Location
Morecambe

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
The Horticulture Curator will lead the horticulture and landscape implementation at Eden Project Morecambe, creating an exceptional visitor experience by utilising the garden’s displays, landscape, and collections to inspire, educate, and delight visitors throughout the seasons. This senior role supports the project delivery team and contributes to the organisation and planning of horticultural components, overseeing the transition of the site from construction to operational. The Curator will build and develop the horticultural team to ensure world-class horticulture from day one of opening. Acting as a leading figurehead and key ambassador for horticulture and the garden, this position offers significant opportunities for career development and personal growth.

Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and management of a five-year rolling horticultural plan aligned with Eden Project’s strategic goals.
- Support the Director of Horticulture while leading on-the-ground team activities.
- Ensure horticultural excellence through plant husbandry, design, diversity, recording, and environmental sustainability.
- Protect and enhance Eden’s living theatre as a leading green destination.
- Collaborate on communication and education programmes including formal education, tours, and written content.
- Manage biosecurity standards within the horticulture department.
- Engage and collaborate with horticulture teams across Eden Project for knowledge sharing.
- Lead and develop a team to deliver world-standard plantings, landscapes, and displays.
- Oversee staff, learner, and volunteer training, development, and succession planning.
- Represent Eden Project Morecambe across media platforms and fundraising activities.
- Support site operations as a Duty Manager to ensure a safe and consistent visitor experience.
- Collaborate with Marketing, Operations, Events, Food & Beverage, and Retail teams to enhance visitor experience.
- Manage horticulture operating budget of over £500,000 p.a. and propose capital expenditure.
- Coordinate health & safety, staffing, procurement, pest and disease control, record keeping, planning, and stakeholder communication.
- Ensure high-quality visitor experience by maintaining excellent horticultural standards and efficient, safe operations within a public garden setting.
- Embody and promote Eden Project values including connection with nature, curiosity, inclusivity, accountability, and inspirational leadership.

Qualifications
- Horticultural or related qualification to Master of Horticulture (MHort) level or equivalent.
- Professional horticultural expertise with a strong passion for plants, gardens, and cultivated landscapes.
- Membership of relevant professional horticultural bodies and networks is desirable.
- Additional specialist knowledge in sustainability, conservation, plant propagation, eco-restoration, entomology, hydrology, or ethnobotany is advantageous.

Experience
- Extensive horticultural knowledge across plant husbandry, garden curation, landscape management, and environmental sustainability.
- Proven ability to lead large-scale horticultural projects from planning through to delivery.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Experience managing horticultural teams, apprentices, volunteers, and learning opportunities.
- Experience managing horticultural resources, procurement, and operational budgets.
- Experience delivering education, training, and development of horticultural teams.
- Experience working across media, communications, and education platforms is desirable.
- Experience in heritage gardens, botanic gardens, National Plant Collections, or large public garden operations is advantageous.
- Experience preparing business cases and supporting capital investment decisions is desirable.
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams through growth or organisational change.
- Experience representing organisations through media, public relations, or promotional activities is desirable.

About You
- Highly motivated, self-directed, and personally accountable.
- Ability to build effective relationships with colleagues, volunteers, visitors, and external stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of creating outstanding visitor experiences in public-facing environments.
- Commitment to developing, coaching, and supporting others.
- Ability to communicate complex horticultural information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Ability to work effectively in physically demanding outdoor environments and varied climatic conditions.
- Strong understanding of health and safety responsibilities within horticultural operations.
- Flexible and creative approach to problem solving.
- Strong collaborative approach to achieving organisational objectives.
- Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally when required.