About the job

Job summary

RBG Kew’s Living Collection is arguably the most diverse plant collection in cultivation in the world. As Botanical Horticulturist, working as part of the Arboretum team, you will be involved and working within Kew’s Natural Area.

This position covers a wide range of areas within the Temperate Arboretum Section including, Japanese Gateway, Chinese Grove, our Rosaceae and Philadelphus collections.

These collections are important components of Kew’s living heritage landscape and visitor offer, and it is critical that they are kept to a high standard. You will have an eye for detail, pride in your work and a passion for plants.

Job description

It is crucial for this position to have experience of working in horticulture, and caring for a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants/turf. Alongside previous exposure working in a team when carrying out horticulture tasks.

Person specification

Please kindly note the role will involve manual tasks such as digging, lifting, and carrying goods.

The working hours for this role per week is 36.

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 as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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 interviewing disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

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.