Senior Horticulturist Nursery

Senior Horticulturalist Nursery – 6 month fixed term contract

The Nursery Senior Horticulturist is responsible for the management and maintenance of the
Temperate Nursery and Wallace Garden and the associated plant collections. They lead a small
team of horticulturists, and volunteers to undertake the seasonal activities required to
maintain the Temperate Nursery and Wallace Garden and its plant collections to the highest
horticultural and curatorial standards. They will use a range of horticultural machinery in the
day-to-day management of their areas. They report to the Horticulture Supervisor who is
responsible for all aspects of the operational duties of the horticultural team. They will
coordinate with the Curator to develop and enhance the plant collections under their care.

The Nursery Senior Horticulturist is responsible for the curation of all plant collections that
fall within the area they manage, with support from the Curator and Plant Records Officer. This
includes updating plant records on an agreed audit cycle, supporting with the accessioning of
material and identifying further taxa for acquisition. They will support with content creation
for engagement activities and interpretation relating to the area and collections they manage.
They will participate in garden events, outreach and educational activities as required.

They will support the Curator and Horticulture Supervisor to prepare budgets related to their
section, and support the Horticulture Supervisor with purchasing for their section. They will
support the Horticulture Supervisor in the delivery of health and safety for their section and
where required the wider department. They will participate in the weekend duty rota. They will
support the Horticulture Supervisor with any other reasonable duties that relate to the running
of the Horticultural Department.

The Nursery Senior Horticulturist will have a Level 2 qualification or equivalent in
horticulture or a related subject. They will have worked within a professional horticultural
environment. They will have an excellent working knowledge of propagation and nursery growing.
They will have experience training horticultural personnel. They will be well organised, a
strong communicator and a team player. They will have a commitment to the delivery of NBGWs
Mission and Strategic Objectives.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Manage, maintain and enhance the living collections in the Temperate Nursery and Wallace Garden
   working to the highest horticultural standards.
2. Lead and manage a team of horticulturists, and volunteers, promoting exemplary work practises
   and providing guidance and support where required.
3. Complete line management duties for Horticulturists within the section they manage using
   Breathe or a similar HR software system. This includes signing-off leave and TOIL and logging
   sickness absences.
4. Undertake performance management reviews for Horticulture staff within the section they manage.
5. Curate the living plant collections within their section, keeping accurate data-rich plant
   records on the plant records database and maintain labelling throughout their section.
6. Update plant records across the section they manage on an agreed audit cycle set by the
   Curator.
7. Research and propose plant acquisitions and developments to the area they manage to the Curator
   and Horticulture Supervisor.
8. Use a range of horticultural machinery for the maintenance of plant collections and garden
   areas.
9. Support the Horticulture Supervisor with developing budgets related to the section and support
   with purchasing items for the section using SAGE or an alternative PSP platform.
10. Ensure all team members adhere to health and safety requirements and support the Horticulture
    Supervisor with departmental risk and COSHH assessments.
11. Undertake the training and development of team members they manage with support from the
    Horticulture Supervisor and Curator.
12. Undertake weekend duty cover for the Department as per the weekend duty rota.
13. Participate in Garden events, public outreach and educational activities as required.
14. Support the Curator, Horticulture Supervisor and other NBGW Departments with content creation
    for public engagement on NBGWs work and activities related to their role and the area and
    collections they manage.
15. Participate in the Garden Duty Manager rota during winter months (November to March).
16. Undertake any other duties as reasonably required.

Person Specification

• Level 2 Certificate in horticulture or a related subject.
• PA1/PA6 Pesticide Certificates.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• A knowledge of horticultural practise.
• A knowledge of temperate plants.
• A knowledge of propagation and nursery growing.
• The ability to maintain accurate plant records, labels and maps.
• An awareness of health and safety at work practices and regulations.

Experience

• Worked within a professional horticultural environment.
• They will have experience training horticultural personnel.
• Experience of managing people.
• Experience of working within a botanic garden.
• Experience of using botanical collections management software.

Personal qualities

• Good communication skills – written, oral and interpersonal.
• Organisational skills including planning, budgeting, monitoring and reporting.
• The ability to work as a member of a team and contribute to the Mission and Strategic
  Objectives of NBGW.

Additional requirements

• Clean UK driving license.
• Proficiency in written and spoken Welsh or a commitment to learn Welsh. Desirable

Applications may be submitted in welsh, an application submitted in welsh will not be treated any less favourably than an application submitted in English. 

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to [email protected]