About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Botanical Horticulturist to join the Decorative Nursery team.

Job description

This post is part of the Decorative Unit and is based in the Decorative Nursery, the primary focus of the role is the cultivation of tender hardy annuals and perennials for the external bedding displays. These includes the Palm House parterre which is Kew’s foremost bedding scheme and one of the country’s finest, mixing traditional Victorian planting with innovative design and plant selection. It also includes the production of plants for potted and seasonal displays at the public gates and restaurants. Photographs of these areas are frequently posted on social media.

All these displays are important components of Kew’s public offer and it is critical that the plants are produced on time and to a high standard, so you'll need to have great organisation skills and take pride in your work. 

Person specification

Our ideal candidate will have previous experience of working in either a nursery environment or maintaining high end displays - ideally in a botanic garden or similar - with a real passion for plants and dedication to achieving outstanding results.

You'll need to have a horticultural qualification equivalent to NVQ level 2 or the equivalent experience.

To be successful in this role you'll need to be a team player with good communication skills, and also to be able to work on your own initiative.

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.