Job Title: Horticulturist
Location: Park Avenue Service Center, Shangri La Botanical Gardens
Reports to: Senior Horticulturist
Supervises: 2-3 Indirect
Classification: Non-Exempt
Salary Level: Hourly
Category: Full Time
Job Summary
Manage the design, care, and presentation of a wide variety of plants, landscapes, and seasonal displays in assigned areas. Occasionally coordinates/oversees/directs the team with other projects in the garden. Applies industry standard horticultural principles and landscape maintenance techniques to ensure the highest horticulture standards and visitor experience.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Assess areas under oversight regularly and implement maintenance tasks.
- Oversee installation, management, and maintenance of plant displays.
- Planting, pruning, watering, weed control, mulching, and applying pest management as directed to ensure good plant health
- Assist the Senior Horticulturist in organizing and scheduling maintenance projects on a weekly and seasonal basis. This may also involve coordinating with the Grounds team staff on large projects.
- Work with, facilitate, and monitor the activities of volunteers to assist staff with projects and garden maintenance.
- Maintain accurate plant signage placement
- Gather data, plant records, and inventories for data input into the plant collection database
- Maintain accurate records and create weekly activity reports.
- Interact professionally with visitors, volunteers, and staff.
- Share information on horticultural topics by conducting in-house workshops and programs, which may include occasionally guiding tours in the garden.
- Participate in miscellaneous group projects such as event setup, freeze protection and recovery, hurricane preparation and recovery, Foundation events, special projects, and other duties as needed.
Leadership Responsibilities
The incumbent in this position oversees the work of two to three members of the garden team as well as volunteers. Other leadership responsibilities include training employees and volunteers, planning, assigning, and directing work.
Expectations
1. Work duties are performed to maintain the highest quality landscapes inside and outside Shangri La including visitor parking lot
2. Support the Foundation’s goals and values; display passion and optimism; mobilize others to fulfill the vision; provide vision and inspiration to others; further Shangri La Garden’s mission.
3. Provide courteous, professional, timely and accurate service and support to all visitors, vendors, volunteers and co-workers.
4. Give and welcome feedback; contribute to building positive team spirit, building morale and group commitments to goals and objectives.
5. Work within approved budget limitations.
6. Follow policies and procedures, maintain appropriate records, and complete tasks correctly and on time.
7. Follows safe work procedures, reports potentially unsafe conditions, notify supervisor of damages, defects, or the need for repairs that could prevent deterioration of equipment or possible injury to employees or others.
8. Observe scheduled work hours.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Experience
A minimum of two years professional work experience in the horticulture industry is required, preferably in public gardens or residential landscapes.
Education
An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, botany or a closely related field is preferred.
Interpersonal Skills
Must be a team player able to work comfortably and effectively in cross-functional teams and contribute to building a positive team spirit. Ability to work with diverse groups of individuals and take direction. Work is performed in areas of frequent visitor interaction and requires excellent customer service while balancing the need for productivity.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Working knowledge of annuals, perennials, woody plants, and native plants with a desire to broaden the plant diversity in the gardens.
- Knowledge of sustainable practices and organic materials.
- Familiar with safe operation and maintenance of hand and power tools
- Excellent time management, organization, and prioritization skills.
- Written and verbal communication skills are important.
- Ability to add/subtract two-digit numbers and to multiple/ divide with 10s and 100s
- Ability to speak, read, and understand English as it relates to the duties and safety requirements of the position, ability to communicate in Spanish is desirable
- Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
- Basic computer skills (MS Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
Physical Demands
Job involves the regular and, at times, sustained performance of strenuous physical tasks in all weather conditions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to handle and use objects, tools, equipment, and control devices. The employee will be frequently standing, walking, stooping, reaching for objects, walking over rough or uneven surfaces, and using a ladder. The ability to see, with or without corrective measures, and to adjust focus, see in color, and see objects at a reasonable distance is essential. Employee may be required to move, push, pull or lift objects ranging from 10-80
Work Environment
The employee will work outside most of the time in an environment that is commonly wet, humid, hot, or cold. Noise levels are generally moderate; however, the use of certain equipment may require the use of hearing protection. Environment includes blooming plants, plant saps, fertilizers and other possible allergens, as well as possible exposure to chemicals, herbicides and pesticides. Tasks may require exposure to insects, snakes, and/or rodents according to prevailing habitat conditions.
This Job Description does not necessarily constitute a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising this position, nor does it constitute a contract for employment.
