsborough Castle is a working Royal Residence, the base for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and a great place for the public to visit. Historic Royal Palaces’ ambitious programme of conservation, re-presentation and re-imagination, has made Hillsborough Castle & Gardens a place for discovery, delight, and learning, for visitors of all ages.
We are looking for an experienced, hands-on, and highly skilled gardener to manage the Walled Garden, to be instrumental in its ongoing development and maintenance as a productive kitchen garden and ornamental garden.
About you
Applicants will need to have a strong background in both soft and top fruit. A proven track record in organic vegetable growing with a positive approach to interpreting the garden to a wide range of visitors is essential, as is the ability to lead team members and volunteers in managing the garden.
We would expect you to have formal qualifications that support your expertise and experience of cultivating and propagating fruit and vegetables; experience of teaching and demonstrating gardening skills to others, and experience of maintaining records with historical accuracy.
You would also need to demonstrate experience of managing and leading a team, have good knowledge of horticulture, and be competent in the operation of a wide range of horticulture machinery including telehandler, tractors, and modern equipment.
A full clean driving licence and good IT skills are essential.
Please note this role is based at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.
Interviews will be in-person, at Hillsborough, mid-late July.
Historic Royal Palaces is an equal opportunities employer and truly values a diverse workforce. Applications are welcome from candidates regardless of their background.