Horticulturist

Filoli Center•Woodside, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

At Filoli, our gardens are a living canvas where historical preservation, conservation, and horticultural excellence meet. Under the direction of the Garden Manager and Director of Horticulture & Conservation, the Horticulturist stewards a designated area of our historic estate. This role blends daily hands-on cultivation, technical plant management, team mentorship, and warm visitor interaction. Experience Tracks: Horticulturist: Minimum 2 years of practical gardening experience. Provisional Horticulturist: Less than 1 year of experience (a structured program to build your skill set under Filoli leadership). The Role: Stewarding Our Landscapes You will set routine work priorities and lead day-to-day care for your assigned garden section—ensuring high aesthetic and historic standards while training interns and volunteers.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of practical gardening experience (or under 1 year for Provisional track).
Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture (or related field) preferred.
Valid Driver's License required.
A California Qualified Applicator Certificate/License (QAC/QAL) is required within 6 months of hire.
Proficient in operating power equipment, tractors, and hand tools safely.
Comfortable with basic software (Google Workspace, MS Office, and plant database tools).
Committed to integrating an equity lens into daily work, fostering psychological safety, and contributing to Filoli’s DEAI goals.
Gardening on a historic estate is active and physical!
Work outdoors in varied weather across uneven terrain.
Perform repetitive motions (up to 50% of shift).
Climb ladders/scaffolding up to 16’–25’.
Lift up to 35 lbs. frequently (and up to 60 lbs. occasionally).

Nice To Haves

Filoli supports ongoing certifications like ISA, QWEL, or ReScape.

Responsibilities

Execute precision pruning, hedging, topiary care, soil amendment, turf maintenance, and seasonal display plantings.
Program and repair irrigation systems according to local climate data (CIMIS).
Propagate plants from seeds and cuttings, manage greenhouse mist and temperature systems, execute Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and maintain plant collection database records.
Schedule routine work, lead group projects, and train Horticultural Trainees, Interns, and Service Learning volunteers.
Lead safety workshops on equipment use, pesticide application, and ergonomics.
Share horticultural stories daily with estate visitors, lead private tours for donors and colleagues, and occasionally represent Filoli at garden clubs, public lectures, or learning classes.
Partner across departments to support estate operations, seasonal lighting setups, and event logistics.