Nursery Horticulturist

APS 3 - $63,867 - $71,444 per annum plus superannuation
- Parks Australia Division
- Canberra, ACT
- _Contribute to the conservation of Australian native plants_
- _Learn to propagate thousands of native plant species_
- _Diverse work opportunities, including travel and field work_

**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.

Australia’s National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) is the nation’s largest living collection of Australian native plants. It’s a tranquil setting for walking and spending time with family and friends, and a living classroom for visitors of all ages. The Gardens play a significant role in the conservation and propagation of rare and threatened plants. Our biodiversity science programs-the Australian Biological Resources Study, the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, the National Seed Bank - and Biodiversity Informatics-are partnerships for research, for management of physical and digital biological collections, and for management of fundamental national biodiversity data and information and are accessed nationally and internationally.

The Conservation and Nursery team are dedicated horticulturalists working to investigate the propagation and growing requirements of Australian native plants. We grow plants for showcasing in the ANBG as part of the world's largest collection of Australian flora. We also have an increasing focus on collaborative conservation projects.

**The Job**
In this role and under the guidance of the Nursery Manager, you will be responsible for:

- Undertaking nursery horticultural maintenance and propagation tasks on a broad range of Australian flora in a nursery environment.
- Undertaking regular nursery maintenance tasks using mechanical plant and horticultural equipment.
- Maintaining accurate plant collection records using a range of recording and tracking mechanisms (including the use of databases) to retain the integrity of scientific plant collections and nursery stock records.
- Contributing to managing nursery horticultural infrastructure and ensuring that its capability and programming reflects horticultural objectives.
- Working cooperatively in a small team environment within nursery operating procedures.

**What we are looking for**

**Knowledge and experience**
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in successfully growing a diverse range of Australian plants in a nursery environment, and the production and growing systems used in their cultivation.
- Demonstrated experience in the identification of pests, disease and plant nutrition issues and management strategies to address them in a nursery setting.
- Demonstrated experience and understanding of horticultural controlled environment systems in a plant nursery.

**Skills and capabilities**
- Demonstrated record keeping competency, including an understanding of the importance of accuracy in plant stock control and cultivated specimen management.
- Proven ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a small team in horticultural operations.

**Desirable qualifications**
Certificate IV in Horticulture or equivalent.

**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.

**For additional information, please read the Job Description below.