- Be part of the team responsible for cultivating and maintaining Australia's most diverse collection of native plants.
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Contribute directly to conservation outcomes and see the impact of your work in a tangible way.
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Explore Australia's natural landscapes through field collection trips that enhance both the ANBG living collection and your professional knowledge.
Who we are
Australia’s natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them. The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future.
The Science and Australian National Botanic Gardens Branch leads science and conservation planning and policy for Parks Australia, and conducts research in conservation and biodiversity management through a range of programs. We engage in and coordinate diverse research partnerships and ensure First Nations knowledge and innovative solutions are core to our work, enabling us to enhance engagement and embed science into decision-making at all levels.
Our work includes:
- Strategic science planning and prioritisation and shaping research partnerships for Parks Australia
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Leading cross-cutting research to support Parks Australia – in areas such as climate change adaptation, nature positive and knowledge weaving
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Providing scientific support for Protected Areas policy and Park Management Plans
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Managing the Australian National Botanic Gardens, home to our Branch and the nation’s largest living collection of native plants
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Innovation in the cross-cutting application of new technologies and data analytics to meet science and application outcomes
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Facilitating research and science capacity building and education
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Curating national collections of biological data and conserving and protecting plants through systematics research, seed banking and ex situ conservation
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Climate adaption and policy for Parks Australia
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Evaluation and reporting to understand management effectiveness and performance of our parks, gardens and agency
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Data and information systems services for Parks Australia
The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) is the nation's most diverse collection of Australian native plants. We directly contribute to safe-guarding Australia's plant species from extinctions and are responsible for leading, building and sharing knowledge of our Australian flora. The ANBG works closely with biodiversity science programs - the Australian Biological Resources Study, the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, the National Seed Bank, and Biodiversity Informatics - in partnerships for research, for management of physical and digital biological collections, and for management of fundamental national biodiversity data and information accessed nationally and internationally. The ANBG works closely with other Commonwealth parks to support plant conservation initiatives. The ANBG is uniquely placed to provide holistic solutions for national plant conservation, with combined expertise in, and specialist science facilities for, botanical taxonomy, evolution and systematics, seed biology and horticulture. The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) in Canberra is a leading national institution for the conservation, study, and display of Australian native flora.
For more information about us please visit our website.
The job
Senior Horticulturists supports the ANBG’s conservation, research, education and visitor engagement objectives. Working in either the Living Collections or Conservation Horticulture & Nursery management teams, the successful candidate will work under limited supervision and perform horticultural duties related to landscape maintenance and plant conservation, and/or nursery horticultural maintenance and propagation of native plants for the ANBG and conservation projects.
In this role you will be responsible for:
- Undertaking complex horticultural duties in the management of Australian native plants, including pruning, fertilising, as well as recognition of weeds, pests and diseases and appropriate control methods.
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Assisting to manage horticultural infrastructure and environmental control systems, including irrigation and nursery/glasshouse environmental system, ensuring that capability and programming reflect horticultural objectives.
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Assisting and contributing to the development of planning tools, such as landscape management plans or annual nursery production plans.
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Providing technical guidance and mentoring to Nursery/horticulture staff, trainees, work experience students, and volunteers.
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Undertake and ensure the safe use of chemicals and machinery in accordance with ANBG practices and procedures.
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Undertaking and ensuring the safe use and regular maintenance of plant and equipment in accordance with ANBG practices and procedures.
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Apply Australian National Botanic Gardens WHS policies. Conduct hazard and risk assessments as needed.
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Contributing information and maintaining accurate records through a range of recording and tracking systems, including databases, section and area planning tools and propagation and production data, ensuring the integrity of scientific plant collections and stock records.
