Horticulturist

The Barnes Foundation • Philadelphia, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Primary Function: The Horticulturist is responsible for supporting the Horticulture Manager in all aspects of care and maintenance of the landscape at Calder Gardens. This includes daily hands-on maintenance of the diverse plantings of herbaceous plants, trees, and shrubs including weeding, planting, watering, and pruning; supporting public use of the site along with related events and programs; working with seasonal gardeners, interns, and contractors; playing a large part in managing and supervising volunteers to maintain the gardens.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One year of relevant experience required.
• Valid driver’s license valid in Pennsylvania that must be maintained for the duration of employment.
• Ability to regularly lift and/or move 50 lbs with proper tools and equipment.
• Ability to move to access files, equipment or supplies.
• Clearly communicate in person, by phone, and by video conference.
• Communicate with others in conversational and written English.
• Ability to walk, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl.
• Ability to traverse grounds and gardens daily, working outdoors in all weather conditions including heat, humidity, and rain, sometimes for extended periods of time.
• Ability to operate electric equipment and power tools in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in horticulture, botany, environmental studies or related field preferred.
• We encourage applicants with diverse horticultural backgrounds and skills to apply. The ideal candidate possesses experience in garden maintenance and horticultural practices.
• Previous public garden employment a plus.
• Flexible schedule, including availability for weekends and evenings.
• Additional certifications or training horticulture a plus.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the garden under the Horticulture Manager’s direction including weeding, planting, watering, pruning, and dividing.
• Ensure cleanliness and safety of the garden through daily morning walkthrough, including clearing damage, debris and litter.
• Support the Horticulture Manager in monitoring the water needs of the gardens.
• Learn how to operate and maintain drip and sprinkler irrigation systems.
• Assist the Horticulture Manager in maintaining plant health through Integrated Pest Management principles including scouting, identifying, reporting, and documenting pests and diseases.
• Repair plant bed damage due to extreme weather, construction disturbance, and visitor intrusion.
• Alert the Horticulture Manager to related hardscape issues such as damage to signs and plant bed protections.
• Along with the Horticulture Manager, inventory, maintain, store, and stage tools and equipment for daily horticulture operations.
• Maintain the department’s storage and operation space with attention to cleanliness and safety.
• Operate vehicles including a utility vehicle and pick-up truck as needed.
• Provide detailed and timely instructions to volunteers with regards to their work assignments.
• Provide training orientation to volunteers as needed.
• Assist with data collection and monitoring of the garden.
• Collaborate with the horticulture manager to achieve strategic departmental goals.
• Be present in the garden in the Horticulture Manager’s absence.
• Attend scheduled meetings as part of the Calder Gardens Horticulture team and Operations department.
• Support other departments with various tasks as needed.
• Work carefully around all works of art on the campus, both indoors and outdoors.
• Safely use a fall-protection harness and lanyard when working in fall hazard zones.
• Act as an ambassador for Calder Gardens answering visitors’ questions about horticulture, Calder Gardens history, design, and general information.
• Assist the Horticulture Manager in supporting horticulture-related activities, events and programs such as corporate partners and members events, education and community events, and volunteer programs.
• Commitment to perform any and all tasks required for maintaining the highest standards of garden management.
• Must be a collaborative team-player and willing to maintain positive engagement with the public and colleagues.
• Detail-oriented.
• Commitment to complete and abide by safety training.
• Basic PC skills and familiarity with MS Office and Google Suite.
• Completion of OSHA 30 training.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.
• Perform other duties as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees