Horticulturist

The National Sculpture Garden is a Commonwealth Heritage Listed public landscape that is undergoing a period of restoration and transformative change. The Landscape team are overseeing an uplift in the daily operation, care and presentation of the National Sculpture Garden while working closely with the Capital Works team to deliver a generational $60 million program of landscape-related works.

The Horticulturist will work closely with the Landscape Manager across this range of operational and project-based responsibilities. This position is located in Parkes, ACT within the Building Services and Infrastructure Portfolio which encompasses the Building Services, Security, Landscape and Capital Works teams.

The Horticulturist will play an active role in the day-to-day operation of the Sculpture Gardens which will include supervision of contractors, ongoing observation and problem solving of landscape issues, monitoring of potential safety issues and heritage impacts, with a constant eye for the presentation of the landscape to the public.

This position will also support the internal National Sculpture Garden Design Team by providing horticultural expertise, operational impact planning, and the planning, procuring and execution of a wide range of projects. These projects will encompass a suite of initiatives that are defined by the Capital Works program, the Strategic Asset Management Plan, the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP), and general landscape improvements.

Occasional after hours or weekend work may be required to support emergency maintenance activities, public events or other requirements. This is a full-time, non-ongoing employment opportunity which may become ongoing.

The key duties of the position include:

In accordance with the APS 5 work level standards you will:

• Develop plans and objectives for short-term tasks of the National Gallery grounds and contribute to strategic planning for longer-term initiatives such as the National Sculpture Garden Project and the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan.
• Daily inspection of landscape to ensure overall presentation and condition of grounds and gardens meets standards and quality expectations of the National Gallery
• Understanding of garden care, tree care, turf management, pest and disease management and planting – particularly in the context of a native garden
• Understanding and/or ability to gain understanding of irrigation system operation and maintenance
• Take accountability for organising personal workflows and making independent decisions relating to an area of responsibility.
• Work independently or under limited guidance in relation to horticultural decision making. Complex or difficult issues are discussed with team leaders or experts.
• Require awareness of changes in the broader National Gallery work environment that may impact on work objectives.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders on policy, project or operational issues.
• Co-ordinate and participate in contract management including developing scope, managing tendering processes and monitoring contract performance. Assist in contract management and administration.
• Undertake and manage moderately complex projects under the direction of higher classification levels
• Ability to work outside for long periods of time in unfavourable conditions; perform manual labour requiring walking, lifting, reaching, stooping, pushing, pulling and carrying
• Proficient using Microsoft Office

Eligibility

Citizenship: To be eligible for employment with the Gallery, you must be an Australian citizen.

Police Check: To be eligible for this role you must complete a police check.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Qualifications, Certifications and Registrations

Role specific mandatory qualifications certification and/or registrations include:

• Cert III or higher qualifications in Horticulture
• Valid driver's licence

Notes

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this role please go to the National Gallery's Careers portal.

You should provide a tailored CV (maximum of three pages) along with a statement of no more than two pages that outlines your skills, capabilities and experience, against the information above.

In your statement response you should keep in mind the capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role, as identified in the information above. Try not to duplicate information that can be found in your CV but do highlight any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

An order of merit may be established from this selection process and may be used to fill future identical vacancies over the next 12 months. Selection may be based on application and referee reports only. If you do not wish to be added to an order of merit, please notify us in your application.

Getting to know the National Gallery of Australia

The National Gallery is one of Australia's leading visual arts institutions. The National Gallery is based in Canberra and is a vital part of the Australian cultural landscape. Our Purpose is to collect, preserve, promote and share the national collection of art. The Vision of the National Gallery is to be the international reference point for art in Australia, inspiring all people to explore, experience and learn. Our Values include Boldness, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence.