Title

Head of Horticulture

US Embassy – Central London
USM - UK Seal

Reference
London-2026-052-S-RA1

Location
Central London:
– Winfield House, Regent’s Park
– The Embassy of the United States of America, Nine Elms
–  Additional United States Government Sites (as needed)

Closing Date
Open until filled

Salary
£70,000-£95,228 gross salary per annum commensurate with prior experience

Benefits

  • Bi-weekly salary payments
  • Merit Based Compensation (Performance Related Pay awards)
  • Private Medical Insurance and Life Insurance Plans
  • U.S. Embassy Group Personal Pension Plan
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Annual and Sick Leave
  • UK and U.S. paid public holidays
  • Season Ticket Loan (Transportation)
  • Training opportunities & personal development
  • Restaurant facility (on-site at Embassy)
  • Gym (on-site at Embassy)
  • Metro Bank (on-site at Embassy)

The Embassy of the United States of America is seeking an experienced Head of Horticulture to oversee, maintain, and support at various government properties across the Central London area. This full-time role will be responsible for the care and maintenance of a broad range of trees, shrubs, bulbs, annuals, herbaceous plants, fruit crops, and vegetables across a variety of gardens and throughout all seasons. Candidates should have experience that reflects the breadth and diversity of this work.

The ideal candidate possesses the following:

  • Advanced proficiency in horticultural craft skills, with the ability to operate and demonstrate the use of horticultural machinery.
  • Advanced knowledge and proven competency in the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of horticultural pests and diseases.
  • Proven expertise in floral design and arrangement, with the ability to create and execute floral displays to an exceptional standard.
  • A strong creative sensibility and exceptional attention to detail.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage confidently and professionally with a broad range of individuals, including VIPs, senior management, colleagues, and members of the public.
  • Proven leadership and management capabilities, with the ability to effectively lead, develop, and motivate horticultural teams of seven or more gardeners.
  • A minimum of five years’ experience in the design, planning, and management of large-scale gardens and estates, ideally exceeding 15 acres.
  • A collaborative and highly responsive approach, with the ability to work within a clearly defined creative vision, take direction with professionalism, and execute that vision with precision, consistency, and exceptional attention to detail.

The successful candidate will serve as the U.S. Government’s principal horticultural expert and authority in London. As such, exceptional horticultural expertise, professional judgement, and relevant experience are fundamental to the success of this role. The position is responsible for maintaining, advancing, and setting the highest horticultural standards across culturally and historically significant U.S. Government properties, including Winfield House, the Ambassador’s Residence and home to the second-largest private garden in central London.

Beyond Winfield House, the role will also oversee the care and maintenance of the gardens and landscaped grounds of the U.S. Embassy compound. The 3.5-acre exterior landscape includes extensive aquatic planting and vegetation associated with a 1.5-million-gallon lake, complemented by six principal interior garden spaces. The role will also provide horticultural oversight and support to additional U.S. Government-owned properties across London, as required.

The key responsibilities of this role are outlined below. All duties are expected to be carried out with the highest degree of professionalism, horticultural excellence, attention to detail, and service, reflecting the significance and representational nature of the properties under the role’s stewardship.

Leadership, Administration, & Operations

  • Lead, manage, and mentor a team of seven or more professional horticulturists, together with approximately four seasonal summer staff, across Winfield House and the U.S. Embassy compound.
  • Work collaboratively with the Ambassador and their spouse to ensure that all horticultural planning, design, presentation, and execution remain closely aligned with their vision, preferences, and expectations. Demonstrate a highly receptive and adaptable approach to feedback and direction, translating their priorities into thoughtful horticultural outcomes while providing expert guidance as appropriate.
  • Develop and manage horticultural budgets, cost estimates, and long-term planting and replacement plans across the portfolio of properties, including the sourcing and procurement of plants, shrubs, trees, garden materials, machinery, and equipment, and the preparation of anticipated operational and capital requirements for inclusion in annual budget planning.
  • Ensure that all CAD drawings, landscape plans, and associated horticultural records are accurately maintained and kept current across the portfolio of properties.
  • Maintain responsibility for health and safety within the horticultural operation, ensuring risks are appropriately managed and that incidents, accidents, hazards, and other safety matters are promptly identified, documented, and reported in accordance with established procedures.
  • Liaise professionally with local authorities and other relevant government bodies regarding horticultural, landscape, or property works and alterations requiring statutory consent or approval.
  • Identify the training and professional-development needs of the Horticultural Team and provide appropriate on-the-job instruction, coaching, and practical training to maintain and develop professional standards.
  • Serve as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for horticultural works, overseeing the performance of contracts and contractors on behalf of the U.S. Government and ensuring compliance with agreed specifications, standards, schedules, and requirements.
  • Oversee the maintenance, management, security, and appropriate use of horticultural tools, machinery, and equipment.
  • Collaborate effectively with external creative, event, and production partners as required, providing horticultural expertise and practical guidance while supporting the successful execution of approved creative concepts, events, and installations across the properties.
  • Undertake other duties and responsibilities consistent with the scope and seniority of the position, as assigned or required.

