Senior Glasshouse Horticulturist
Birmingham Botanical Gardens are seeking two Senior Horticulturists to lead the ongoing maintenance and of our Glasshouse Display and Nurseries at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
The Gardens are in a period of change and have recently secured a Round 1 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant towards a £13m capital project. The project aims to restore the historic glasshouses, upgrade site infrastructure and displays and improve the visitor experience for all.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) are keen to see applications from people of all backgrounds and communities and are committed to representing the diverse nature of the city. The Gardens look forward to receiving applications from all suitable candidates and will conduct inclusive recruitment processes based on attitude, experience, and qualifications. BBG are also committed to ensuring that no-one invited to interview should be excluded due to financial circumstances and will reimburse anyone attending interview (related costs must be supported by receipts) if required.
ABOUT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS
Birmingham Botanical Gardens Opened in 1832, Birmingham Botanical Gardens (registered charity number 528981) is one of just two independent charitable botanical gardens in the UK.
Spread across 15 acres, just one mile from Birmingham City Centre, BBG consists of over 7,000 formally documented plants, making it the largest and most diverse botanic collection in central England.
BBG’s heritage is woven into Birmingham’s history – once the most important manufacturing town in the world – and the site welcomes over 180,000 visitors each year.
As well as the gardens, which are a green sanctuary within the city, the charity also provides a unique educational resource for learning about plants, conservation, and the environment. We welcome visits from nurseries, schools, and colleges, as well as organised groups, and run adult courses and workshops in photography, nature, wildlife, heritage, and culture.
As an independent charity, we rely on the support of visitors, supporters, donors, and grants, as well as generating income from our trading arm, hosting weddings and special events. This support ensures that we can deliver our key charitable objectives, maintaining our Victorian glasshouses and our 15-acres of wonderful gardens, and developing educational projects for the Birmingham community.
A diverse botanical world that enhances all our lives: our mission is to support plant biodiversity and an understanding of its importance to the natural environment through conservation, education, engagement, and enjoyment.
ROLE PURPOSE
- To do so within a small team of horticulturists, regularly participating in team activities, meetings and covering critical horticultural tasks across the gardens and glasshouses as and when required.
- Daily supervision of volunteer’s trainees and apprentices.
- Working Monday- Friday and weekend duty cover, with time off in lieu.
- Auditing and creating development plan for named areas in consultation with Director of Horticulture and Curation and in line with the Living Collections and Garden Strategy.
- Undertaking labelling, accessioning and verification on the plant database.
- Planning work maintenance schedule and agreeing with Line Manager.
- To deliver all horticultural tasks in line with best practice, risk assessments, health and safety legislation, COSHH assessments.
- Purchasing and horticultural activities conducted in line with plant acquisition, biosecurity, ethical / sustainable sourcing policies pertinent to post.
- Developing and delivering integrated pest and weed management programme for named areas and management of plant nutrition.
- Supporting interpretation and engagement strategy by contributing to copy for interpretation and marketing, as well as delivering tours.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
- To work in accordance with BBG’s Values and Behaviours, to ensure that you are working hard and go above and beyond to deliver excellence, to maintain and improve BBG for current and future generations.
- Positively contributing to ensuring that the BBG work environment is one that supports Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for all – including, but not restricted to: staff, volunteers, trainees and apprenticeships, members of the public.
- Be an enthusiastic ambassador for BBG, contributing to the visitor experience by delivering tours and contributing to interpretation and marketing.
Contract Type: Permanent, full time (average 39 hrs per week).
Salary: £27,000 – £29,400 depending on experience
Please click here to download the PDF for the full job description and person specification.
To apply: Please send your CV and covering letter to jobs@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
Application deadline: 9am: 1st August 2023.
Interviews: Week commencing 7th August 2023.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens (BBG) are keen to see applications from people of all backgrounds and communities and are committed to representing the diverse nature of the city. The Gardens look forward to receiving applications from all suitable candidates and will conduct inclusive recruitment processes based on attitude, experience, and qualifications. BBG are also committed to ensuring that no-one invited to interview should be excluded due to financial circumstances and will reimburse anyone attending interview (related costs must be supported by receipts) if required.