A qualified and experienced gardener is required to manage and develop a team maintaining the gardens around the British High Commission, the High Commissioner’s Residence garden and other residential garden estates. This is a hands-on horticultural role as well as one with management of staff and resources.

Reporting To; Head Of Technical Works Group

Main Duties

The main elements of the job include:

•   As senior gardener, work on the flagship Residence garden (the venue for functions throughout the year) and assign gardeners to locations around the estate.
•   Develop, design and maintain the garden estate and its amenities in line with low-maintenance, environmentally-friendly and minimal-water use principles.
•   Develop plant care and garden maintenance calendars/routines for the team to follow, defining standards clearly and ensuring the team adheres to them.
•   Oversee (including through regular site visits) the team’s garden work (which includes planting, irrigation, weeding, keeping plants healthy and pruned, clearing debris, composting and plant propagation).
•   Regularly inspect the garden estate and pro-actively identify areas and amenities requiring maintenance or development.
•   Ensure health and safety regulations are applied throughout garden estate.
•   Regularly inspect garden tools and other equipment that should be maintained by team or external contractors. Advise on stock ordering and recommend additional purchases when necessary and ensure value for money/within budget.
•   Act as a manager, leader and mentor to the team, encouraging strong team spirit. Includes writing appraisals, dealing with breaches of standards and recognising strong performance.
•   Train the team in general horticultural skills and recommend/encourage other Learning & Development opportunities.
•   Seek, and act on, customer feedback.

The successful applicant will need to:

•   Observe the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s diversity and equality policies
•   Show some flexibility over working hours
•   The post holder along with his/her team will also be expected to undertake other related duties from time to time, which fall within their capability, and to be flexible, co-operative and generally assist other members of the support team as necessary.

Information for applicants:

•   The monthly salary range for A1 (L) positions in the BHC is GHS 916 (rising in increments of GHS 35 based on performance to a maximum of GHS 1,263). The starting salary for this position is GHS 916
•   The appointment will be offered initially for one year, and subject to the satisfactory completion of a probationary period. Thereafter, the appointment may be renewed for 3 years, subject to satisfactory performance, by mutual agreement.
•   Qualified horticulturalist with proven practical experience
•   Professional qualification or evidence of some formal training in horticulture, gardening or grounds work
•   Knowledge and use of horticultural equipment and health and safety principles
•   Experience of managing a team
•   Driving licence

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Qualified horticulturalist with proven practical experience
•   Professional qualification or evidence of some formal training in horticulture, gardening or grounds work
•   Knowledge and use of horticultural equipment and health and safety principles
•   Experience of managing a team
•   Driving license

Abilities/skills:

•   Good verbal communication skills – Good and effective communication (speaking and listening) skills are important to understanding customer requirements and explain work to staff. A positive and friendly attitude.
•   Energetic, fit, capable of physical work and carrying out duties in all weather conditions
•   Problem solving skills and an ability to apply tact, diplomacy and confidentiality when appropriate
•   High standards and ability to motivate the team to match those standards
•   High degree of personal drive and motivation – able to work independently as well as part of a team. Good team player.
•   Enthusiasm for working in a diverse workplace.
•   Knowledge in composting and waste management on a medium to large scale
•   Strong organisational skills to manage workload and meet deadlines
•   Basic computer skills e.g. to manage spreadsheets of work schedules, deal with work requests, monitor budget and evaluate performance using ICT.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Candidates interested in applying for this position should complete an application form which can be obtained from this website: www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-high-commission-accra/about/recruitment#current-vacancies, add their CV plus a cover letter to the Human Resource Manager at the address below, no later than close of business on 8th August 2013.

HR Manager
British High Commission
Osu Link, off Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue
P O Box 296
Accra

with the envelope clearly marked A1(L)TWGHG

or to this email address: Jobs.BHCAccra@fco.gov.uk The subject line must read “A1(L)TWGHG”.

Or Hand deliver at the British High Commission (opposite Ghana Institute of Journalism)

Closing Date: 08 August, 2013

Applications will be sifted and only those successful will be invited for interview. The successful applicant will demonstrate that they meet the requirements under Ghanaian law to work in Ghana, and to pass (or have passed) BHC internal security clearance.

If you have any questions about the role please contact akua.sakyi@fco.gov.uk. More information about the work of the British High Commission in Ghana can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/ghana

THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER