Our client, a Further Education College, is looking to recruit a Horticultural Worker with experience in the industry of horticulture and a familiarity with a range of equipment and plants. Candidates will assist in the day-to-day maintenance of the College's Horticultural Unit to provide a clean and safe workplace.

About the College

Guildford College is a successful further education establishment, offering both vocational and classroom based courses.

Description of duties

Reporting to the Horticultural Supervisor, main duties and responsibilities:

• Undertake a seasonal programme of work as directed
• Apply agricultural chemicals as directed
• Daily watering; potting; weeding; spacing; compost mixing; grass cutting; ploughing; harrowing; spraying; tree lifting; hoeing; planting
• Maintain plants produced by students, including removing from mist when rooted
• Tractor driving and the use and care of a wide range of horticultural machinery including tractor-mounted implements and hand-held machines
• Observe current health and safety procedures at all times when using machinery, report any defects and undertake basic maintenance tasks and daily checks on machinery
• Use machinery from other departments as and when directed
• Nursery maintenance including replacing broken glass, fencing, tunnel erection and repair, tool maintenance
• Assist with the provision of plant materials and equipment to enable teaching staff to carry out practical classes with full-time and part-time students
• Supply tools, materials and equipment for practical classes and student projects including collect equipment/materials from other parts of the College as required, e.g. from machinery and landscape
• Prepare all compost mixes for all student practicals
• Assist with organising the tool store; maintain an inventory of tools, equipment and machinery and assist with the maintenance, repair and replace tools, equipment and materials for horticulture classes
• Assist with maintaining suitable working environments in the horticulture unit workshops
• Clean/sterilize all pots and trays used for student practicals
• Prick out seedlings for growing on for future class use
• Assist with plant sales
• Growing plants for and preparing for stands at shows
• Assist with demonstrations and student practical work
• If holder of the appropriate driving licence, drive College vehicles, e.g. car, minibus

 Experience / Qualifications

It is essential that candidates will possess the following:

• Experience in using a wide range of horticultural machinery
• Experience of working in commercial and/or Amenity Horticulture
• Familiarity with a wide range of horticultural machinery and a good general background in all aspects of Commercial and/or Amenity Horticulture
• Detailed working knowledge of health and safety
• Enthusiastic and keen to work to, and achieve, high standards
• Adaptable when need arises
• Able to work unsupervised and have a good sense of personal responsibility
• Able to communicate well with staff and students alike
• Good personal organisation and able to work out priorities
• Provisional driving licence
• Qualified to NVQ Level 2/ First Diploma in Horticulture or equivalent
• PA1 and PA6a Spraying Certificates or equivalent or willingness to undertake training.

It is extremely desirable for candidates to possess the following:

• Familiarity with a range of plants
• Awareness of pesticides and plant protection legislation
• Full driving licence
• First aid training/qualification and/or other health and safety qualification/training

Start date: ASAP

Hours:            18 hours (0.5 FTE). The job may entail working in the evening or at weekends where programmes require this.  Time off in lieu will be given for this, with prior agreement of Director of Faculty.

Application close date: 30th April 2010.