About the job

Job summary

We're looking for a skilled horticulturist to join our team in Kew’s Princess of Wales Conservatory, our most climatically diverse display glasshouse.

Job description

The role will involve the cultivation and maintenance of our varied and valuable plant collections and displays. 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 also be part of the team responsible for delivering Kew’s annual and renowned Orchid Festival. There will be plenty of opportunity to learn new skills through working within the wider multi-disciplinary glasshouse collections team.

Person specification

Candidates require a horticultural qualification to NVQ level 2 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 is able to shift priorities to the needs of the team across the breadth of glasshouse displays. The candidate will need to be a good communicator with the ability to inform others effectively and help motivate a team. Previous experience of building ornamental displays and an eye for detail is desirable as the candidate will play a role in helping to build Kew’s annual Orchid Festival.

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.