Horticulturist job description.
A Horticulturist applies plant science and cultivation expertise to plan, grow, and maintain gardens, landscapes, greenhouses, or nurseries for commercial, public, or research settings. They select suitable plant species, manage soil and irrigation conditions, and diagnose and treat pests or disease to keep plantings healthy. The role often includes advising on planting design, supervising groundskeeping staff, and ensuring cultivation practices meet environmental and safety standards.
The Horticulturist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Horticulturist Reports to: Grounds Manager or Facility Manager
A Horticulturist applies plant science and cultivation expertise to plan, grow, and maintain gardens, landscapes, greenhouses, or nurseries for commercial, public, or research settings. They select suitable plant species, manage soil and irrigation conditions, and diagnose and treat pests or disease to keep plantings healthy. The role often includes advising on planting design, supervising groundskeeping staff, and ensuring cultivation practices meet environmental and safety standards.
- Plan and design planting layouts and garden beds
- Diagnose and treat plant pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies
- Monitor soil health, irrigation, and fertilization needs
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Grounds Manager or Facility Manager
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Plan and design planting layouts and garden beds
- Diagnose and treat plant pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies
- Monitor soil health, irrigation, and fertilization needs
- Propagate, plant, and cultivate a range of species
- Maintain greenhouses, nurseries, or grounds under their care
- Advise on plant species selection suited to site and climate
- Supervise groundskeeping or nursery support staff
- Maintain records of plant inventory, treatments, and maintenance schedules
- Ensure cultivation practices comply with environmental and pesticide regulations
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Degree or diploma in horticulture, botany, or a related field
- Hands-on plant cultivation or nursery experience
- Working knowledge of pest and disease management
- Physical ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions
- Pesticide application licence where required by state and employer
- Certified horticulturist credential
- Landscape design experience
- Greenhouse or nursery management experience
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Horticulturist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Horticulturist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Grounds Manager or Facility Manager) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Does a Horticulturist need a specific licence?
- Only for certain tasks, such as applying restricted-use pesticides, which typically require a state-issued applicator licence — confirm local requirements before hiring.
- What's the difference between a Horticulturist and a Landscaper?
- A Horticulturist brings deeper plant science expertise, focusing on plant health, species selection, and cultivation, while a Landscaper focuses more on design and physical installation of outdoor spaces.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Gardener
A gardener maintains and cares for plants, lawns, and outdoor grounds for residential, commercial, or public properties.
Groundskeeper
A Groundskeeper maintains the appearance and safety of outdoor property, including lawns, gardens, walkways, and grounds equipment.
Landscaper
A Landscaper installs and maintains outdoor spaces including lawns, gardens, and hardscaping for residential or commercial properties.
This Horticulturist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.