Horticulturalist

FRESNOS CHAFFEE ZOO CORPORATION•Fresno, CA

9d•$21 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Horticulturist will work independently or as part of a team to maintain the Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo Corporation (FCZC) landscaping and grounds in an attractive, healthy, and safe manner. The Horticulturalist’s work involves a variety of horticultural, maintenance, and grounds development tasks. This position requires collaboration with Zoo staff, contractors and the public to advance the Zoo’s mission of inspiring our guests to care for animals, make connections, build community, and save wildlife.

Requirements

Minimum one (1) year paid experience in commercial landscaping with knowledge of the maintenance and care of trees, lawns, flowers, and shrubs.
Minimum one (1) year of work experience safely operating commercial horticultural equipment, including leaf blowers, edgers, trimmers, soil aerators, and other horticulture hand tools required.
Minimum one (1) of documented experience working in an environment requiring strict adherence to operational safety rules and the mandatory use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required.
A valid California driver's license, valid vehicle insurance, enrolled in the CA Employer Pull Notice program and successful completion of the FCZ Drivers Training Program required.

Nice To Haves

Minimum one (1) year paid experience vegetation management practices and plant species identification preferred.
Experience can be substituted with 18 units of horticulture or plant science courses.
Minimum one (1) year experience operating various types of machinery including, but not limited to, forklifts, scissor lift, boom, bobcat, and pallet jacks preferred.
Minimum one (1) year working with Microsoft Office Suite and other business software preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain the health, appearance, and diversity of the Zoo’s landscaped areas, gardens, exhibits, and plant collections through accepted horticultural practices.
Plant, transplant, prune, cultivate, and maintain trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, grasses and other ornamental plants as directed.
Perform soil preparation, mulching, grading, and the installation or replacement of landscape materials including soil, gravel, sand, mulch, and decorative rock.
Including the removal of debris and refuge of landscaping materials from Zoo grounds as needed.
Safely operate gardening equipment including but not limited to lawn mowers, edgers, weed eaters, pole saws, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, backpack blowers and other gardening tools.
Maintain the aesthetic appearance and safety of public areas, pathways, exhibit surroundings, and behind-the-scenes areas through routine landscape maintenance.
Water and apply fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants as directed.
Assist with the installation, repair, and maintenance of irrigation and sprinkler systems as needed.
Assist with the general maintenance of facilities, equipment, buildings, and grounds.
Identify plant needs for general care and maintenance.
Safely operate a vehicle for business purposes including but not limited to going to and from the Zoo’s facilities and offsite.
Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support team and organizational goals.