Estate & Horticultural Management

  • Assume primary responsibility for the strategic planning, management, presentation, and horticultural stewardship of approximately 20 acres of grounds across Winfield House, Wychwood House, the Embassy compound, and other U.S. Government-owned properties
  • Integrate organic horticultural principles and environmentally responsible practices into the management and maintenance of the grounds wherever appropriate.
  • Develop, implement, and continually review annual horticultural work programs, maintenance schedules, and management regimes for all horticultural, ornamental, and landscaped features across U.S. Government-owned properties within the role’s remit.
  • Develop and present landscape designs, planting schemes, and recommendations for grounds improvements to the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), and their respective spouses, translating established aesthetic priorities into thoughtful, well-executed horticultural solutions that balance horticultural excellence, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
  • Conduct an annual review of the tree inventory, assess condition and requirements, and develop appropriate programs of arboricultural maintenance, risk management, replacement, and succession planting.
  • Oversee the care and maintenance of aquatic plants and associated vegetation surrounding the 1.5-million-gallon lake at the Embassy compound, together with the appropriate care and feeding of koi carp within the water feature.
  • Assess the feasibility of reinstating the nursery and glasshouses at Winfield House, with the objective of producing flowering plants, foliage plants, and seasonal bedding for use across Winfield House, Wychwood House, the Embassy compound, and other properties as required.
  • Oversee the operation of glasshouse heating and ventilation control systems and the Embassy’s irrigation systems, ensuring their effective use and promptly reporting defects requiring specialist attention.
  • Oversee the inspection, care, and appropriate maintenance of the tennis court, surrounding areas, ancillary buildings, surfaces, and boundaries at Winfield House.
  • Ensure the appropriate maintenance and presentation of paths, gates, and other hard-landscape features at Winfield House, the Embassy compound, and other U.S. Government-owned properties.
  • Ensure the appropriate, timely, and safe use, handling, storage, and management of pesticides, plant-protection products, chemicals, and other hazardous materials, in accordance with applicable regulations, environmental considerations, and best horticultural practice.
  • Develop and implement effective and environmentally responsible green-waste management practices, including the optimal use of composting systems.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the safe and effective operation of horticultural vehicles, machinery, and equipment, including vans, tractors, front-end loaders, trailers, ride-on mowers, chippers, scarifiers, sprayers, hedge trimmers, blowers, and strimmers, with the ability to demonstrate best practice and provide practical instruction to members of the Horticultural Team.

Floral Design & Execution

  • Maintain exceptional standards of floral presentation throughout the representational and family areas of Winfield House on a day-to-day basis, supplementing home-grown flowers and plant material with externally sourced items where required.
  • Plan, design, and execute cut-flower arrangements and floral decorations for the interiors of Winfield House, liaising closely with the Ambassador, their spouse, and House Managers to meet the requirements of official functions, celebrations, and representational events, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, and sponsored events.

Horticultural Expertise & Advisory

  • Serve as the principal in-house horticultural subject-matter expert, providing authoritative advice, technical guidance, and professional support on horticultural standards, practices, design, plant health, landscape management, and long-term stewardship to staff and contractors in London and at the U.S. Consulates in Belfast and Edinburgh, as required.
  • Conduct informative horticultural and garden tours for senior officials, dignitaries, and other high-level visitors to U.S. Government-owned properties.
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of, and sensitivity to, the historical, horticultural, and heritage significance of the Chief of Mission Residence (CMR), Winfield House, contributing to their preservation, documentation, and continued stewardship in accordance with the Cultural Significance Study and other relevant heritage guidance.

