We are looking for a highly experienced Head Gardener for a large private estate in Geneva, Switzerland. This is an incredible opportunity to lead a team of 12 other gardeners in an extraordinary, diverse and beautiful property. You should have at least 10+ years’ relevant experience and proven managerial experience as well as formal horticultural and landscape design training.

The estate has many different elements and as Head Gardener, you should have versatile experience caring for and maintaining all of them. Such elements include woodlands, a French Garden, many different lawns, golf greens, flower gardens and many different walkways/paths made up of stone or natural materials. It is essential that you have all the necessary licenses to operate heavy machinery. This is a physically demanding job so being agile and in good health is imperative for this role.

Daily responsibilities include ensuring the grounds are in pristine condition at all times, managing the work schedules for the gardeners, liaising with external suppliers, placing orders and receiving deliveries, as well as budget management. You will be an excellent team player and communicator with a strong work ethic and good organisational skills.

Typical hours are Monday to Friday from 07:00-16:30/17:00 with the understanding that hours can be dependent on the season. A live-out role, you must be local to Geneva or be willing to relocate.

DUTIES TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
• Landscaping of the grounds
• Identify and control weeds
• Mowing the lawns and pitches, maintaining the woodlands, tending vegetable and flower beds, pruning trees etc.
• Maintain irrigation and drainage systems; ensuring the water features are in good working order
• Maintaining walkways and paths on the estate
• Operate equipment like hedge cutters, strimmers, ride-on mowers and chainsaws
• Managing the team’s schedule, setting daily and weekly tasks; overseeing the quality of the works carried out
• Placing and receiving deliveries; maintaining inventories
• Liaising with service providers and other heads of departments
• Tasks would vary according to the season and weather conditions
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
• Horticulturally trained
• At least 10+ years of previous gardening and management experience
• Valid driver’s license
• Proficient in using manual and power tools safely as well as the relevant licenses
• Physically agile and dexterous
• Excellent communicator and fluent French-speaker
• Eligible to live and work in Switzerland (EU passport) & based in or around Geneva
• Brilliant checkable references