Senior Head Gardener

Location: Faenza (RA) Contract Type: Fixed Term - Permanent Salary: Starting from €33.604 gross annual. With seniority increments every year and lunch vouchers € 8 per working days/business travel allowances when needed. Hours: Full Time, 35 hours per week, Mon – Fri Who we are The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Our work commemorates the war dead, from building and maintaining our cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries to preserve our extensive records and archives. Our values and aims, laid out in 1917, are as relevant now as they were 100 years ago. Everyone who works for us, or with us, shares our Values, which are formed around our concept of CARE (Commitment, Ambition, Respect and Excellence). We are proud and committed to ensuring we bring this to life every day, for ourselves, each other and those who lost their lives. What you’ll be doing As a Senior Head Gardener, you are responsible for supervising and coordinating horticultural staff within your assigned group. Your duties include: •Executing and supervising horticultural tasks: Providing clear instructions to the team for maintenance and renovation activities such as mowing grass, cleaning headstones, weeding, edging flower beds, pruning shrubs, leveling lawns, and planting flowers. Tasks will vary according to the season. •Ensuring horticultural standards: Possessing comprehensive knowledge of the Commission's horticultural standards and demonstrating the ability to perform and coordinate all maintenance and renovation tasks to these standards. •Daily planning and resource management: Preparing daily work schedules and overseeing the day-to-day management of personnel and other resources. •Delivering exceptional results: Achieving green Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and ensuring that all work meets the highest standards, as outlined in the Commission's Horticultural Manual, for all cemeteries within the group. •Equipment and vehicle maintenance: Maintaining all horticultural equipment, tools, and vehicles in proper working condition, reporting any defects and arranging for necessary maintenance or repairs. •Enforcing safety standards: Ensuring that safety protocols are followed and that personnel use the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and corporate workwear. •Team leadership and development: Managing the team through the implementation of effective work practices, setting individual objectives, identifying training and development needs, and conducting regular performance reviews and appraisals What you need to have and able to demonstrate •Proven horticultural and/or recognized professional qualifications •Proficiency in Italian, with a preference for additional English language skills •Basic computer literacy •Demonstrated leadership abilities •Effective communication and listening skills •Decision making skills, within required limits •Team player with excellent interpersonal skills •Good organisational and time management skills •Health and Safety responsibility for self and others What we offer •25 days annual leave, with additional leave days: ranging from 2 to 4 days, depending on seniority •Working hours: 35 hours per week •Supplementary pension fund contribution (6%) monthly •Meal vouchers (8€/day) •Christmas closure 2 weeks •Time off for medical check up (20 hours annual) and children check up (35 hours annual) •Growth opportunities supported by a range of training programs How to Apply: Apply via our Career Portal by clicking the ‘Apply Now’ button. As this is an active role, we will be interviewing as we go along, and the role will close when we have an offer accepted by a preferred candidate. We believe creating a diverse environment enriches our organisation and strengthens our mission, therefore, we welcome applications from everybody. Join our inclusive environment where every individual is valued.