Position Title: Garden Administrator
Position Description: As an integral part of the Garden Team, support the retail experience and development of Festina Lente's tranquil gardens to their full potential in terms of the green areas being a resourceful support and medium for wellbeing and social inclusion.
Department Name: Gardens & Retail
Reporting to: Head of Horticulture & Garden Retail
Based at: The primary base for the position will be in our HQ at Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow. As part of our strategic growth, we are relocating to Belfield House, Kilpedder, Co. Wicklow within a timeframe of 2 to 4 years. This role will immediately operate across both locations in preparation for and in support of this move.
Contract Type: Part-time Permanent, 18.75hr week (Monday to Friday, working pattern negotiable)
Position Goals: To ensure an exceptional level of administrative management and support within the Garden & Retail Team
Key Duties and Responsibilities
As a member of the Gardening & Retail Team:
Administration Management
* To oversee the allotments, usage, numbers and maintenance and liaising with accounts re payments.
* To input the weekly rotas for all horticulture staff and volunteers as instructed by the Head of Horticulture & Garden Retail.
Stock Management
* Checking delivery notes against supplier invoices for payment
* Reporting order discrepancies and problems to the Head of Horticulture & Garden Retail,
* Liaising with suppliers regarding invoicing discrepancies
Retail Support
* To provide relief cover for the retail shop assistant as required and as instructed by the Head of Horticulture & Garden Retail.
Customer Experience
* To ensure that a high standard of service to customers is always delivered, including answering questions, giving advice and guidance on product selection where required,
Stock Marketing
* To support the Garden Retail Shop Assistants in developing marketing ideas and promoting relevant stock which could include live demonstrations and interactive displays to promote unique merchandise,
* Assisting in the ongoing promotion of all Garden Events
Horticultural Programme & Event Management
* To support the Head of Horticulture & Garden Retail with organising events in terms of promotional communications,
* To undertake any other reasonable duties which may be assigned by the Head of Horticulture & Garden Retail.
Stakeholder Engagement (internal and external)
* Building and maintaining excellent working relationships with colleagues, students, services members, suppliers, and customers of Festina Lente
Communication
* Communicating effectively with stakeholders (internally and externally), as well as visitors, volunteers and staff members across the business.
Health & Safety
* Complying with the Health & Safety requirements of the organisation and legislation.
Training and Development
* Attending all designated training workshops as it pertains to equipment use and horticulture skills development,
* Active participation in team and staff meetings.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills both across a team setting,
* Strong intrapersonal skills including self-motivation, flexibility, problem solving and creativity,
* Experienced in administration and inventory management, with with good excel and database management skills.
* Customer-focused mindset with strong problem-solving abilities,
* Committed to fostering a culture of social inclusion across diverse teams.
Education and experience
* Proven experience in retail, preferably in a garden centre.
Language: Fluent English
Work Authorisation: Ireland, required
Benefits of Employment:
Benefits Include:
* 22 days' annual leave
* Access to a Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) scheme
* Access to professional training and continuous development programmes.
* Access to Educational Support
* Bike to work scheme
* On-site parking
Closing date: 26th September 2025
Email CV plus cover letter to .ieTel :
Equal Opportunities Statement: Festina Lente is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from diverse and underrepresented communities.
FESTINA LENTE CHILD PROTECTION POLICY / GARDA VETTING / MANDATORY DECLARATION Garda Vetting for all employees and volunteers is compulsory and those candidates invited for interview will be asked to complete a Garda Vetting form for submission at that time. The successful candidate will be provided with a copy of the Festina Lente Child Protection Policy and will be required to sign their acceptance of the contents of this document. A Mandatory Declaration Form must be signed in advance of commencement of employment.
This role is supported by the Community Services Programme and as such is subject to continued government funding. The Community Services Programme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and is managed by Pobal.
Qualifying Criteria for all applicants applying for CSP Supported Positions:
* People who are in the workforce but unemployed and seeking to return to work i.e.,
* people who are in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit (JB), Jobseekers Allowance (JA);people who are signing for credits
* Qualified Adults (Adult dependants of those in receipt of social welfare payment)
* People with Disabilities (PWD) i.e. in receipt of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Partial Capacity Benefit, or other disability benefit.
* Ukrainians (displaced by the war)
* Migrants, Refugees & Asylum Seekers
* Irish Travellers & Roma
* People coming from a labour activation scheme i.e. Community Employment, TUS, or RSS placements
* One Parent Families (people who parent alone without sufficient resources and are in receipt of social welfare payments)
* People who are deserted, separated, divorced or widowed (People in receipt of
* Widow/er's non-contributory pension, surviving Civil Partner's non-contributorypension, or deserted Wives allowance/benefit)
* Carers (people in receipt of Carers Allowance/Benefit who want to return to the workforce)
* People who are homeless
* Stabilised and recovering drug misusers
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits:
* Bike to work scheme
* Employee discount
* On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Old Connaught Avenue, Bray, CO. Wicklow: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
* Are you CSP POBAL ELIGIBLE
Work authorisation:
* Ireland (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 26/09/2025