Gardener

HOW TO APPLY:

We are looking for candidates who can clearly demonstrate their suitability for this role. To be considered, please submit a covering letter and your CV. Applications without a covering letter will not be shortlisted, so take this opportunity to show us why you are the right fit!

The Role:

We are seeking a dedicated Gardener to join our passionate Gardens team at Waddesdon, caring for 338 acres of exceptional gardens and grounds. This includes the formal gardens at Waddesdon Manor, as well as the grounds of the Dairy, the Five Arrows Hotel, and two contemporary buildings (Windmill Hill and the Flint House and Annex).

You will play an integral part of the team at Waddesdon Manor | A French Renaissance-style château maintaining the 165 acre formal garden and ensuring that this Grade 1 listed garden, renowned for its ornamental bedding, specimen trees and shrub planting, remains one of the finest Victoria gardens in Britain. You will help deliver the high horticultural standard referred to as the “Waddesdon Standard”.

What you will do:

As a member of the Gardens Team, you will help deliver the department’s strategic vision: a garden that is unique, flamboyant, inspirational and bold. Working under the supervision of the Garden Manager and the Assistant Garden Manager, you will contribute to the care, maintenance and presentation of all areas of the gardens. The role involves a wide range of horticultural tasks, and all team members are expected to demonstrate a high level of skill, responsibility and a strong sense of shared ownership in maintaining the garden to the expected high standard.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Day-to-day Management and Presentation

Care for and maintain seasonal bedding displays
Maintain formal and informal lawn areas to a high standard
Support the upkeep of the extensive woody plant collection including trees, shrubs, roses and climbing plants.
Maintain hedges and topiary structures
Support the care of herbaceous plants including some aquatics and bulbous plants.
Operate and care for garden machinery and equipment
Work collaboratively across departments including Estates, Facilities, Visitor Services and Events and House Curators to support the visitor experience

Training and Development

Participate in relevant training and development opportunities to enhance your horticultural knowledge and technical skills.

Health and Safety

Ensure compliance with all Health and Safety policies, including COSHH and equipment safety, in line with regulations, to maintain a safe environment for staff, volunteers and visitors.

Environmental Awareness

Support and uphold the environmental values of the Rothschild Foundation through responsible gardening practices and careful use of resources.

Team Engagement

Foster a positive working atmosphere and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive team culture. Support and engage with volunteers, ensuring they are welcomed, informed and valued as an essential part of the Gardens Team.

You will be a great fit if:

You are passionate about horticulture and take pride in delivering gardens to the highest standards. You enjoy working outdoors in all seasons, have a flexible and hands-on approach, and are eager to learn and develop your skills. You thrive as part of a collaborative team, are comfortable working independently when needed, and value the role the gardens play in creating exceptional visitor experiences. If you are someone who finds joy in both the precision of formal bedding and the care of diverse plant collections, and you are motivated by maintaining a garden of national significance, this role offers a unique and rewarding opportunity.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work within the charity and heritage sector, with all profits going to the upkeep and preservation of the House and Grounds.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter for this role:

A recognised horticultural qualification and/or demonstrable experience and passion for gardening is essential.
Practical experience working in horticulture, ideally in a historic or high-standard garden setting
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships with colleagues, volunteers and the public
A flexible, proactive and committed approach to work, with the ability to adapt to seasonal demands
A strong team ethic and willingness to contribute across all garden areas
Be physically fit and able to carry out demanding repetitive work.
Professional licences such as spraying would be an advantage.
Full clean drivers’ licence is essential

Additional Requirements:

The safety and wellbeing of children, young people, and vulnerable adults are of the utmost importance for any role at the Rothschild Foundation, Waddesdon Manor. Consequently, this position may require a basic or enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to uphold the safety and security of all our guests, staff and volunteers.

Rewards for working with us:

We are proud of where we work and want to share Waddesdon Manor with family and friends by offering a number of complimentary tickets to the house and grounds.
Waddesdon Manor Discounts – 50% discount in the food-to-go outlets at the Manor. 20% in the Manor gift shop and restaurant, Stables Café, Five Arrows Hotel, and The Bow Pub. 20% discount on special event tickets made available to staff.
Staff Card – A National Trust staff card entitles two adults and children under 18 years of age free admission to all National Trust properties and 20% discount in NT retail and catering outlets.
Annual Leave – On starting with us, you will receive 25 days annual leave per year plus 8 public holidays pro-rata. Stay with us for 3 years and this rises to 28 days, 30 days after five years and 32 days after 10 years.
Sick pay – If you become ill, one week of sick pay during your first 3 months. This rises to a maximum of 3 months full pay within a rolling 12-month period. After four years you also receive a further 3 months at half pay in the rolling 12-month period.
Pension – We will top up your pension by matching any contribution you make, up to 10% of your basic salary.
Income Protection – on completing one year of continuous service, income protection may be available at 50% of basic salary for a maximum of 5 years.
Life Assurance – a lump sum of 4 times basically annual salary is payable upon death in service.
Long Service Awards – every 5 years of service, you are invited to a celebration to recognise your contribution to the organisation. A cash sum is awarded as a thank you.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support – access to a wellbeing platform and fully funded 1:1 counselling service.
Enhanced Maternity Pay – after 12 months of continuous service, you can choose 13 weeks of maternity leave at full pay followed by 26 weeks statutory pay.
Enhanced Paternity Pay – after 12 months of continuous service, you may take 3 months of paternity leave at full pay.
Eye Care – eye care vouchers for employees who are DSE users.
Flu Jabs – free flu jabs in October.
Travel – Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan for train or bus, Octopus Electric Vehicle Scheme.
Deposit Loan Scheme – financial support to go towards a private rental deposit.
Access to Perk at Work – access to exclusive discounts from hundreds of retailers, and up to 55% off cinema tickets.
Memberships – 20% discount on new Nuffield gym memberships. 15% off Hartwell Spa Memberships and treatments, and 15% off food in the restaurant.

Workplace adjustments:

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, compressed hours, providing equipment or changes to the workplace, where possible.

EDI

At the Rothschild Foundation, we place Equality, Inclusion and Diversity at the core of our values. We strive to be an organisation that actively addresses inequality and prejudice while fostering a truly anti-racist culture. Our approach is centered on meaningful and equitable support and development for you and others throughout your time with us. We are committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, where every team member feels valued, respected, and has a true sense of belonging.

Application:

The vacancy advert may be taken down from job boards earlier than the stated deadline if a high standard of applications is received.

To reduce bias in our shortlisting process, we operate an anonymized application process. All candidates invited to interview have the opportunity to request adjustments to the recruitment process when scheduling your interview, for example accessible parking, communication support or breaks

To apply, please send a current CV and covering letter explaining how your experience and skills match those outlined above to [email protected].

Closing Date: midnight, Sunday 19 July 2026

Interview Date: provisional for w/c 27 July 2026

If you apply for this role and are selected to interview, here is what you can expect: