Site Caretaker

Role Profile

Job Title	Site Caretaker
Position	Permanent
Hours	Part Time average 18 hours per week(Flexible working hours to be agreed, 8am site starton working days preferred, ad-hoc requirement tocover duties on Saturday)
Salary	£14,292 per annum
Holidays	Pro-rata to 33 days including 8 public holidays
Manager	Visitor Experience Manager
Location	Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road,London SW3 4HS

1. Equal Opportunities

Chelsea Physic Garden is a place for everyone. As an equal opportunities’ employer, Chelsea Physic Garden is committed to championing equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. If you are a suitably qualified applicant, we encourage your application whatever your age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.

2. About Chelsea Physic Garden

Chelsea Physic Garden (CPG) is an independent charity set up in 1983 to promote and preserve the four-acre garden of the same name. The charity’s mission is to demonstrate the medicinal, economic, cultural and environmental importance of plants to the survival and wellbeing of humankind. We are open to visitors six-days a week, eleven months of the year. There has been a teaching Garden on our site since 1673, and today we hope that all our visitors leave inspired, having learnt something new.

3. Our Values

We have a set of five inter linked reinforcing values that support each other

4. About the Role

The Site Caretaker, is an important part of the Physic Garden community. They are reliable and proactive and take pride in the presentation of the buildings and associated infrastructure. The Site Caretaker is approachable and a good communicator internally and externally. Although there is a planned programme of facilities and maintenance works, the nature of the buildings and the age of some of the facilities means that unplanned jobs will arise ranging from quick fixes to longer term projects.

The Site Caretaker will have good organisational skills, alongside a good knowledge of DIY, including an understanding of when a job is outside the scope of their ability and to be undertaken by a contractor. The Site Caretaker approaches all tasks in a professional manner and appoints contractors to support the delivery of works where required.

Every job is delivered in a safe and secure manner in line with organisations policies and an understanding of and ability to prepare basic method statements and risk assessments and to understand the regulations relating to COSHH will be required to maintain a safe working environment for everyone.

In this time of climate change, the Site Caretaker works in a way that prioritises sustainable practice and looks to use materials and methods that reduce our impact on the planet including in the choice of materials and methods and to reuse and recycle as much as possible.

There is a physical element to this role, including some working at height, the use of access equipment and the use of powered and hand tools. We ask that candidates are confident in their ability to undertake these aspects of the role safely and in their stamina to be active for long periods of time together with confidence to work outside in all weathers. Personal Protective Equipment will be provided.

5. Key areas of responsibility

i. Facilities & Maintenance

• To deliver the cycle of planned maintenance, repair and decoration works for the site.

• To ensure ad-hoc maintenance and repair requests are investigated and resolved promptly.

To regularly inspect the buildings and associated infrastructure, including water, heating, lighting, and alarm systems to make sure they are in good working order.

Lead on regular mandatory testing is carried out and recorded as outlined within the PPM, supported by the Premises Mananger.

• Take regular metering readings and provide information as required.

Work with the Premises Manager to collate a prioritised works list from ‘help desk’ requests, own site survey observations, and customer feedback.

Deputise for the Premises Manager when required.

ii. Organisation & Delivery

Work in an organised way, with good time management to deliver multiple projects running simultaneously.

Take a proactive approach to solve concerns and problems with facilities and maintenance or escalate when necessary.

Regularly communicate with the Visitor Experience Manager who is responsible for onsite operations.

Works with colleagues across the organisation to maintain a high standard of presentation across the built environment.

iii. Contractor Management

Develop good working relations with current contractors and review contracts and contractors to ensure ongoing value for money through negotiation.

Ensure that there is an adequate and up to date list of contractors and suppliers (including emergency call out provision) and those suppliers understand the conditions and constraints of working at CPG.

Evidence up to date contractors insurance and public liability cover and exchange information, review risk assessments and method statements prior to any work commencing. Monitor all contractor activity on site ensuring that safe working practices are maintained at all times.

Liaise with colleagues to ensure any maintenance work and its impact on others is known and understood and planned so as to minimise the disruptions to others.

Be responsible for monitoring costs against quotations and ensure rigorous control of costs and confirm completion of works satisfactorily.

iv. Maintenance Volunteer Management

Develop good working relations with Maintenance Volunteers and support them with the help of the Volunteer Manager to carry out tasks within their capabilities.

Provide opportunities for Maintenance Volunteers to support facilities and maintenance within their individual capabilities.

Manage day-to-day work activities for Maintenance Volunteers.

Ensure training and safe working practice of Maintenance Volunteers.

v. Creating a safe and sustainable working environment

• Ensure that all works onsite are carried out in a safe and secure manner.

Prepare risk assessments and method statements when relevant for directly undertaken work.

Ensure that you and all suppliers work in a way that supports sustainability and the environment.

Maintain equipment, materials, and tools so that they are stored neatly and are in good working order.

Carrying out Deputy Responsible Person duties for Legionella management across site.

6. Person Specification

Knowledge Skills and Experience	Essential/Desirable
Practical experience and knowledge of facilities and maintenance	E
Basic DIY skills	E
Strong verbal and written communication skills for givinginstructions to contractors and support workers.	E
Related experience in areas such as electrics, plumbing is also useful	D
Contractor management and procurement experience	D
Understanding of Climate Change and how to work in a sustainableway	D
NEBOSHH or IOSHH Qualification	D
Understanding of Facilities & Maintenance at a historic site	D
Ability to work as part of a small team	D
First Aid Qualification	D
Knowledge of working in value-led organisations such as charities, orthe cultural sector	D

7. Competency Framework

We have a set of eight competencies that are common to all employees and within the framework each competency has four levels which relate to the level at which individual roles need to operate. The competency assessment for this role is set out below and more information will be provided to support this assessment.

	Competency	Descriptor	Level forthis role
1	Leadership	Setting the pace and behaving with integrity	1
2	PeopleManagement	Making clear what you expect and what is tobe achieved; enabling and supporting yourstaff to deliver	1
3	Analysis anduse of Evidence	Collecting, analysing and using informationand evidence, assessing risk and takingdecisions	2
4	Communication	Communicating with colleagues, visitors andstakeholders	1
5	CollaborativeWorking	Working together with people within andoutside of CPG to help us achieve our goals	1
6	DeliveringResults	Organising and managing the work to deliverresults	1
7	Using andManagingResources	Using resources cost effectively	1
8	Know How	The knowledge, skills and expertise you needto do your job and help others to do theirs	2

8. Terms and Conditions

This is a permanent part time post. The post holder will be required to work a days three per week but the nature of the role means that flexibility over the days and hours worked is required to meet the needs of the business. For example, a large amount of routine maintenance takes place in January.

The Garden operates a salary exchange pension scheme with Royal London. The equivalent contribution rates are 6% employer and 3% employee at the end of the probationary period.

The role is based at Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS.

9. Terms and Conditions

Please complete the job application form and equal opportunities form and email them to jobs@chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk

Closing date for

28 June 2026

applications:

1st Interview (on-site

or online)

w/c 06 July 2026