Position Details Winterbourne House and Garden, Campus ServicesLocation: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822Grade: 7Full Time, PermanentClosing date: 22nd February 2026Background The University of Birmingham is a global institution working within a diverse and vibrant City, offering an inspiring education to our students, and undertaking critically important research. We are a place of open, critical thinking, and the creation, sharing and dissemination of knowledge. Professional Services put students at the heart of all they do and enable an exceptional educational experience. They provide outstanding support to our researchers and help the University to grow its influence regionally, nationally, and globally. They ensure the University’s resources are used wisely, manage and improve the infrastructure which sits at the heart of the institution, and support decisions to be made quickly and based on sound evidence. Our Birmingham Professional programme operates across the University, supporting colleagues to network and collaborate, offering opportunities to learn and develop, contributing to the delivery of the University’s objectives, and helping everyone to understand the broader context within which we work. Department OverviewWinterbourne House and Garden is owned by the University of Birmingham and sits under the Campus Services directorate. In addition to Winterbourne, Campus Services are responsible for a huge range of services including student accommodation, catering, cleaning and waste management, conferences and events, delivering the University’s post, day nurseries, Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre, security and also Sport and Fitness.Restored to its Edwardian Arts and Craft splendour, Winterbourne House and Garden is a unique heritage attraction set within 7-acres of beautiful botanic gardens. Only minutes from Birmingham city centre, Winterbourne is a hidden gem home to beautiful antiques, over 6,000 plant species from around the world, 3 National Plant Collections, and today, welcomes over 80,000 visitors annually. Role summaryAs Head Gardener, you will lead the operational management and strategic development of Winterbourne’s 7-acre botanic garden and related horticultural activities.You will lead a horticultural team of supervisors, practitioners, trainees and volunteers, taking overall responsibility for recruitment, performance management and development. You will also be responsible for the management of operational budgets and financial targets and spearhead the successful identification of funding streams and initiatives relevant to the Heritage and Higher Educational sectors, generating additional income for their area of responsibility.In addition, as Head Gardener, you will develop relationships with key stake holders both internally and externally, strengthening collaborative relationships and identifying opportunities of mutual interest, as well as engage with activities designed to raise the overall profile and awareness of Winterbourne House and Garden.Main dutiesResponsible for managing and leading the Horticultural Team in the delivery of operational objectives, ensuring the highest possible standards of horticulture are met including:Recruitment, Induction and training, liaising with other key stakeholders such as Human ResourcesPerformance management, including 121s and annual Performance Development Reviews, ensuring that strategic objectives are understood and metDevelopment of overall team promoting equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working cultureVolunteer management, providing guidance and support, monitoring and motivationResponsible for maintaining and developing Winterbourne’s 7-acre, historic landscape, including:Ensuring Grade II listed status is maintainedManagement of hard and soft landscaping features and structures Development of new areas, design and implementation sensitive to Winterbourne’s heritageEnsuring accessible requirements are met enabling access for all where possibleManagement of Winterbourne’s living collections including:Leading auditing, cataloguing, labelling and maintenance of appropriate recordsIdentification of strengths and weaknesses within collection and remedial actions resulting in strategic developmentImplementation of an appropriate plant collections policy and acquisitions program Compliance to the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and Nagoya Protocol (2010)Maintenance of Winterbourne’s specialist collections, such as National Plant Collections, pertinent to overall strategic objectivesMaintain budgetary control within area of responsibility including:Preparation of operational budget, application, targets, monitoring and reportingFinancial planning and forecastingDevelopment of additional income streams to supplement wider commercial activityLead the Identification of suitable sources of funding, such as grant making bodies, in support of horticultural developmentDevelop relationships with key collaborators including:Operational, managerial and strategic support to horticultural, further educational, courses on siteSupport undergraduate and post graduate study and research utilising living collections both within UOB and externally through other Higher Educational providersCoordinate cross-departmental activities such as hosting team away days and volunteering and the provision of resource outside of own department such as the supply of plant material for use at campus-wide events Promote greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and diversity of ideas through participation in cross-departmental initiatives such as Management and Operations Team Meetings and the UOB Biodiversity Working GroupDeliver programmes to engage internal UOB audiences (staff and students) with horticulture such as talks, workshops and lecturesIdentify opportunities to raise profile, publicise activity and solicit exposure highlighting key messaging in the public domain:Contributing relevant horticultural content to internal and external publications, media platforms and outlets such as social media, newsletters, magazine articles, television and radio