Horticulturist

Description

Accountability: The Horticulturist reports to the Gardens Manager

Job Classification: Full-time, hourly, non-exempt – benefits eligible.

About: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden inspires a love of nature and its beauty through unforgettable outdoor experiences. The nearly 400 acres of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden provides visitors with a chance to reconnect with nature in all seasons. The property welcomes guests to spectacular gardens, a conservatory dedicated to the display of tropical plants and orchids, sparkling fountains, nearly 6 miles of trails and a dog park.

The Horticulturist provides ongoing support to the Horticulture Department with the successful execution of the maintenance and care of all Garden plant life. The Horticulturist is a highly productive member of the department and performs all levels of landscape and grounds maintenance. This role will pridefully oversee and lead efforts to deliver a premier botanical experience for our members and guests. An ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, the desire and ability to serve our guests, and excellent customer service skills so to represent the organization in the highest form.

Responsibilities:

• Understands the importance of each guest to the Garden and drives excellence to ensure an optimal experience in every way.
• Actively participates in and supports the bi-annual rotation and maintenance of approximately ten thousand square feet of annual display beds, understanding the original design intent of separate gardens and garden areas.
• Oversees and maintains all public garden areas to be safe, tidy, weed free leading horticulture practices such as weeding, pruning, and hand watering to ensure the highest level of horticulture display.
• Oversees, monitors, and maintains herbaceous perennials for health and persistent bloom quality, implementing plant containment and migration as needed.
• Oversees, monitors, and maintains plants grown and stored in outdoor nurseries, including crops grown to support seasonal and permanent displays.
• Oversees, monitors, and maintains woody shrubs and small trees for health, structure, and scale, as well as display quality.
• Actively collaborates with other members of the horticulture team.
• Collaborates with other members of the horticulture team to identify new projects, renovations, and displays and coordinates execution with the Director of Horticulture.
• Directly supports an active Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that includes scouting and conventional and progressive control methods.
• Collaborates with Garden Curator for proper plant labeling and tracking in accordance with established plant records management standards.
• Actively corresponds and engages with members and guests of the Garden, answering general horticulture questions.
• Collaborates with Garden volunteers, providing oversight, training, scheduling and management of horticultural maintenance and projects.
• Exemplifies the Garden Mission Statement and supports staff, departments and leadership in pursuing and achieving goals.
• Performs any other duties needed to help drive to our vision, fulfill our mission, and abide by our values.

Requirements

• Exhibits a passion for the mission of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.
• Successfully pass a standard background review.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and some federal holidays
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to produce a clean driving record.
• Willingness to wear a uniform and work outside.
• Must be willing to serve all guests equally regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.??? 
• - Must be able to perform physical requirements of programs at the most rigorous level. 
• - May experience exposure to extended periods of sun, rain, cold temperatures, wind, water and potentially uneven terrain that may contain trip hazards.
• - Must be able to hear distress noises and hear and see distress signals in a variety of environments, keeping safety in mind at all times.
• - Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. 
• - Regular walking, lifting, twisting, crawling, pushing and pulling, grasping
• - Frequent sitting, standing, squatting, kneeling
• - The role may require working in varying environments, including outdoor and indoor settings, and may involve exposure to hazardous materials or conditions.

Experience & Education:

• High school diploma and 3 years large-scale display gardens or botanical collections; relevant experience in temperature hardiness zones preferred.
• Bachelor's degree preferred in Horticulture or related field of study.
• Minimum of 3+ years public horticulture experience.
• Computer skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Well-rounded knowledge and experience understanding, maintaining, and working with a wide variety of plant species and public horticulture.
• Creative ability to design and install plant-based displays.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with a diverse audiences.
• Ability to work in a team yet also independently.