Job opportunities

Grounds and Landscaping Horticulturalist

Grounds and Landscaping Horticulturalist Vacancy
(Full-time, Permanent Position, Tuesday to Saturday)
Do you want your horticultural skills to make a real difference – not just to landscapes, but to animals, visitors and conservation?

Hertfordshire Zoo is home to over 500 animals and a passionate team dedicated to creating an exceptional environment where wildlife, people and nature thrive together. We’re now looking for an experienced, hands-on Grounds and Landscaping Horticulturalist to join our team. This is a practical outdoor role focused on maintaining and improving the zoo's grounds, gardens, pathways, visitor areas and animal habitats through landscaping, groundwork and grounds maintenance activities.
This is a varied and rewarding role within a dynamic, conservation-driven zoo, where no two days are the same. You’ll work across the entire site – from visitor-facing gardens and pathways to planted animal habitats – helping ensure every planted area is safe, engaging, and maintained to a high standard.

The Role
As part of the Horticulture team, you'll carry out a wide range of physical outdoor duties, including grounds maintenance, landscaping, site improvements, habitat construction support and general horticultural work. A significant proportion of the role involves manual labour, operating machinery, moving materials and maintaining high standards across a large and varied site. Your work will play a key part in supporting animal enrichment, enhancing habitats, and creating attractive spaces for our visitors.
You’ll work both independently and collaboratively and regularly liaise with teams across the zoo, including Animal Keepers, Maintenance and Visitor Operations. This role suits someone who enjoys working outdoors, takes pride in their work, and thrives in a busy, hands on environment.

Key Responsibilities:
Grounds & Landscaping
•    Maintain lawns, pathways, borders, visitor areas, animal habitats and landscaped spaces across the zoo.
•    Carry out digging, ground preparation, turfing, planting, mulching, edging and weed control.
•    Assist with landscaping and site improvement projects, including installation of fencing, sleepers, pathways, drainage and hard landscaping features.
•    Move and distribute soil, mulch, gravel, plants and other landscaping materials.
•    Undertake seasonal clearance, leaf collection and general grounds maintenance.
•    Ensure consistently high standards of presentation, safety and site appearance.
Animal Habitats & Enrichment
•    Support planting schemes that encourage natural animal behaviours
•    Select and maintain animal safe, sustainable plant species
•    Contribute to the ongoing enhancement of planted animal habitats
Machinery & Tools
•    Safely operate and maintain horticultural machinery and tools, including ride on mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters, leaf blowers and hand tools
•    Carry out basic equipment maintenance and follow all Health & Safety procedures
Projects & Site Improvements
•    Support landscaping and habitat improvement projects across the zoo.
•    Assist with construction and maintenance of planting areas, access routes and visitor environments.
•    Work alongside Maintenance and Animal Teams to deliver practical site improvement projects.
Collaboration & Visitor Engagement
•    Support general site upkeep such as leaf clearance and seasonal works
•    Work positively with colleagues and volunteers across departments
•    Confidently and professionally engage with visitors when required
Health, Safety & Sustainability
•    Adhere to all Health & Safety policies and safe working practices
•    Report hazards or issues promptly and help identify practical solutions
•    Support environmentally responsible and sustainable horticultural practices

Essential Requirements
•    Experience of practical landscaping, groundwork or construction-related outdoor work.
•    Experience operating grounds maintenance and landscaping equipment, including mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters and similar machinery.
•    A proactive, hands on approach with strong attention to detail
•    Able to undertake physically demanding work including lifting, digging, moving materials and working outdoors for extended periods
•    Friendly, professional manner when interacting with visitors
•    Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle (site not accessible by public transport)
•    Right to live and work in the UK (evidence required as part of recruitment)

Desirable
•    Experience working within a zoo, visitor attraction, estate, country park or similar outdoor environment.
•    Telehandler, forklift or relevant plant equipment licences.
•    Experience supporting habitat improvement or landscaping projects.
•    Knowledge of animal-safe planting and habitat management.
•    Relevant horticultural qualification (RHS or equivalent).

What We Offer
•    Salary: £26,325–£27,300 per annum (£13.50–£14.00 per hour), depending on experience
•    Hours: Average 37.5 hours per week, Tues-Sat; Apr–Sept: 07.00-16.00 or 08:00–17:00 and Oct–Mar: 08:00–16:00
•    Holiday: 28 days plus Christmas Day (rising to 33 with service)
•    Access to the Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme
•    Staff discounts and benefits, including free access to UK and European zoos, regular team events, and eligibility for our Conservation Award, offering opportunities to visit global conservation partners
•    Start date: ASAP