Irrigation & Water Feature Tech

This role is responsible for maintaining the Garden’s water features and ensuring that the diverse plant collections receive precise and efficient water delivery, supporting the Garden’s health, sustainability, and visitor experience. This position is also responsible for performing general and specialized maintenance, minor repairs and small-scale installations to water features, including fountains, pumps, ponds with fish and aquatic plants, and irrigation systems. This position will be responsible for work at the Atlanta (primary) and Gainesville (when needed) locations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Experience in making irrigation repairs including but not limited to fertigation equipment, changing spray nozzles, heads, valves, solenoids, cleaning valves and heads, and PVC repair, drip lines, and fittings
• Partner with Horticulture team members on timer programming for increased efficiency
• Help troubleshooting and problem solving with two cisterns on property, involving clearing faults, priming pumps, targeting issues affecting water pressure and irrigation programs
• Perform routine maintenance and repairs to water features, according to written guidelines. This includes vacuuming pools, checking and cleaning filters, backwashing sand filters, monitoring pumps, skimming pools, applying chemical treatments, changing UV light bulbs as recommended, removing debris such as leaves, money, and other objects from water features
• Identify potential safety hazards and notify supervisors of urgent and long-term needs
• Fix minor issues or assist with coordinating vendors on maintenance and repairs to water features
• Maintain features to city, and state standards, including daily water testing, adjusting recommended water chemical balance by adding chemicals as needed, keeping track of daily written log for water testing, checking filters and pumps on a consistent basis
• Apply chemical treatments using appropriate safety procedures and according to departmental policies and procedures
• Complete and keep track of written records for monitoring maintenance and supply needs
• Assist with ordering maintenance and irrigation supplies as necessary, including researching and pricing supplies, working with vendors to find suitable supplies, filling out purchase request forms and submitting to appropriate supervisor, etc.
• May perform additional maintenance duties as assigned

• High School Diploma or GED
• Technical School certifications and/or training preferred 
• 3 years of experience in pool and/or water feature maintenance preferred
• Some electrical experience preferred
• 3 years of experience installing & maintaining intricate irrigation systems in public or private spaces. Knowledge of current industry technologies; (i.e. Central Control Systems/SMART irrigation) 
• Knowledge of Conventional and 2-wire irrigation system
• Ability to read and understand maintenance user manuals, blueprints, and other written related documents
• Valid driver’s license,
• English / Spanish a plus

Physical Requirements

• Follow safety procedures in completion of job duties, according to departmental policies and procedures
• Work with garden supervisors to maintain cleanliness, safety, and security of pump vaults, mechanical rooms, and storage facilities
• Lifting of up to 40 pounds; ability to repetitively bend/stoop, move across property, work in all weather conditions, climb ladders in and out of vaults, and follow approved safety guidelines
• Knowledge of small hand and power tools

Other Requirements

• Good organizational and time management skills, ability to effectively respond to multiple, changing priorities is essential
• Must be able to effectively interact with the general public and co-workers in a professional and respectful manner with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be able to work in a team environment and culture well
• Adhere to all garden regulations as laid out in the Garden Staff Manual and will be required to wear garden uniform at all times 
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays

The above job duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work for employees in this position, but this is not intended as an exclusive or all-inclusive inventory of all duties required of employees in this job.

It is the policy of the Atlanta Botanical Garden to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Atlanta Botanical Garden Core Values

• Conservation: We value natural resources and ecosystems, making choices with the long-term sustainability of our planet in mind
• Excellence: We hold ourselves to high standards and expect commitment from each other to contribute to a positive image and reputation for the Garden
• Inspiration: We inspire through the creation of an environment that supports imagination and expression of beauty, providing joy, delight, and a deeper appreciation of plants for everyone
• Integrity: We demonstrate honesty, transparency, accountability, trustworthiness, and ethical behavior, exercising good judgment in our actions and communication
• Respect: We value the diversity of our coworkers, volunteers, and guests, holding each other in the highest regard