Weekend Horticultural Assistant

Location: Oxford Botanic Garden, Rose Lane, Oxford OX1 4AZ, with occasional work at Harcourt Arboretum, Nuneham Courtenay OX44 9PX

Hours: Part time, 12 hours per week

Contract type: Permanent

Grade: Grade 3

About the Role

Founded in 1621, Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum is home to one of the UK's most significant living plant collections and welcomes over 200,000 visitors each year. We are looking for a Weekend Horticultural Assistant to help maintain these collections to the highest horticultural standards.

You will primarily be responsible for watering the glasshouse collections, with outdoor watering and occasional work at Harcourt Arboretum as required. You will also undertake a range of general horticultural duties including weeding, planting, pruning, lawn maintenance, and the safe use and maintenance of horticultural machinery and equipment. Working closely with the Curator and Head of Horticulture and the wider horticultural team, you will help resolve day-to-day issues across our public sites and, where appropriate, support educational activities and visitor engagement.

This is a permanent part-time post, working 12 hours per week.

The anticipated working pattern includes weekends, bank holidays and fixed closure days.

About You

You will have a Level 2 horticultural qualification, or equivalent practical experience, together with the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and undertake physically demanding tasks including bending, lifting and kneeling. You will be confident using a range of garden machinery and equipment and be committed to maintaining high standards of horticultural practice. Experience of working in a public or heritage setting, knowledge of a particular plant group, or landscaping experience would be advantageous.

Diversity

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave.

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible. If you require the job description or any other materials in an alternative format, or if you would like to request any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk.

How to Apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting evidence form using the attached template part of your online application. Your supporting evidence form should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Heidi El-Megrisi, Head of Operations, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role (recruitment@obg.ox.ac.uk). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the GLAM Recruitment team (recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk).

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (BST) on Friday 3 August 2026 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place during week commencing 24 August.

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