Garden Manager

WELEDA UK; Baildon; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job description

Role Purpose

To grow and harvest medicinal plants to Good Agriculture & Collection Practice (GACP) and to Demeter (biodynamic) standard. To make fresh plant tinctures and to dry plants for Weleda UK Production according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

To develop and maintain Weleda's gardens to meet the needs of Production, Marketing, and for the benefit of staff and visitor welfare.

Responsibilities

• Managing the Weleda UK gardens and garden team to ensure all requirements of the Weleda UK gardens are met, including maintaining the land and growing plants to biodynamic standards, maintaining a seed bank, harvesting plants for further processing, developing the garden team, support to the brand through tours, events, and public speaking, support to Weleda UK staff through events and education.
• Growing medicinal plants to GACP and Demeter standard, to ensure a continuous supply of annual, biennial, and perennial crop plants for dried plant and fresh tincture making requirements.
• Liaising with external suppliers of fresh plant material.
• Making fresh plant tinctures and drying plants to pharmacopeia standards, meeting the needs of the annual requirements list, within the context of GMP and following Standard Operating Procedures.
• Carry out ongoing surveillance of new and changing Demeter and GACP legislation and introduce such legislation into Weleda UK.
• Supervising and training the garden team, including seasonal gardeners, in the Weleda UK gardens and in working in clean areas, using production documents and records, inductions, requirements, and safe working practices for working in GMP facility.
• Securing annual Demeter certification and internal GACP certification for the Weleda UK gardens.
• Creating value-added activities for Weleda UK, including facilitating garden tours, educational demonstrations, and workshops for visitors.

Person Specification

Formal Qualifications

• Minimum of RHS or City & Guilds Level 2 in practical Horticulture or equivalent.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years experience managing a professional, productive garden.
• Minimum of 5 years experience managing a practical and productive garden team.
• An understanding of a regeneration and conservation approach to land management i.e., biodiversity, habitat creation, wildflower meadows, ponds, etc.
• Experience of managing garden tours, giving talks, and other public-facing events that engage the general public with nature.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety.

Additionally, Experience In The Following Areas Would Be Advantageous

• A working knowledge of biodynamics.
• An understanding of medicinal herbal plants.
• Experience of manufacturing dried plants and tinctures to Good Manufacturing Practice standards.

Weleda has been growing herbs in Derbyshire since 1978. Our 13-acre gardens at Shipley are Demeter certified organic land and are used to grow over 50 different medicinal plants. These are harvested and then processed into tinctures for manufacturing into cosmetics, food supplements, and pharmaceutical products which are exported globally.

Our crops are wide and varied, ranging from trees like Birch and Willows, shrubs and hedgerow bushes like Blackthorn and Hawthorn, larger crops of Calendula, Oats, and Chamomile, plus smaller quantities of herbs and wildflowers. Some plants are grown in beds, others are grown extensively in meadows or in our woodland edges. Our larger crops are grown mechanically, the smaller crops are grown in a traditional way by hand. We generate our own seed bank, and we make and use specific preparations based on Biodynamic principles. Our farm is the centre for the East Midlands Biodynamic group of farmers, and we host regular meetings here.

Closing date 25th April 2025, however, we reserve the right to close applications early if required.

Location:

Shipley

Contract:

Type Permanent

Hours:

Full time, 37.5 hours

Salary:

£35,000- £40,000

Benefits:

36 days holiday per year, inclusive of bank holidays (pro-rata); healthcare cash plan + EAP; death in service; generous staff discount on our amazing Weleda products; 5 Green days (We have a wonderful natural resource at The Field, and Green Days are a way of making use of our open space for the benefit of co-workers).

You may also have experience in the following: Habitat creation, Landscaper, Gardener, Landscaping, Gardening, Grounds Person, Horticulture, Trainee, Landscaper, Maintenance Gardener, Groundworker, etc.

REF-220 815