Work with us
People and plants have shaped Chelsea Physic Garden since 1673. The people who currently work or volunteer in the garden still believe in the power of plants.
Current vacancies
Trustees (voluntary role)
About the role:
Under the leadership of a new Chair, the Garden is entering into an exciting and ambitious period. The Board are looking to appoint a number of new Trustees to build on the work already achieved by the Board and senior leadership team as we move forward to implement our new strategy.
There are a number of areas of specialism that the Garden is keen to bring to the Board and sub-committees so that they can ensure that the diversity of skills required can continue to support the executive team and help them further develop. We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals with experience of:
- Capital Project Management, someone with direct experience of managing or overseeing a major capital project ideally in cultural heritage sector
- Horticulture/Horticultural Science
- Fundraising
Find out more in the Recruitment Pack, see the link link below.
To apply:
Please let us have a CV and a cover letter confirming your suitability areas to: . Interviews will be undertaken by a panel of serving Trustees supported by the Garden’s Director.
Closing date for applications: 11.59pm, Sunday 30 March 2025.
Visitor Experience Director (Maternity Cover)
Position: Temporary – maternity cover, full-time, 35 hours per week (including some evenings and weekends as part of a roster).
Salary: £48,000 p/a.
About the role:
This role is responsible for delivering an enriching and welcoming experience for audiences, sparking curiosity and lifelong learning. It contributes to project visioning, development and implementation. It leads the organisations health and safety and risk management responsibilities and manages the small but important archive collections.
The successful candidate will relish the opportunity to maximise revenue from visitor admissions, including donations and gift aid. They will work closely with colleagues to ensure visitor safety and the quality of the welcome. Through their team they will ensure that there is an enriching learning, outreach and public engagement programme and engaged volunteers.
This role is a key member of the senior leadership team and takes an active part in strategic planning for the Garden, attending Board and its subcommittees meetings and is an active part of the Chelsea Heritage Quarter steering and programming groups.
To apply: Please complete the job application form below, and equal opportunities form and email to: .
If completing the application form would present a barrier to you applying for this role, please contact: , providing brief details of the issue for you and we will do our best to agree suitable alternative arrangements for your application.
Closing date for applications: Sunday 2 March 2025, 11.59pm.
Provisional first interview date: Wednesday 12 March 2025.
Horticultural Trainee
Position: Fixed term contract of 18 months. Full-time, on average 35 hour week with occasional weekend working.
Salary: £25,201.
About the role:
Applications are now open for our paid Horticultural Traineeship. Do you have a passion for plants and an interest in working with a historic living collection? Are you looking to develop your horticultural skills? Apply via our website to join our friendly team.
This paid traineeship will encompass eighteen months working alongside our team of experienced gardeners, volunteers and wider team of experts. The Trainee will have the chance to hone their practical horticultural experience alongside studying towards RHS level 2 (or equivalent). The trainee will work outside and in the glasshouses with a diverse plant collection in a small botanic garden.
We work an average 35 hour week and have a rota of weekend working shared between the team. The salary on appointment is £25,201 plus pension, employee welfare scheme, and more. The traineeship start date will be from late May to early June 2025.
This Traineeship has been made possible thanks to the support of the Rick Mather David Scrase Foundation.
To apply: Please complete the job application form below, and equal opportunities form and email to: .
If completing the application form would present a barrier to you applying for this role, please contact: , providing brief details of the issue for you and we will do our best to agree suitable alternative arrangements for your application.
Closing date: Sunday 6 April, 11.59pm.
First interviews: week commencing 28 April.
FAQs
If you have an RHS Level 2, 3 or above or equivalent (from another training provider), we regret to say that you are not eligible for our traineeship.
The traineeship is advertised (on average) every 1 year subject to funding.
Our Application form is available to download, please use it for the job you wish to apply for, clearly stating the role you are applying for. Also, please complete and send us this equal opportunities form with your application. Please note, that we cannot accept applications via a CV or resume, and we can only consider applications from UK residents or those with the right to work in the UK.
Chelsea Physic Garden is an inclusive employer. If any aspect of our application process poses a barrier to you, please get in contact via and reasonable adjustments can be arranged.
Chelsea Physic Garden is a London Living Wage Employer
Chelsea Physic Garden has existed on the banks of the Thames since 1673, delivering its founding mission to demonstrate the importance of medicinal and herbal plants to the well-being of humankind.
The Garden has a successful education programme, a thriving membership and annually welcomes over 50,000 visitors. As a financially self-supporting charity, the Garden’s challenge for the future is to reinforce its relevance and popularity whilst strengthening its diverse income streams.
Chelsea Physic Garden is an inclusive employer. We welcome applications from everyone, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, neurodiverse people, and people from all ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Working at Chelsea Physic Garden is rewarding; not only do you get to work in an iconic and beautiful location, a number of benefits exist for employees. To view them click below.
Become a Horticultural Trainee
Horticultural traineeships give trainees a chance to experience the various aspects of working in a small botanic garden, gaining experience in practical horticulture and the management of a unique plant collection, with scientific research and educational applications, both outdoors and under glass.
Our 2023/2024 Horticultural Trainee is generously supported by the Rick Mather and David Scrase Foundation.
An additional two-year entry-level trainee post is funded as part of our National Lottery Heritage Fund project to restore our historic glasshouses, our thanks go to all the funders.
We also rely a large network of volunteers
Are you a people person dedicated to a high standard of customer service, who would like to spend time in London’s oldest botanic garden?