Grounds and Gardens Manager

Grounds and Gardens Manager

Salary: in the region of £45,000-£50,000 pa, depending on skills and experience

Location: Wimborne Minster

Nestled in 250 acres of beautiful Dorset parkland, Canford School is one of the leading co-educational boarding and day schools in the UK educating some 660 pupils aged 13-18. With a commanding reputation built on excellent academic achievement, breadth of education and a fresh lively approach, Canford also offers a superb sports and co-curricular programme which is seen as amongst the best in the independent sector.

The recent announcement of the creation of the Canford Schools Group and the merger with Dumpton School, heralds a bold new phase in Canford s evolution, with several further partnerships anticipated.

Reporting to the Director of Estates, the Grounds and Gardens Manager is directly responsible for delivering all the school s grounds maintenance and improvements, including sports pitches, formal gardens, a golf course, and a large historic tree collection. The Manager leads four in-house grounds trade teams, and various external specialist contractors and suppliers. They are ultimately responsible for determining the requirements and managing the execution of all planned and reactive grounds maintenance work, preparation, improvements and inspection / testing regimes, and will also assist the Director of Estates with other capital and alteration projects which impact on the grounds and trees as required.

Successful applicants should have experience of professional grounds management within a school or educational campus environment, be a professional head of grounds extensively experienced within a school or educational campus environment, or be a professional with an expertise in specialist sports (such as golf) or arboriculture.

Closing date: Sunday 15th March 2026

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Canford School, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.

Please apply as soon as possible applications will be considered as they are received

Canford School is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our Community and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Canford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undergo child protection screening.