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Collaborating with internal teams, researchers, and external stakeholders to support conservation and broader land management outcomes, and provide information relating to the ANBG to members of the public
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Participating in the weekend watering roster (optional)
Specific duties for the Living Collections & Assets team
- Plan, manage and maintain a defined area of the Gardens landscape and living collection, including standard horticultural tasks, such as: pruning, planting, fertilising, mulching, weeding, applying chemicals, and blowing paths and contribute as necessary to maintenance activities broadly across the Gardens site, ensuring plant health, high-quality presentation of horticultural displays, safety and accurate plant labelling.
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Taking on additional responsibilities related to the Living Collections in accordance with ANBG horticultural practices and procedures, for example tracking and conserving threatened species, tree works, irrigation, lawn maintenance and any other living collection management functions.
Specific duties for the Conservation Horticulture & Nursery management team
- Undertaking nursery horticultural maintenance and propagation tasks on a broad range of Australian flora varying from alpine to tropical regions.
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Applying specialist horticultural skills to investigate the propagation and growing requirements of Australian native plant species.
What you’ll gain from the experience
The successful candidate will gain the opportunity to contribute to the maintenance, propagation, conservation and display of Australia’s plant diversity working in a national institution committed to the conservation and appreciation of the Australian Flora.
What we are looking for
We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate the following:
Senior Horticulturists in either the Living Collections & Assets and/or Conservation Horticulture & Nursery Management teams that can demonstrate the knowledge, experience, skills and capabilities outlined below. Applicants are not required to demonstrate capability across both the landscape and nursery streams; demonstrated expertise in either stream will be considered.
Knowledge and Experience
- Demonstrated high level understanding and knowledge of the identification and growth requirements of Australian native plants and a proven ability to apply this knowledge to practical situations in a landscape or nursery environment.
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Demonstrated high level of knowledge and experience in care, curation and maintenance of plant collections using a broad range of horticultural techniques and equipment, in either a production nursery environment, or high presentation landscape, botanic garden or equivalent.
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Understanding of and ability to maintain a range of horticultural infrastructure, for example, propagation and cultivation environments, display glasshouses or irrigation systems.
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Experience in the identification of pests, disease and plant nutrition issues and management strategies to address them in a nursery or public landscape setting.
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Demonstrated understanding of workplace health and safety requirements relevant to horticultural and botanic garden operations.
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Demonstrated record keeping competency, including an understanding of the importance of accuracy in plant stock control and cultivated specimen management in a production nursery and assisting to track the survival of plants in the ground.
Skills and Capabilities
- Proven ability to work independently and as part of an operational team.
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Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with staff and members of the public.
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Strong planning, and organisational skills.
Desirable qualifications
- Certificate III or IV in Horticulture or Diploma of Horticulture or demonstrated equivalent experience.
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Minimum 3 years’ experience in landscape maintenance or nursery operations.
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Construction Induction White Card (or willingness to obtain).
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Completion of asbestos awareness and silicosis training (or willingness to obtain).
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Chainsaw or arboriculture qualifications would be considered beneficial
Additional requirements
- hold a current coxswains licence or have the ability to obtain,
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hold and maintain a valid Australian motor vehicle drivers licence,
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note that the physical requirements of the role(s) involve a combination of outdoor and office-based work,
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note that the position may require them to participate in an on-call roster (for which an appropriate restriction allowance will be paid) and be available to perform duty outside standard hours,
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wear an official uniform supplied by the department, including during field operations (as applicable), in accordance with the department’s uniform policy,
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wear appropriate protective personal equipment and clothing to comply with departmental Work Health & Safety policies and procedures
Eligibility and other requirements
Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.
Pre-employment checks - your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recruitment
You may use AI tools to support your participation in this recruitment process, unless advised otherwise. If you use AI, you must ensure your use is transparent, authentic and truthful, and that all information reflects your own skills and experience.
The department may use AI in a limited, transparent and responsible way to support parts of this recruitment process. AI does not make decisions - all assessments and selection outcomes are made by people.
For more information, see:
- Artificial Intelligence Transparency Statement
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AI in recruitment | Australian Public Service Commission
