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
Head of Plant Collections
Position: Full Time, Permanent Position
Salary: £46-£48,000 (depending on experience)
About the role:
Are you looking for the next major step in your career? Do you manage historic or botanic collections in a Garden open to the public? Chelsea Physic Garden has this key role to fill.
You will be responsible for the horticultural team (6 full-time) as well as trainees, interns, and volunteers who care for and present the Garden and all its plant collections (4,500 taxa). You will work closely with key members of an Advisory Committee but also have confidence to manage the Garden and team with all their diverse needs yourself.
You will need to be able to work at pace and juggle several priorities to ensure that the needs of the Garden, it’s visitors, event goers and planned projects all fit together as well as having a pride in the consistently high standards of presentation of the Garden and Glasshouses.
To apply: Please complete the job application form and equal opportunities form and email to: .
Closing date for applications: 5pm, Sunday 28 April 2024
Provisional first interview dates: first week of May 2024
Schools & Families Officer
Position: Permanent, 4 days a week 0.8 FTE
Salary: £22,000 (£27,000 FTE)
About the role:
Are you looking to inspire the next generation of plant scientists and connect people with nature? Apply via our website to join our friendly team. The Schools and Families Officer is responsible for organising and delivering a diverse programme of school sessions and family workshops at London’s oldest botanic garden.
Closing date: Sunday 19 May
1st Interview: Tuesday 28 – Wednesday 29 May
2nd Interview: Monday 3 June
To apply:
Please complete the job application form and equal opportunities form and email to .
Event Duty Manager(s)
Position: Permanent contract, part-time
Salary: £5,245 annualised hours contract (£16.81 per hour)
About the role:
The Event Duty Manager plays an important operational role in the Garden’s thriving venue hire activity.
Our Grade-I listed heritage grounds are available for hire, serving a wide range of private events including weddings, dinners, receptions, parties, photoshoots, and more. The Event Duty Manager will oversee these activities, looking after the clients and their guests and suppliers throughout the set-up, delivery, and cleardown of events in accordance with guidance from the Events Coordinator.
The role offers an exciting opportunity to work at London’s oldest botanic garden, as well as one of its most exclusive and unique event venues. Prior industry experience is preferred but not essential, with full training provided.
To apply:
Please complete the job application form and equal opportunities form and email to: .
Applications will be reviewed and interviews held on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Advisory Committee – volunteer role
About the role:
The Physic Garden has one vacancy for an Advisory Committee member who has a specialism in Learning & community engagement.
To apply:
Applications should be made in writing addressed to the Gardens’ Director stating the applicant’s relevant experience and motivation for applying for the role (no more than two sides of A4). This should be sent by email to by the closing time and date below. Please ensure that your email is headed “Advisory Committee”.
Dates:
Closing date for applications: Tuesday 25 July 2023, 5pm
1st Interview:
Remote: Tuesday 15 August, times to be allocated
2nd Interview:
In person TBC
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
— NOT CURRENTLY RECRUITING —
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. We are also currently hosting a New to Nature Trainee, which is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee, and part-funded by the Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust.
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?