Job Summary

We seek a skilled and energetic horticulturalist and advocate of native plant diversity with great communication skills, who is capable of developing propagation protocols for a wide range of native tree species and leading a team of five horticulturalists to execute them.

The job holder will lead horticultural operations in KFBG’s cutting edge Native Tree Nursery in the production of a wide range of healthy and robust saplings of native woody species, many of them rare and endangered, for the purposes of forest restoration, establishment of seed orchards, botanic garden displays and supply to external clients and projects. They will supervise nursery staff to carry out the day-to-day horticultural operations of the Native Tree Nursery, including seed sowing, pricking out, species appropriate and waterwise irrigation, fertilising and pest control. Beyond that, they will build on existing knowledge to develop effective species-specific protocols and explore new methods for cultivating species that are known to be challenging in the nursery.

The job-holder will have experience in a wide range of horticultural techniques, be competent in maintaining accurate and quantitative records, and will strive to ensure safe working practices and best practice in nursery hygiene. Alongside the Restoration Ecologist and Assistant Restoration Ecologist, the post holder will undertake field work to collect propagation material for the nursery, building an in-depth knowledge of local species ecology and growing requirements. They will utilise horticultural expertise to assist in the development of onsite Seed Orchards and Corporate Habitat restoration schemes. With this team, the Horticultural Manager and other colleagues of the Flora Conservation Department, the postholder will contribute to the development and realisation of methods for upscaling ecological restoration in Hong Kong.

 Major Responsibilities

The job-holder is expected to:

·         Carry out propagation of native woody species at scale, both using established protocols and developing new and improved methods where appropriate.

·         Focus on maximising production within the capacity of the nursery space, with an eye on the supply of seedlings for off-site projects as needed.

·         Assist in maximising species diversity in the NTN through participation in exploratory field work to collect seeds and cuttings of native trees, with a particular focus on rare species as required for KFBG’s ongoing species conservation and ecological restoration programmes.

·         Utilise knowledge gained from observing species in the wild to inform appropriate horticultural practices in the nursery.

·         Supervise a team of five horticulturalists to help realise the expanding vision for the nursery.

·         Select and develop a range of species to grow on to a size suitable for use in the landscaping sector.

·         Assist in plant records management, utilising KFBG’s in-house database Iris-BG, ensuring accurate labelling of nursery stock

·         Assist in the sustainable management of inventory and procurement of consumables and equipment for the nursery.

·         Ensure the highest standards in nursery management, including cleanliness, safety and development of adequate facilities to enable the goals of the facility.

·         Document findings towards the compilation of technical manuals on growing native species and restoration practice.

·         Handle general administrative duties associated with managing the team and overseeing daily nursery operations, including conducting staff appraisals.

Other Duties

·         Strive to work in line with KFBG values, in pursuit of the Vision and Mission of the organisation, and to self-assess performance in this regard.

·         Help train and supervise volunteers to assist in relevant nursery practices.

·         Support the Flora Conservation Department’s outreach work through occasional guided tours of the Native Tree Nursery, facilitation of Corporate Habitat Restoration Scheme sessions, and other occasional public engagement.

·         Participate in occasional activities arranged by KFBG to develop the culture of the organisation.

Requirements

·         Passionate about native plant diversity and its conservation.

·         A minimum of 2 years' professional experience in a relevant post in botanically focussed horticulture, ideally with a demonstrable track record in people management.

·         Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Cantonese.

·         Experience in field identification of trees in Hong Kong and the wider South China region is highly desirable.

·         Experience in the use of databases for handling and processing plant information, including maps, images, herbarium specimens and biological samples is highly desirable.

·         Ideally with a Hong Kong driving license (vehicles classes 1 and/or 2).

·         Ability to work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment.

·         Willing to work occasionally on weekends or public holidays, as needed (compensation leave will be provided).

·         Diligent, detail-oriented, open-minded and recognises the validity of all spiritual paths.

Interested parties should send their CV and cover letter (describing relevant work experience, reasons for interest in the post and expected salary) to the HR Manager, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden Corporation, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, or email ••••@kfbg.org.