We are seeking a highly skilled Horticulturalist to lead conservation efforts in the field and participate in regional and global breeding programs.
Location: Our iconic Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Position: This is a 12-month temporary full-time contract (parental leave cover).
You will provide horticultural services for the presentation of exhibits and general facilities, maintenance of bushland using regeneration and revegetation techniques, tree health, and the management of browse plantations for essential animal food collection.
About the Role
* We are looking for an individual who can carry out a broad spectrum of horticultural duties including grounds, garden, and lawn maintenance, species identification, browse production & harvest, revegetation, turf management, and weed control with approved chemicals.
* The successful candidate will provide technical expertise and advice to gardeners and other labor resources on general grounds maintenance (remnant bush areas, harbour foreshore, and off-site browse collection sites).
* You will undertake landscaping projects within grounds and exhibits, including horticultural expertise on landscape design.
* Bush regeneration and revegetation around Taronga premises is also a key responsibility.
* We are seeking a leader who can coach, support, and mentor allocated staff including gardeners, horticultural apprentices, and volunteers.
* A significant aspect of this role is actively contributing to record keeping – research, identification, cataloguing, data collection, and labeling of plant species across zoo grounds, exhibits, browse plantations, and harbour foreshore.
* Collaborative teamwork is essential as you will work effectively as part of a high-performing team to assist us in achieving strategic outcomes.
* Promoting sustainable practices to help us achieve sustainability targets and reduce environmental impact is also a critical aspect of this role.