Team Leader Nursery & Collections

Jobs in Council; Ballarat; On-site; AUD 71,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning and development programs

Flexible work policies

Employee benefits program

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

The City of Ballarat is seeking a Nursery Supervisor to lead propagation, growing and maintenance of our nursery collections. You will support year-round displays at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and contribute to plant research and documentation, including the Garden Explorer database.

You will champion IPM practices, oversee safety in a small team, and play a key role in heritage garden management while fostering a positive team culture.

Qualifications

• Certificate 3 or equivalent in horticulture.
• Ability to lead and develop a small nursery team.
• Knowledge of nursery production, plant maintenance, and IPM basics.
• Strong written and verbal communication within a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead propagation, growing, and maintenance of nursery collections.
• Contribute to garden displays, including Begonia displays and plant research.
• Ensure health and safety policies are followed within the team.
• Develop quotes and business plans, and contribute to the Garden Explorer database.

Skills

Team leadership

Horticulture knowledge

Health and safety

Communication skills

Education

Certificate 3 in horticulture

Job description

• Band 4 Base Salary $70,527.60 - $75,049.52 per annum + Plant and Industry Allowance plus superannuation

• Permanent Full Time Position
• Band 4 Base Salary $70,527.60 - $75,049.52 per annum + Plant and Industry Allowance plus superannuation

About The Role

The engine room of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, our nursery produces & maintains more than 12,000 plants a year for our year-round conservatory displays, featuring six documented collections and Ballarat’s renown registered begonia collections. Leading a small team you would help propagate, grow and maintain nursery collections and complimentary plants, and then bring them to life in our year-round, unique conservatory displays including the Begonia Display, the centrepiece of Ballarat’s Begonia Festival. We are passionate about integrated pest management, nursery accreditation, and operate in a minimal chemical-use environment. We are actively involved in small scale indigenous plant conservation projects and thrive in the propagation of plants for our three heritage listed gardens. This role has the added interest of being actively involved in the development of our plant collection research & documentation, and our plant database maintenance including its public interface Garden Explorer.

About You

You have a passion for plants, an eye for detail, and extensive production nursery experience. You enjoy leading and working with an experienced team, thrive in enhancing positive team culture and believe there can be nowhere better to work than in a botanical garden.

Key Selection Criteria

• A Certificate 3 or equivalent in horticulture.
• Demonstrated ability to champion, model and promote corporate values.
• Horticultural expertise that embraces the broad range of plant production and maintenance processes associated within nursery operations.
• Demonstrated ability to implement and monitor adherence to health and safety policies and procedures within a team environment
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills for dealing with staff, contractors, community, and the preparation of quote and business plans.
• Experience leading a team in a production nursery environment.
• A current driver’s licence maintained while employed by the City of Ballarat.

Be Part Of Something More

Join us in making a real difference to the lives within our community. Working for City of Ballarat you will be part of a team that values honesty, transparency and accounting in everything we do. We believe in the importance of valuing every Individual and working together to support the community. Together we create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and make a positive impact.

Benefits

There’s more to remuneration than just salary.

Here Are Some Key Benefits You Might Value

• Learning and development programs
• Flexible work policies
• Employee benefits program
• MyWellbeing initiatives

The closing date for this position is 30th October, 2026.

For any additional questions, please contact Donna Thomas – Curator Gardens and Nursery, [e-mail]

At the City of Ballarat, we celebrate diversity and strive to create an inclusive, flexible workplace where everyone feels welcome. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to apply. If you need any support during the recruitment process, reach out to us at [e-mail]

We’re proud to be a child-safe organisation, committed to protecting children and young people from harm. Our culture promotes their safety and wellbeing, and we require all successful candidates to undergo relevant screening, including a Working with Children Check and criminal history check.