About the job

Job summary

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.

Job description

The collections include plant collections of high conservation and scientific value, and your job will include keeping accurate records to help maintain this value. 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.

Person specification

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.

Benefits

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 access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To apply for this role, please submit your application through the Kew Gardens website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.