Interested? Then we would like to hear from you!

Qualifications Required

Applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

For the experience and education requirements applicants must meet either Option 1 or Option 2.

Option 1

Experience
A minimum of 5 years’ experience in designing, planning and management of large gardens over ten acres in size. Experience in in-house floral design & decoration. Experience of the cyclical maintenance of a high-quality garden open to the public, a garden with specialist historic and botanic plant collections. Experience in the care, cultivation and conservation of landscape detail for external and internal landscapes with a wide variety of flora. Experienced with the procurement of nursery stock, for selection and quality and species selection for variety of location situations. Experience in the selection/procurement of appropriate machinery for use on U.S. Government Owned property. Experience in the coordination, design, procurement and installation of floral designs and themed decoration for official events. Must have excellent proven experience in all aspects of horticultural management, ground maintenance, planning & budgeting.

In addition, a minimum of 1 year of supervisory experience.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Education
Formal Horticultural qualification: HND level or Degree in Horticulture or Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Master of Horticulture, or RHS Diploma in Horticulture or Kew Diploma or an equivalent qualification.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.

Option 2

Experience
A minimum of 8 years’ experience in designing, planning and management of large gardens over ten acres in size. Experience in in-house floral design & decoration. Experience of the cyclical maintenance of a high-quality garden open to the public, a garden with specialist historic and botanic plant collections. Experience in the care, cultivation and conservation of landscape detail for external and internal landscapes with a wide variety of flora. Experienced with the procurement of nursery stock, for selection and quality and species selection for variety of location situations. Experience in the selection/procurement of appropriate machinery for use on U.S. Government Owned property. Experience in the coordination, design, procurement and installation of floral designs and themed decoration for official events. Must have excellent proven experience in all aspects of horticultural management, ground maintenance, planning & budgeting.

In addition, a minimum of 4 years of supervisory experience.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Education
Secondary school or an equivalent academic education is required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.

Language
Must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English (this may be tested).
Please address this language requirement in your ERA application.

Skills & Abilities
Must hold a current UK driver’s license, or an equivalent license (EU issued license).
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Certifications, Training, & Professional Competencies
Applicants should possess the following certifications, training, and demonstrated competencies, or recognized equivalents where applicable:

  • Power tool operations (e.g., City & Guilds NPTC or equivalent)
  • PA1 & PA6 pesticide application
  • Lantra tractor operations
  • Advanced horticultural machinery & equipment operation
  • Arboricultural surveying & tree risk assessment
  • Working at height & ability to safely lift up to 25 kg
  • First aid and health & safety training
  • Microsoft Office suite proficiency

Experience
A minimum of 8 years’ experience in designing, planning and management of large gardens over ten acres in size. Experience in in-house floral design & decoration. Experience of the cyclical maintenance of a high-quality garden open to the public, a garden with specialist historic and botanic plant collections. Experience in the care, cultivation and conservation of landscape detail for external and internal landscapes with a wide variety of flora. Experienced with the procurement of nursery stock, for selection and quality and species selection for variety of location situations. Experience in the selection/procurement of appropriate machinery for use on U.S. Government Owned property. Experience in the coordination, design, procurement and installation of floral designs and themed decoration for official events. Must have excellent proven experience in all aspects of horticultural management, ground maintenance, planning & budgeting.

In addition, a minimum of 4 years of supervisory experience.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Education
Secondary school or an equivalent academic education is required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.

Language
Must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English (this may be tested).
Please address this language requirement in your ERA application.

Skills & Abilities
Must hold a current UK driver’s license, or an equivalent license (EU issued license).
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Certifications, Training, & Professional Competencies
Applicants should possess the following certifications, training, and demonstrated competencies, or recognized equivalents where applicable:

All interested applicants for this vacancy must submit their application via the Electronic Recruitment Application (ERA).

Submit Application
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