Horticulturist
- Join the Tree Canopy Management Team to enhance local parks and gardens.
- Undertake horticultural maintenance activities focusing on tree planting and care.
- Deliver high-quality horticultural services to improve community spaces.
Are you passionate about creating and maintaining vibrant parks, gardens and open spaces? Do you enjoy working outdoors and making a visible impact on the local environment?
Join our Tree Canopy Management Team and help shape greener, healthier spaces across the Shire. As a Horticulturist, you'll undertake a variety of horticultural maintenance activities with a key focus on tree planting, establishment and ongoing care, while supporting the maintenance of parks, gardens, streetscapes and public open spaces. This hands-on role offers the opportunity to contribute to Council's urban greening and canopy enhancement initiatives while delivering high-quality horticultural services that enhance the beauty, sustainability and liveability of our community.
What you'll be doing:
- Planting, establishing and maintaining trees, gardens and landscape assets across the Shire
- Undertaking watering, mulching, fertilising and weed management activities
- Supporting Council's tree planting and urban greening programs
- Monitoring plant and tree health and identifying maintenance requirements
- Performing turf maintenance, including mowing, whipper snipping and turf renovations
- Operating and maintaining horticultural equipment, machinery and vehicles
- Applying horticultural chemicals in accordance with legislative and Council requirements
- Conducting site safety assessments and following safe work practices
- Identifying and reporting asset defects and maintenance needs
- Delivering professional and courteous customer service to residents and stakeholders
- Maintaining accurate records and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives
About You:
You're a motivated and reliable horticultural professional who enjoys working outdoors and takes pride in creating and maintaining high-quality public spaces. You have a passion for horticulture, a strong understanding of plant care and landscape maintenance, and an interest in helping grow and maintain Council's urban tree canopy.
You enjoy working as part of a team, value safety and take pride in delivering quality outcomes that benefit the community.
To be successful in this role, you will have:
Essential:
- Certificate III in Horticulture or equivalent qualification
- ChemCert (AQF3) or equivalent qualification
- NSW White Card
- Current Class MR Licence, or willingness to obtain within six months of appointment
- Experience in horticultural maintenance, landscape establishment or open space maintenance
- Sound knowledge of horticultural practices including planting, pruning, irrigation, weed management and plant health
- Experience operating horticultural equipment, machinery and vehicles
- Strong understanding of workplace health and safety requirements
- Effective communication and teamwork skills
Desirable:
- Experience in tree planting, establishment and maintenance programs
- Certificate IV in Horticulture or related qualification
- Traffic Control qualifications
- Experience working within a local government environment
Join our Team and Grow with Us!
If you are ready to take on a challenging and rewarding role that makes a real difference in the community, apply now to join our team at Sutherland Shire Council!
- Apply by uploading a cover letter and your resume outlining why we are a great fit!
- Get your application in by 11.59pm: Monday 2nd November 2026
- Interview date: Interviews will be facilitated week starting November 9th, 2026.
- Package: $72,577 to 76,813 gross p.a. plus 12% superannuation.
- Hours of work: Permanent: Permanent Full-Time opportunity: 38-hour week with a 9-day fortnight.
- To benefit your wellbeing, you will have access to fitness passport, employee assistance program, annual flu shots, health and wellbeing programme and novated lease options.
Suitable candidates are subject to pre-employment screening which includes Reference Checks, Work Rights Verification, Identity and Functional/Medical History Checks, and will also include a Criminal History, Qualification and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.
Reach out to Sebastien Le Coustumer, (Tree Canopy Manager), slecoustumer@ssc.nsw.gov.au for any job specific enquiries.
Claire Murphy, Talent Acquisition Business Partner cmurphy@ssc.nsw.gov.au can assist with any recruitment related enquiries.
Click on the link to check out the Position Description
Council is a Child Safe Organisation and is committed to ensuring the NSW Government’s Child Safe Standards are incorporated in our procedures, practices, programs, and events.
Sutherland Shire Council values the skills and attributes Veterans can bring to our Council. We understand that transitioning to roles outside of Defence can feel challenging. If you're unsure where to begin or would appreciate guidance throughout the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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About Sutherland Shire Council
Sutherland Shire is a unique area in greater Sydney. Boasting iconic beaches, stunning coastline, vibrant town centers, and incredible national parks. All just 26 km from the CBD. As one of the largest Councils in NSW, we're home to a growing and connected community of more than 230,000 people.
Watch the video to hear from our people about the wide range of projects we're delivering for our community.
It's a great time to join our team and do work that matters.
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