appearancesEstablish network of mutual interest through membership and/or participation in professional bodies relevant to the sectorRepresenting Winterbourne at high profile events such as Gardeners World Live Lead specialised guided garden tours to groups and individualsContribute to strategic planning in context of the Horticultural, Heritage and Higher Educational sectors including:Understand and communicate key strategic works such as the Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework and Campus Services People and Culture PlanLead horticultural strategy ensuring the correct strategic objectives are identified for inclusion in localised strategy documentation such as business plans and forward planningSource, analyse and develop insights from policy/process reviews, data, and KPIs to inform evaluation and review of strategic objectivesCoordinate Health and Safety (H&S), and wellbeing, within horticultural division including:Ensure all (H&S) requirements are met such as the provision of any required Personal Protective Equipment, fire safety, COSSH, audits, daily H&S checks and electrical testing Ensure statutory legislation and UOB policies and procedures are adhered to and prepare and review internal H&S policies, Risk Assessments and documentation for local useAttend regular H&S meetings, liaise and coordinate support with wider HAS H&S teamIdentify industry best practice and relevant training needs of Horticultural Team, maintaining up to date knowledge of horticultural management and methodologiesDeliver horticultural projects including:High level project management support, planning and evaluationControl and effective use of project budgets in order to achieve quality standards and meet targetsRigorous prioritisation coordinating project delivery through the Horticultural Team, contractors and Estates Teams Reporting on progress to other key stakeholdersSupport the delivery of a public events programme including: Leading delivery of events with horticultural contentDuty managerial support and coordinationDeputise for the Head of Winterbourne and Visitor Operations Manager including:Attending both internal and external meetings, and acting on behalf of Head of Winterbourne, as and when required, liaising with wider University colleagues and departments, coordinating operational supportTake part in a Winterbourne House & Garden Duty Manager Rota, working occasional weekends and eveningsAny other duties commensurate with the gradePerson SpecificationsHorticultural qualification – HND/Degree/Kew or RHS Diploma or equivalent experienceExtensive horticultural knowledge and specialist expertise pertinent to sector and a proven track record in a historic or botanic garden environmentDetailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures pertinent to the operational management of a public gardenExtensive knowledge of current Health and Safety legislation within a horticultural settingExtensive experience of strategic development and thinking, project planning and deliveryEvidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to produce and analyse information and data.Excellent people-management skills including the ability to lead and develop a diverse team and knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairlyThe ability to manage change effectivelyExcellent budgetary management skills and experience Highly proficient IT skills, including the use of MS OfficeExcellent interpersonal, communication, relationship building and influencing skills with the ability to deal confidently with a range of internal and external stakeholders/contactsExtensive organisational and multi-tasking skills with a methodical approach to work and the ability to prioritise workloads in order to meet deadlinesDimensionsThis role will require a broad understanding and practical experience of horticultural and heritage management which will be used to plan the running and development of Winterbourne’s 7-acre botanic garden and/or lead both short- and long-term development projects within that context. You will also require an acute ability for strategic thinking and working with information which needs interpretation and analysis; you will use your judgement to identify the best solution to differing problems and issues, offering recommendations for managing more complex situations. In addition, you will be responsible for managing a horticultural team consisting of professional staff, trainees and volunteers, being accountable for recruiting and developing them and for managing their performance. You will also need to liaise and/or co-ordinate activities across several different sections within the department and with wider departmental or external bodies as appropriate. Planning and organisingPlan the running and development of Winterbourne’s 7-acre botanic garden, overseeing resources and inputting into resource planning as appropriateDevelop, agree and implement standards for deliveryManage a team of staff and review, develop and motivate themPlan relevant training and developmentProvide professional advice, guidance and support to others both within and outside own immediate work areaOversee resources and make recommendations about future resource requirementsProblem solving and decision making Review, develop and propose solutions for problems with (for example) staff, budgets, services and/or systemsDeal effectively with unexpected issues, such as changing prioritiesDeal with sensitive people matters/issuesProvide specialist advice and recommendations to support decision–making of othersInternal and external relationshipsUnderstand Winterbourne and other closely related working areas and how they contribute to the success of the UniversityUnderstand how the University operates; actively seek to share this knowledge with othersDevelop and maintain empathy with the academic endeavour Influence decision makers and win support for proposalsDevelop excellent working relationships within and outside of Winterbourne and with external stakeholdersCo-ordinate activities across a number of areas Informal enquiries to Lee Hale, email: l.d.hale@bham.ac.uk We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.