Soft Landscaping Gardener

We are looking for a person to fill a vacancy that has arisen in the Gardening Team at our award-
winning zoo, East Anglia’s premier tourist attraction.

As part of our organization’s mission statement, we aim to provide guests with an excellent customer
experience and the successful applicant will make a significant contribution to this by ensuring guests
using our grounds experience the highest level of quality and service.

As a soft landscape gardener at Colchester Zoo your job will be carrying out responsibilities including
hedge cutting, strimming, cutting and maintaining grass, monitoring the health of all plants (including
indoor planted areas), watering and feeding plants, weeding gardens and keeping green spaces clear
of debris and litter. Ultimately, your job is to make sure our gardens and green spaces are always
healthy and look beautiful.

You will cut browse and enrichment for animals and enclosures.

During school holidays and Bank Holidays you will be expected to assist with car parking duties.
The right person for this job must enjoy working inside and outside in all weather conditions. The work
involves a lot of walking, lifting and bending, strimming and hedge cutting and you will often have to
wear waterproof and protective clothing. No two days are the same at Colchester Zoo.

You must want to work to promote and achieve the high standards of safety and quality compliance
that Colchester Zoo demands for our guests, colleagues and animals.

You will have early starts and work can involve evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.

Please note that this is a 1 year position, full-time role.

we would love to hear from you!

JOB TITLE: Soft Landscaping Gardener

Colchester Zoo is home to over 180 species and is dedicated to supporting conservation projects
around the globe. As an award-winning visitor attraction with over 1 million guests visiting each
year, every staff member at the zoo works together to ensure that our guests have an enjoyable and
unforgettable experience.

KEY
RESPONSIBILITIES

To liaise with
Supervisor and other
team members to
perform the required
daily operations and
any construction /
maintenance tasks
deemed appropriate

• To liaise with Supervisor and other team members to perform the required daily

operations and any garden maintenance tasks deemed appropriate.

• Working across the site to deliver a range of maintenance activities on time and

to a high standard

• To ensure that the presentation of Colchester Zoo gardens gives the most

favourable impression at all times

• Install and maintain plants

• Mow, trim and fertilize green spaces
• Weed and mulch gardens
• Prune and trim shrubs and bushes
• Maintain all gardening equipment and machinery, mowers, trimmers and leaf

blowers
• Monitor and maintain the health of plants
• Deal with pest problems that could damage plants
• Keep gardens and green spaces clear of debris and litter
• Driving company vehicles such as tractors and gators
• Providing an excellent level of customer service
• Operating hand-held equipment and machinery
• Reporting any damage or vandalism to the Supervisor.
• To ensure all necessary and appropriate standards have been implemented and

are operating in accordance with the Company’s Health & Safety Policy

SKILLS AND
QUALIFICATIONS

• Punctual, hard-working and able to use own initiative

• A highly motivated individual with excellent general gardening skills
• Time management
• Excellent and clear communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team
• To work calmly and effectively in a high-pressure environment
• Knowledge of Health and Safety compliance
• Maintenance of records relating to tasks performed, timesheets, materials,

vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to interact positively and professionally with the public, and colleagues

Preferred qualifications - NPTC 003920, NPTC 003921, NPTC 003922, NPTC 003923.

EXPERIENCE • You should have experience of general gardening work however full training will
be given

• You don’t need any formal qualifications to become a gardener, however basic

numeracy and literacy skills are important as is the ability to read and
understand instructions.

WORKING HOURS: • This is a 1 year position, full-time role, 5 days per week
• Normal hours will be Monday – Friday 7am – 4.30pm
• You will be expected to work at least one weekend day, public holidays and school

holidays.
• Pay rate – to be discussed at interview and subject to successful completion of a

three-month probation period.

UNIFORM: Uniform will be provided. Uniform must be worn at all times with a name
badge.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in applying, please complete the Colchester Zoo Employment application form,
Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed, do not enter ‘Refer to CV’.

Send you CV and completed Employment Application Form to gardeners@colchesterzoo.org
specifying whether you would be interested in a full time or part time position.

Closing date is 21st June 2023.

Please be aware that we will only process applications that include a completed application form and CV.
We do have a lot of interest in our vacancies, if you have not heard from us after four weeks
of submitting your application you should assume you have not been successful on the occasion.

SECTION ONE – Position Details (type in information)

Position applied for:

Department:

Previous employment at Colchester Zoo:
(Include job title, department and dates.)

Are you eligible to work in the UK in
accordance with the Immigration and
Asylum Act 1999?
(You must be able to provide documentary
evidence that you are entitled to work in the UK
without the need for Colchester Zoo to apply for any
kind of work permit.)