OPW Recruiting Chargehand (Head) Craft Gardeners at Prestigious sites across Ireland

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is inviting applications for the role of Chargehand (Head) Craft Gardener at some of Ireland’s most prestigious historic gardens and estates. These permanent positions represent one of the highest-level horticultural career opportunities in the State service, combining hands-on horticultural practice with leadership, conservation, and public engagement.

A Network of Historic Landscapes

The OPW is responsible for the care, management, and presentation of over 30 significant properties and designed landscapes nationwide, from iconic urban parks to vast country estates. Its remit extends across 750 heritage sites, making the organisation one of the largest custodians of Ireland’s built and natural heritage. The Head Craft Gardener positions now being recruited are based at:

• Castletown House & Donaghcumper Demesne (Kildare)
• Doneraile Court & Annes Grove Gardens (Cork)
• Kilkenny Castle
• Derrynane House & National Historic Park (Kerry)
• St Stephen’s Green (Dublin)

Each site carries its own unique heritage and horticultural challenges, from managing internationally significant plant collections to overseeing biodiversity initiatives and maintaining visitor-ready presentation standards.

The Role of Head Craft Gardener

As senior members of the horticultural team, Head Craft Gardeners are responsible for ensuring excellence in the maintenance, conservation, and development of these historic landscapes. The role blends high-level horticultural expertise with leadership and site management duties. Key responsibilities include:

• Planning and implementing daily and weekly horticultural programmes.
• Supervising and motivating garden teams, apprentices, and contractors.
• Managing propagation, planting schemes, nursery stock, and collections.
• Overseeing arboriculture and biodiversity management.
• Ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
• Liaising with site management, contractors, and the public.
• Deputising for the Foreperson or Superintendent when required.
• The role also demands public-facing skills: Head Gardeners are expected to contribute to visitor engagement through tours, talks, and educational initiatives, reflecting the OPW’s mission to make heritage accessible.

Sites of National Importance The locations recruiting for Head Gardeners are among the most historically and horticulturally significant in the country:

• Castletown House & Donaghcumper Demesne (Co. Kildare): 227 acres of restored 18th-century parkland, formal lawns, waterways, and biodiversity-rich meadows, with ambitious plans for kitchen garden reinstatement and biodiversity education.
• Annes Grove & Doneraile Court (Co. Cork): Annes Grove’s 30-acre Robinsonian gardens, with exotic collections from 19th-century plant hunters, and Doneraile Court’s 420-acre estate with wildflower meadows, native deer herds, and over half a million annual visitors.
• Kilkenny Castle (Co. Kilkenny): 50 acres of terraced gardens, meadows, and woodlands in the heart of Kilkenny City, serving both local communities and international visitors. Derrynane House & National Historic Park (Co. Kerry): 120 hectares of coastal landscape, sand dunes, and botanical collections in the historic home of Daniel O’Connell.
• St Stephen’s Green (Dublin): Ireland’s oldest public park, a 22-acre urban landmark attracting more than four million visitors annually, with diverse horticultural features from formal bedding schemes to wildlife habitats. These sites highlight the variety and scope of the OPW’s horticultural portfolio - ranging from intimate historic gardens to vast public parks and nationally important biodiversity reserves.

Candidate Requirements: Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture (Level 7 or equivalent), with at least two years’ post-qualification experience as a Craft Gardener. Experience in historic landscapes and plant collections is desirable. Candidates must also possess a full, clean driving licence (manual transmission) and demonstrate the following qualities:

• Strong organisational and supervisory skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork.
• Ability to solve problems, work independently, and lead by example.
• Commitment to best practice in conservation, biodiversity, and visitor engagement.
• Physical capability, flexibility, and a professional approach to public service are essential, given the demanding and varied nature of the role.

Why This Matters
For the trade, these appointments highlight both the professionalisation of horticulture in the public sector and the ongoing need for skilled leaders to maintain Ireland’s heritage gardens. The OPW’s investment in Chargehand (Head) Gardener positions reinforces the demand for well-trained horticulturists, underlining the importance of education, training pipelines, and industry partnerships to sustain this workforce. For individuals, it represents one of the most prestigious horticultural roles available in Ireland—a career at the intersection of heritage, biodiversity, and public service.

Applications
The roles are permanent, full-time State Industrial posts (39 hours per week, Monday to Friday). A probationary period of seven months will apply.

Closing Date for Applications: 5:30pm, Tuesday 30th September 2025

Apply here: https://horticulture.jobs/job/1338/chargehand-head-craft-gardener