Botanical Horticulturist

We're looking for a skilled horticulturist to join our team in Kew’s iconic Palm House preparing for the renovation of the historic building. The role will involve the cultivation of our valuable tropical plant collections. Kew has an international reputation for the diversity and quality of its living collections, and you will help ensure that these collections are maintained for visitor enjoyment, conservation, and education into the future. The collections include plants of high decorative, conservation and scientific value, and your job will include keeping accurate records to help maintain these values. You will be part of the team responsible for containerising and rehousing Palm House collections into two new bespoke glasshouses during the year-long contract. There will be plenty of opportunity to learn new skills through working within the wider multi-disciplinary glasshouse collections team.

We're looking for a skilled horticulturist to join our team in Kew’s iconic Palm House preparing for the renovation of the historic building. The role will involve the cultivation of our valuable tropical plant collections. Kew has an international reputation for the diversity and quality of its living collections, and you will help ensure that these collections are maintained for visitor enjoyment, conservation, and education into the future. The collections include plants of high decorative, conservation and scientific value, and your job will include keeping accurate records to help maintain these values. You will be part of the team responsible for containerising and rehousing Palm House collections into two new bespoke glasshouses during the year-long contract. There will be plenty of opportunity to learn new skills through working within the wider multi-disciplinary glasshouse collections team.

Botanical Horticulturist

More details

Candidates require a horticultural qualification to NVQ level 2 standard or equivalent and should have glasshouse experience working in a public/botanic garden or similar. Our ideal candidate will be an adaptable team player who can manage conflicting priorities and embrace the challenge of a significant works project which will at times be physically demanding. Candidates will be expected to communicate effectively with the direct Palm House team and colleagues across the glasshouse collections department. A knowledge and passion for tropical plants is desirable.

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.