Arboriculturist​/Horticulturist - Projects

Arboriculturist / Horticulturist

We’re looking for a passionate and skilled Arboriculturist to join our dedicated Collections team and help bring Chester Zoo’s mission to life. In this hands‑on role, you’ll play a vital part in caring for our remarkable living landscapes — from gardens and glasshouses to tropical houses, car parks and our nature reserve — ensuring they thrive for both plants and people.

Using an evidence‑based approach, you’ll apply modern arboricultural and plant management practices, with a strong understanding of the conservation importance of the taxa in your care. You’ll help maintain and develop our diverse sites to the highest standards, creating safe, inspiring and welcoming environments for our visitors, while meeting the complex needs of a world‑class plant collection.

A key part of the role will be managing the Zoo’s extensive tree stock and ensuring it meets essential health and safety standards — all while contributing to the wider conservation work of a charity that’s working to protect wildlife and nature for the future.

• Undertake tree works including felling, climbing, pollarding.
• Produce a high‑quality finish using chainsaws, chippers, Mewps, excavators, tractors, garden machinery and hand tools.
• Maintain and develop Chester Zoo’s gardens, car parks, nature reserve, Halo land estate and tropical houses to the required standard, with an emphasis on meeting both the plants and visitors’ needs in display areas.

• Hours of work are 40 hours per week, worked 10 days out of 14, including weekends and Bank holidays as rostered.
• Full time contract.
• Salary £29,260 per annum.
• 33 days annual leave per annum.
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family.
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks.
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%.

• NPTC Units 201 (previously CS30) Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross‑cutting, NPTC Unit 202 (CS31) Felling of Small Trees, NPTC Unit 203 (CS38) Tree climbing, Aerial rescue operations, NPTC Unit 204 (CS39) Use of Chainsaw from Rope and Harness.
• Training to minimum NVQ Level 2 Horticulture (or equivalent experience).
• At least two years practical horticultural experience to enable the post‑holder to be able to think for themselves in a wide range of different scenarios.
• Ability to identify, recognise and treat pests and diseases by either biological or chemical means. PA1 and PA6 chemical spraying certificate.
• Qualified (holding certificates of competence) to operate a wide range of horticultural machinery and equipment efficiently and safely to include several of the following: tractor, chainsaw, cherry picker, dumper, digger, ride on mowers, road sweeper, forklift with telescopic arm, tree climbing, tree work from height, welding and abrasive wheel, training in the use of CAT scanning equipment to detect underground services.
• Full UK Driving licence.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A good understanding of working on sites, being able to read plans and drawings.

The closing date for applications is 27th February 2026.

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

We are Chester Zoo, and for over 90 years we’ve been a leading conservation and education charity, and an amazing, award‑winning visitor attraction.

We’re also a team of passionate, talented, enthusiastic and expert people, doing everything we can to prevent extinction, from caring for animals to discovering new conservation ideas, and giving our visitors an inspirational day out.

We work hard because we love animals, we care about nature, we love Chester Zoo and despite all the recent challenges thrown at us, we still want to be the best zoo in the world! If you think you can help us to achieve that, then we’d love to hear from you.