Arboretum Nursery Horticulturist
Arboretum Nursery Horticulturist
We're looking for a skilled horticulturist to join our team propagating and cultivating some of the most valuable living plant collections in the gardens. Kew has an international reputation for the diversity and quality of its living collections, and you will help ensure that high quality plants are produced to ensure that collections and landscapes are maintained for visitor enjoyment, conservation, and education. The collections include plant collections of high conservation and scientific value, and your job will include keeping accurate records to help maintain these values. You will also contribute to Kew’s scientific research projects by providing living plant material for research and conservation programmes.
There will be plenty of opportunity to learn new skills through working within the wider multi-disciplinary gardens team.
More details
The successful candidate will have good knowledge and experience in a wide range of propagation techniques as well as irrigation, plant nutrition, pest and disease management and use of appropriate machinery. Ideally you will have a Level 2 qualification in horticulture or an equivalent. We are also looking for someone who is keen to work in a busy public garden where engaging with visitors is a regular part of the job. Most importantly, you must have a keen interest in plants and a desire to develop your knowledge further within a unique garden.
You'll be part of a diverse team, so good communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as are basic IT skills and a working knowledge of Health and Safety. Most importantly, the successful candidate will have a can-do attitude and be confident challenging the accepted practices when there is a better way of doing something.
Interviews are due to take place on 12 January.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.
We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.
Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi.
The salary for this position is £29,692 per annum [Band B]
Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.
If you are interested in this position, please submit your application through the online portal, by clicking “Apply for this job”.
We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
No agencies please.