Since 1978 The Inn at Little Washington, located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, has been one of the most decorated restaurants and hotels in the world. There is no better time to join in out growing team of exceptional people. On-the-job training, advancement potential, flexible schedules, amazing benefits, and competitive pay. Your next career awaits.

SUMMARY

Perform all functions related to the overall management of the Estate Gardens and Grounds Division. Provide direction and supervision for the field crew and all their related tasks.  Maintain responsibility for all aspects of proper horticultural care and maintenance of plant material and lawn areas throughout the property.  Maintain 5-star standards of excellence through all phases of the workday; responsible for these standards being translated to the work performed by the Grounds crew. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

·       Maintain responsibility for all aspects of proper horticultural care and maintenance of plant material and lawn areas throughout the property. 

·       Effectively manage all work performed on site to fit within the specific unique requirements and restrictions of The Inn, always maintaining a superior guest experience as the foremost priority.

·       Develop a collaborative relationship with the Chef Proprietor and General Manager of The Inn in order to and implement the ever-changing vision and direction of The Inn as they dictate and bring into reality the parts of the vision that relates to the Gardens & Grounds of The Inn.

·       Supervise and manage Estate Gardens and Grounds team members.

·       Provide support and guidance to the Farm team 

·       Responsible for conducting daily operations meetings, developing and prioritizing daily task lists, providing training whenever necessary.

·       Monitor quality during task performance to insure 5-star results and maintain accountability for proper completion on schedule.

·       Provide leadership to the Grounds crew. Actively work with the Associate Estate Gardener to develop that person as a leader within the Division and at The Inn.

·       Implement a comprehensive landscape maintenance program with seasonal focus

·       Supervise and manage horticultural applications (fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides, etc.) as needed, developing an effective IPM program.  Maintain proper record keeping of applications.

·       Work with Management to develop and effectively manage the budget for the Grounds Division.

·       Maintain responsibility for all purchasing within the division.  Work with the AP Administrator to insure timely processing of invoices and effective vendor management.  Develop new vendor relationships and manage existing relationships to the benefit of The Inn.

·       Maintain responsibility for tool & equipment management and inventory control.  Provide training whenever necessary for the proper and safe use of tools & equipment.

·       Properly manage the maintenance and repairs of division vehicles and equipment.

·       Manage operations yard facilities and plant & materials holding areas.

·       Conduct daily walk-thru of grounds to determine order of priorities and will inform daily activities for team.  This includes watering, weeding, special projects and others and appropriate.

·       Monitor all plants capes, trees and shrubs and quickly take action to avoid the loss of any materials

·       Oversee the work of all 3rd party vendors

·       Manage specialized wood burning fireplace services, holiday décor installation, and winter storm services. 

·       Manage all exterior water features, to include multiple fountains and the feature Koi Pond Garden.

·       Develop and grow positive attitudes within the Grounds Division to promote unity and foster a team environment that will yield effective crossline work efforts with all divisions within The Inn.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

·       Candidate to have a minimum of 10 years of prior full-time experience in estate/fine garden management, commercial landscape maintenance, high end residential landscape maintenance or design/build, resort landscape maintenance, or other similar landscape focused discipline that provides practical field experience relating to a large, detail oriented, horticulturally diverse property or properties. 

·       Shall hold, or shall acquire within 90 days of employment, an active Commercial Pesticide Applicators License or Registered Technician Certification and have experience with applications & best practices.

·       Shall hold a valid Virginia Driver’s License and shall have reliable transportation.

·       Be available for weekend work, overtime, and winter storm services as required.

·       Shall have extensive experience in personnel management in one or more of the aforementioned related professions.

·       Be familiar and comfortable with the operation and maintenance of standard landscape small engine equipment (line trimmer, motorized shears, blower, chain saw, etc.) and

·       Have a functional knowledge and experience with budget management related to landscape operations. 

 Desirable

·       Bachelor’s Degree, associate’s degree, or professional certification(s) in Horticulture or another related field

·       A combination of education and commensurate field experience preferred.

·       Be familiar and comfortable with the operation of compact utility loaders, skid steer loaders, and associated attachment implements.

·       Have experience in holiday décor or other seasonal display installation and management.

SKILLS

·       Possess the ability to communicate verbally with team members in order to effectively grow and develop a team environment that will promote individual and collective effort resulting in more efficient performance of recurring daily tasks as well as specialized and ongoing projects.

·       Ability to maintain flexibility and work with the Associate Estate Gardener in developing and managing task lists as priorities change, dictated by the daily needs of The Inn. 

·       Maintain responsibility for all work quality control, utilizing the Associate Estate Gardener for direct crew supervision. 

·       Be familiar and comfortable with all varieties of landscape tools and with the operation of trucks & trailers.

·       Be well versed in complex pruning techniques of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals.

·       Teach various skills to others. Properly assess the talent levels of team members to insure optimal production in all areas.  Grow and develop leaders within the team to promote higher levels of performance and efficiency by fostering personal growth and accountability. Develop and manage chain of command.

·       Have a functional knowledge of and the ability to diagnose plant health problems, to include diseases and pest infestations. Manage cost effective plant replacement to ensure long term success with no lapse in a high quality guest experience.

·       Have a high level of plant identification skills and practical horticultural knowledge.

·       Understand personnel management, and the ability to work well with different personalities to maximize performance and efficiency of varying tasks and situations that may arise during the work period.

·       Develop and implement an effective IPM program. Maintain responsibility for proper & safe management of all horticultural applications.  Maintain compliance with all required state and federal regulations.

·       Develop and manage effective ornamental & turf care programs, following acceptable industry standards to promote the health and development of the landscape assets of The Inn.

·       Understand and implement high level seasonal flower rotation and planter programs.

·       Understand landscape irrigation.  Install and maintain appropriate irrigation systems wherever possible.

·       Build and manage the annual budget for the Grounds Division, working directly with the Director of Finance to develop realistic goals and fit the division appending patterns into the cashflow cycles of The Inn throughout the year.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

·       Shall have the ability to lift a minimum of 40 lbs. without risk of bodily injury.

·       Shall be able to perform the physical workload required of a landscape-oriented job, to include extended periods of walking and working outside in extreme weather conditions, if necessary, without problem.

**The Inn at Little Washington is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws**