Horticulturist - Whipsnade Zoo in Dunstable

Whipsnade Zoo has an exciting opportunity for a new full time permanent Zoo Horticulturalist to join the team. The Horticulture team manages the zoo’s 600 acre site as well as surrounding green spaces, which include visitor accessible parkland and restricted access regenerative spaces, including the designated SSSI chalk grassland. The site is rich in biodiversity, and the horticulture team strives to improve this through headward advancement of zoo horticulture and land-based management on site.

We are searching for applicants with a drive and passion for biodiversity development, with good knowledge or a passion to build on their knowledge of land-based management.

• Use facilities, tools, equipment and machinery safely, responsibly and as instructed.
• Carry out and record daily, weekly and monthly planned preventative equipment maintenance.
• Maintain and develop amenity areas and exhibits to defined horticultural standards.
• Carry out horticultural tasks that support animal sections, enhancing husbandry and welfare, while creating and managing habitats to optimise the site’s biodiversity and ecological value.
• Support and guide colleagues in tasks requiring specialised skills, such as machinery use, under the direction of the Horticulture Team Leader.

• Experience in amenity horticulture, countryside management, or a related land-based sector.
• Practical knowledge of plant identification and formal garden maintenance.
• Ability to plan and prioritise tasks effectively.
• Experience or knowledge in managing protected sites, such as SSSIs.
• Knowledge of horticultural, arboricultural, and conservation practices.
• Proactive with the initiative to support the team.

This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including confirmation of your right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

ZSL recognises that conservation is one of the least diverse sectors, and we actively encourage applications from candidates who identify as part of underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a supportive and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage.

• Purpose driven work – join an organisation where every role contributes to creating a world where wildlife thrives.
• Pension scheme - we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension.
• Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you.
• Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays (increasing with milestone anniversaries).
• Access to ZSL’s staff Equality Networks - Race & Culture, Team Pride, Disability, and Menopause, supporting an inclusive and welcoming workplace for those with lived experience.
• Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day.
• Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops.
• Cycle2Work – our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle.
• Season ticket loan – we offer an interest free loan for eligible London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work.
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages.

We may close this role early or extend the closing date due to the number of applications we receive, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We anonymise applications until interview stage to ensure a fair hiring process. It’s important to highlight your unique skills, experience, and knowledge.

If you have any questions about this role, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our recruitment team at recruitment@zsl.org.