Lead Gardener

The Napier District Masonic Trust is proud to have assisted the aged in our community for the past 60 years and will continue to plan and provide housing and care for our elderly in the coming years. We have an excellent reputation for providing quality residential aged care and affordable retirement village accommodation. We believe every elderly person has a right to a place they can call home regardless of age, stage, means or needs. We are a community built on love, respect and care for our residents, their families and each other.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

We're looking for an experienced and knowledgeable Lead Gardener to join our team and help maintain the beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces across our retirement villages and care facilities.

This is a hands-on role where you'll work alongside our gardening team, providing day-to-day guidance, coordinating workloads, and ensuring our grounds are maintained to an exceptional standard. From seasonal planting and routine maintenance to landscape improvements, you'll play a key role in creating outdoor environments that residents are proud to call home.

We're seeking someone with strong horticultural expertise and a genuine passion for gardening. Your knowledge of plants, trees, soils, irrigation, pruning, and seasonal maintenance will help ensure our gardens remain healthy, vibrant, and visually appealing year-round.

This is a full-time position based in Taradale, supporting our facilities and retirement villages across Napier.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the daily activities of the gardening team, providing guidance, support, and task allocation.
• Undertake and oversee routine garden maintenance, including planting, pruning, weeding, mulching, fertilising, and irrigation management.
• Apply expert horticultural knowledge to maintain healthy, sustainable, and visually appealing gardens and landscapes.
• Contribute to garden planning, seasonal planting programmes, and landscaping projects while ensuring high presentation standards are maintained.

About You

You are an experienced gardener with strong horticultural knowledge and a passion for creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces. You have a sound understanding of plants, trees, soils, irrigation systems, pest management, and seasonal garden care.

You enjoy leading by example and are comfortable providing guidance and support to a small team while remaining hands-on in your work. Organised and proactive, you're able to prioritise tasks, maintain high standards, and adapt to changing priorities.

You have a practical, can-do approach, are willing to assist with light general maintenance tasks when required, and are comfortable using technology or willing to learn new systems.

Most importantly, you take pride in your work, have a keen eye for detail, and are committed to creating attractive, welcoming environments that enhance the wellbeing of our residents.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please click on the link below or contact the People and Culture Team for more information and a confidential discussion [06 8459512](tel:06 8459512).