Horticulturist in Worthing

Position

Horticulturist – Grade 5.

Salary and Hours

£31,537 to £36,363 per annum, 37 hours per week.

Place of work

Highdown Gardens, West Sussex.

Closing Date

25th January 2026 at 23:55 pm.

Overview

Full time horticulturist required for historic plantsman\’s garden in West Sussex. We are looking for a knowledgeable, qualified, experienced horticulturist to help our team grow, care for and maintain a historic botanical collection that includes the National Collection \”The Plants Selected by Sir Frederick Stern\”. We are in the middle of an ambitious project to expand this collection and manage the site so that they exemplify the vision of Sir Frederick Stern in his book A Chalk Garden.

Responsibilities

1. Form part of the team of four horticulturists that care for and maintain this prestigious collection.
2. Work with the Head Gardener and Curator, the Visitor Experience Manager as well as a large number of volunteers.
3. Practical, skilful and knowledgeable, preferably with experience of working with alpines as well as the propagation of a broad number of plant types.
4. Experience of working with a wide range of tools and machinery and an understanding of amenity horticulture.
5. Open, friendly and helpful as every day will include numerous interactions with volunteers from a variety of backgrounds as well as the visiting public alike.

Qualifications

• Qualified horticulturist (e.g., BSc Horticulture, HNC Horticulture, or equivalent).
• Experience working with alpines, propagation and amenity horticulture.
• Experience with a wide range of tools, machinery and maintenance of historic gardens.
• Ability to work with volunteers and the public.

Benefits

• Generous leave entitlement; a minimum of 26 days + Bank Holiday entitlement.
• Local Government Pension.
• Training & development.
• Occupational Health.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Employee resource groups/networks.
• Buddy Support Programme.
• Flexible working options.

EEO and Inclusion

We are committed to supporting care leavers (under 25) in accordance with the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the Children and Social Work Act 2017, with a guaranteed interview scheme.

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of applicants declaring a disability, that meet the essential criteria for this position, will be offered an interview.

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Staff work in a supportive and safe environment, recognising their responsibility to value and respect each other’s contributions. Standards of conduct must be of the highest level to ensure that no-one is harassed, bullied or victimised.