Nursery Manager

APS 6 - $91,944 - $104,393 per annum plus superannuation
- Parks Australia Division
- Canberra, ACT
- Join a motivated and professional team managing the world's largest collection of Australian native plants.
- Contribute to plant conservation using cutting-edge horticultural techniques.
- Work in the beautiful surrounds of the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

**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,
- leading cross-cutting research to support Parks Australia - in areas such as climate change adaptation, nature positive and knowledge weaving,
- providing scientific support for Protected Areas policy and Park Management Plans,
- managing the Australian National Botanic Gardens, home to our Branch and the nation’s largest living collection of native plants,
- facilitating research and science capacity building and education,
- curating national collections of biological data and conserving and protecting plants through systematics research, seed banking and ex situ conservation.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG), on the lower slopes of Black Mountain in Canberra hosts the nation’s largest living collection of Australian native plants. The Gardens features over 4,000 species representing one-fifth of Australia’s known native plants with over 78,000 plants growing on site. It is the only place in the world you can see this diversity of Australian flora in one location. The living collection is an important scientific resource. The scientific basis of the ANBG’s collection means scientists from around the world refer to the ANBG for information. The ANBG is involved in in situ conservation of threatened species and through ex situ cultivation and propagation trials and the collection of seeds for conservation in the National Seed Bank for study and reintroduction into their native habitats.

**The Job**
The role involves leading and managing the ANBG's Nursery Team of approximately 10 staff, and operations comprising propagation activities in the nursery production areas and development of the tropical plant collections in the greenhouses and the Ian Potter National Conservatory (under construction). The position assists with horticultural planning for the living collection in line with the living collection strategy, and with developing and implementing conservation programs and collection practices. The role is responsible for managing Nursery staff, budgets, operational plans and projects.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- Demonstrated practical experience in nursery operations and horticultural facilities management.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the propagation of Australian plants, ideally with tropical and sub-tropical flora.
- Experience in managing a significant living plant collection.
- Demonstrated experience at effectively managing staff, projects, workplans and budgets.

**Skills and capabilities**
- Demonstrated leadership abilities, including fostering a culture of positive organisational behaviour and building staff capability in a team environment.
- Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships, establish partnerships and facilitate the sharing of information with a range of stakeholders.
- Well-developed skills in communication, negotiation, influencing and representation.
- Demonstrated ability to identify and analyse complex issues and recommend solutions.