Location: RHS Garden Wisley
Contract Type: 5-year fixed term contract
Are you passionate about driving increased sustainability and environmental considerations within gardening and horticulture? We are looking to recruit a post-doc to undertake an exciting new 5-year fellowship study.
For more than 210 years the Royal Horticultural Society has been the force behind the nation’s gardening. Our charitable purpose is to inspire passion and excellence in the science, art and practice for horticulture. Our vision is to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. As a charity, the RHS aims to inspire a wide range of audiences by demonstrating the wonders of gardening through all that we do including gardens and shows, in our publications and online, and through our work in the community.
The successful candidate will undertake a research study to quantify the environmental effects (positive and negative footprints / handprints) of a range of typical gardening activities. This will involve assessing the impact of gardening and horticultural activities on various resources and outcomes, including energy and water use, carbon and nutrient balances, waste generation, pollutant use, habitat / biodiversity changes and bio-security impacts. New knowledge from this study will inform and help RHS gardens, members and the gardening public to assess the environmental consequences of their individual gardening decisions and activities. It will also provide guidance towards achieving ambitious sustainability targets within the RHS, including net positive for nature and net positive for people, through climate-positive and environmentally beneficial gardening. The outcomes of this research will also be applicable to the wider horticulture and landscaping industry.
Applicants should have a PhD in sustainability, environmental science or related subject and a passion for developing an understanding of the environmental effects (positive and negative) of gardening and horticulture. A thorough and demonstrable understanding of environmental sustainability and biodiversity / climate change concepts, together with practical experience and ability in the quantification of resource use and environmental assessments, is essential.
The RHS provides a number of great benefits for employees including:
It’s never been more exciting time to join the Royal Horticultural Society. We are making a landmark £160 million investment in the future of horticulture over the next 10 years. This will allow us to bring the joy of gardening to millions more people and make some of the most significant and exciting changes in the history. Join us and be part of the history.
Apply via our website by 30 April 2021.
We want to enrich everyone's life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.