Gardener Greenhouses and Discovery Garden

Are you an experienced all-round gardener and are plants your passion? Join us in the unique environment of Utrecht University Botanic Gardens.

Your job

At the Botanic Gardens, you work in a beautiful environment with various garden sections and a greenhouse complex of 6,000 m2 with tropical plants. All of this forms a highly diverse park of 9 hectares in the heart of Utrecht Science Park.

You, along with your fellow gardeners, will be responsible for the care and maintenance of the Discovery Garden and the Tropical Greenhouses and their plant collections. We have major projects happening in the garden, such as the renewal of the greenhouses and the construction of new entrance facilities. The expertise and involvement of the garden team are crucial in these projects: in your role, you will also have the opportunity to contribute ideas and actively participate in these ambitious plans. As a gardener, you will work in a great (international) team with enthusiastic colleagues and volunteers, e.g. colleagues from collection management, communication/education and scientific research.

In this versatile job, you and your colleagues are responsible for:

• ensuring the perfect care of the Greenhouses and the Discovery Garden;
• caring for and maintaining the different plant collections;
• creating an open and welcoming atmosphere for our visitors;
• taking care of your part of the collection administration;
• supervising volunteers;
• participating in weekend and emergency response (BHV) duties and schedule.

Your qualities

You have extensive experience with garden construction, but your heart is truly in garden maintenance and plants. You are a results-oriented and a proactive person. You love plants and gardening, but you also dont mind working with machines, paving or doing some carpentry.

What else do you bring?

• You have at least vocational education (MBO level).
• You are eager to continue developing. Your enthusiasm for the profession motivates you to keep learning.
• You work meticulously and you have an eye for detail because precision and attention to detail are essential for certain activities in the garden.
• You are representative and enjoy interacting with visitors as you will be in regular contact with them during your work.
• You can handle computers and smartphones. The use of digital tools makes your work well-organised, contributing to a smooth collaboration with your colleagues.

Our offer

We offer:

• an employment contract for 12 months with the prospect of a permanent employment contract;
• a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,618 and €3,298 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 5-6 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU);
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

At the Faculty of Science, there are six departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups - the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects. Find out more about us on YouTube.

Utrecht University Botanic Gardens are among the oldest existing university gardens in the Netherlands. The Gardens were founded in 1639, three years after the founding of Utrecht University. The first garden was built on the former stronghold of Sonnenborgh, where the Observatory is now located. Later the Lange Nieuwstraat followed, where the University Museum is now located. The main location of the Gardens is currently at Fort Hoofddijk in Utrecht.

The Botanic Gardens consist of a number of unique thematic garden components, each with its own story and function. We have a Rock Garden, a Discovery Garden, an Evolution Garden and Tropical Greenhouses. These gardens form the basis for academic plant education. In addition, the gardens with approximately 178.000 visitors a year, give the general public insight into the enormous diversity in the plant kingdom and how dependent we all are of plants.

More information

If you have any questions that you’d like us to answer, please contact Gerard van Buiten (Hortulanus) via g.vanbuiten@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Are you an international applicant? Our International Service Desk can answer your questions about living in the Netherlands as international staff.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae and motivation letter via the ‘apply now’ button.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

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