Department for Environment and Water
Job reference: 851597
Location: 5051 - BLACKWOOD
Job status: Ongoing
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Join our Team as a Horticultural Curator at the Botanic Gardens SA!

Wittunga Botanic Garden is seeking a passionate and experienced horticultural professional to join our team as a Senior Horticultural Curator. This is a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic horticultural team in the management and development of one of Australia's most significant botanic garden living collections.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Leading Teams and Supervision: lead a team of horticulturists, trainees and volunteers, fostering a positive, collaborative, and high-performing work culture.
• Collection Development & Maintenance: oversee the curation, development and maintenance of living collections within designated precincts, aligning with curatorial and operational strategies and plant conservation priorities.
• Sustainability and Management: coordinate seasonal and other programs and projects to support collection and landscape quality, health and sustainability.
• Event and Visitor Support: contribute to the education and interpretation programs and support site activation.

About the Role:

The Senior Horticultural Curator is required to lead the daily management of a team which delivers horticultural maintenance and development of specific curated botanical living collections and related projects, consistent with statutory responsibilities and corporate plans and policies.

The role provides technical leadership, operational planning and staff supervision to deliver safe, high-quality horticultural services and outcomes for assigned living collections and areas. Working closely with the Gardens Operation Manager, Site Horticulture Manager and Living Collection Curator, the Senior Horticultural Curator supports staff, project and contractor management, site activation, training and workplace health and safety, while actively curating botanical living collections through research, plant records management, reporting, public engagement and the ongoing development and presentation of nationally significant botanical collections.

 What can we offer you!

• Working in an organisation that is contributing to significant environmental outcomes in the great state of South Australia!
• Be part of a fun, collaborative and supportive team.
• Hybrid working model with flexible working options including work from home available to promote work life balance, when possible.
• Free entry into DEW managed Parks in South Australia.
• Salary Sacrifice Benefits.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Access to our Fitness Passport Program.
• Meaningful and rewarding career.

Contract: Ongoing

Essential Qualifications: Certificate III in Horticulture (or trade equivalent) minimum required.

Special Conditions:

• Will be required to participate in responses to state emergencies or associated
• You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or provide evidence that you hold a valid working visa that allows you to work in Australia without restrictions.
• The Department for Environment and Water is committed to providing a safe environment to all children and young people who access our services and visit our sites.  This role requires candidates to provide a valid Working with Children Check which must be renewed every five years before expiry. DEW will cover the cost of renewal.
• This role requires candidates to provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check which must be renewed every three years before expiry. DEW will cover the cost of renewal.
• Wearing a company uniform in accordance with BGSH policy during working hours and/or when representing the Department is mandatory.
• The role may be required to participate in field operations requiring off-road driving, travel in light aircraft or boat, and/or overnight absences in remote locations.

A successful applicant who is not currently employed by the Department for Environment and Water will be required to have an original photo identification document sighted and provide a valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) issued within the last 12 months.

Remuneration: OPS3 ($74,095 min - $78,694 max) p.a. 

Enquiries to:

Mark Oborn, Manager, Garden Operations
Mark.Oborn@sa.gov.au
04276 04249

Application Instructions:

Applications are to be submitted online through I WORK FOR SA.

Applicants are to submit a pre-employment declaration, current CV and letter of application (max. 3 pages) addressing the Essential Criteria (including qualifications) as outlined in the Role Description.

The Department for Environment and Water is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds including all ages and gender identities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTIQA+.

Applications close: 13/08/2026 11:00 PM

Attachments:
- OPS3 Senior Horticultural Curator - RD.pdf
- Pre-Employment-Declaration_240522.pdf

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.