Horticulture Specialist II

Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance•Denver, CO

1d•$24 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

The Horticulture Specialist II advances Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance’s mission by providing horticultural care for the plant community across its living campus, including animal exhibits and guest areas. The work includes monitoring, pruning, fertilizing, pest control, watering, collaborative design, and record keeping to support the health and vigor of the landscape. The role also contributes to guest experiences and works with animal care and health teams, arboriculture staff, volunteers, interns, and other colleagues. The position is on-site and offers a schedule of Monday through Friday, with some weekends and evenings as needed. The position also participates in snow removal operations and may be needed on weekends and holidays in an on-call capacity for snow removal. Compensation is $24.20 to $29.64 per hour.

Requirements

Associate degree in horticulture or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
One year of paid, full-time professional experience in forestry or arboriculture.
Ability to pass a physical examination, background check, and pre-employment drug and alcohol screen.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
At least 21 years of age.
Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
Basic heavy equipment operation skills; training can be provided.
Organizational, written and oral communication, and attention-to-detail skills, with the ability to prioritize work and tasks.
Ability to adapt, meet deadlines in a fast-paced and changing environment, multitask, and work as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

Two years of professional experience may substitute for an associate degree.
Experience with public horticulture at a zoo, museum, or botanical garden.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

Monitor and implement horticultural care for zoo landscapes, exhibits, and specialty collections.
Help create a positive guest experience through the plant community and interactions with guests.
Execute the Integrated Pest Management Program.
Monitor irrigation systems, perform minor repairs, and coordinate larger repairs with the Irrigation team.
Follow department and zoo-wide policies and protocols, including environmental, safety, health, and sustainability requirements.
Collaboratively design and implement plant displays in the assigned area.
Work with animal care and animal health teams to implement planting programs within animal exhibits.
Collaborate with the Arboriculture team to maintain tree and shrub collections.
Work with horticulture volunteers to support a meaningful volunteer experience.
Work with horticulture interns to develop their skills and provide practical learning opportunities.
Participate in snow removal operations, including on-call weekend and holiday availability as needed.
Support DZCA events, including Zoo Lights.
Maintain professional working relationships with zoo team members and contractors.
Participate in or support zoo-wide committees and work groups.
Perform other duties as designated by the manager to support department and organizational goals.
Act as a steward of DZCA resources and safeguard confidential and proprietary information.