Date: 21 Apr 2025
Location: Central Auckland, NZ, 1010
Company: Auckland Council
- Lead a team of horticultural specialists & ensure quality plant production
- Mentor and coach staff, supporting their development for a high-performing team.
- This is a onsite position at the Domain Wintergardens
He angitūtanga: The opportunity
Auckland Council has a permanent, full-time opportunity for a Team Leader – Nursery to join our Domain and Botanic Gardens team. This is a critical leadership role responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality plant production to support the Auckland Domain’s iconic Wintergardens and surrounding outdoor gardens.
As Team Leader, you’ll oversee nursery operations, ensuring plants meet the highest horticultural standards, while also contributing to the Domain’s broader objectives in recreation, education, and conservation. A key part of the role involves building and maintaining effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders to support and enhance the nursery’s impact across the region.
You could expect to:
- Lead a team of technical horticultural specialists, including recruitment, conducting performance reviews, and supporting professional development.
- Oversee the production of high-quality plants for display in the Wintergardens and across the outdoor gardens at Auckland Domain.
- Ensure the efficient and cost-effective operation of the nursery, including budget management, work programming, SOP development, and asset oversight.
- Manage the arrangement, installation, and maintenance of plant displays within the Wintergardens.
- Promote and uphold health, safety, and wellbeing standards for all staff, volunteers, and visitors, with the potential to act as the Domain’s designated HSW representative.
Please view the position description HERE.
The renumeration range for this role is $92k - $98k
He kōrero mōu: About you
You will bring proven experience from similar roles within large, complex, and potentially politically influenced organisations, demonstrating your ability to navigate diverse stakeholder needs while delivering high-quality horticultural outcomes.
We’re looking for a passionate horticultural professional with strong leadership experience—someone who listens, leads with empathy, and brings a collaborative approach that inspires and takes the entire team on the journey with them.
We will be looking for specific experience with the key role requirements:
- Level 4 horticultural qualifications
- 7–10 years of experience in nursery production, with at least 3 years in a leadership, or supervisory position. Previous people management experience is highly desired
- Proficient in all aspects of nursery production, with a strong understanding of the full process, from propagation through to display, including the ability to align plant production with display requirements.
- Experienced in working with a diverse range of plant species and crops, demonstrating adaptability and technical expertise across varying horticultural needs.
- The ability to think strategically while maintaining a customer-focused approach, ensuring nursery outputs align with stakeholder needs and organisational goals.
We still encourage you to apply if you have some but not all these requirements.
Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer
Auckland Council is the largest local government council across Oceania, serving over 1.7 million people and contributing towards making Tāmaki Makaurau a world-class city. We offer a range of employee benefits and proudly support flexible working options where possible.
View a snapshot of some of our employee benefits HERE.
Help us make a difference to Tāmaki Makaurau.
Me Tono Ināianei!: Apply Now!
Applications close: Tuesday 6th May
If you have any support or access requirements, please advise us when submitting your application so we can assist you.
Our employer Kiwisaver contribution is additional to base salary offered.
This is a safety sensitive role and as such applicants will be required to undergo drug and alochol testing prior to commencing employment.
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Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.
