Job Summary

We seek a proven horticulturalist with a passion for growing plants and creating beautiful displays to join our Upper Hillside Management Section and work in the heart of KFBG’s unique nature reserve. With three teams of different specialties under your deployment, you can help shape KFBG’s world-class plant curation in our nurseries, theme gardens and wider landscape to achieve the best outcomes for conservation and public engagement. Utilising your knowledge of local botany and plant ecology, you will lead seed collection field trips for ex-situ conservation, realise your naturalistic designs to augment the biodiversity of our immersive garden displays, and nurture the predominantly forested surrounding slopes by executing habitat management plans that provide the most suitable environment for plants, wildlife and visitors.

Major responsibilities

• Work closely with the Senior Curator to lead, coordinate and inspire the three teams of the Upper Hillside Management section, ensuring smooth, effective communication among them.
• Supervise the management of one of KFBG’s unique living collections of native Hong Kong plants in the nursery, ensuring the operation is maintained to the highest horticultural standards.
• Assist in the development of displays in the public theme gardens of the Upper Hillside area (including Orchid Haven, Golden Pavilion, Fern Walk, Convent Garden and Butterfly Garden), spanning both the curation of the plants they contain and the enhancement of hardscape in consultation with our in-house Facilities Department.
• Design habitat management plans and tenders for the landscapes of the Upper Hillside, and execute them by deploying staff under your management and supervising external contractors.
• Design and lead field trips to collect plant material in the wild for ex-situ conservation.
• Manage a data set of plant information to keep track of plants propagated in the nursery and planted in the Upper Hillside area.
• Collaborate with different sections of the Flora Conservation Department, as well as other departments in KFBG, for cross-cutting projects such as forest restoration.
• Occasionally lead or assist in public engagement activities such as public tours, talks and volunteer activities.

Job Requirements

• With a degree in Conservation, Environmental Science, Botany or related fields.
• Preferably 2–3 years of relevant work experience in the horticulture or ecology sector (candidate with less experience will be considered as Assistant Curator).
• With good knowledge of the local flora and experience of conducting field work in Hong Kong.
• Experience in project management, including planning, implementation, overseeing contractors, etc.
• Experience in using databases for handling and processing plant information, including digital data, images and living & preserved collections.
• Experience in field survey techniques for plant ecology would be an advantage.
• Strong command of spoken and written Chinese and English.
• Hands-on horticultural experience of growing native plants would be an advantage.
• Possession of a valid Type II driving license is an advantage.
• Physically fit for outdoor work.
• Responsible, self-motivated, good team player and well organized.
• Able to work on occasional Sundays or public holidays if necessary.

Application Method
Interested parties, please send your CV with current / last salary, expected salary and availability to the People & Culture Department, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden Corporation, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong or via email at pnc@kfbg.org