CUPE116 Salaried - Horticulturist

University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in Canada is seeking a Horticulturist to perform horticultural tasks at the UBC Botanical Gardens. This role involves maintenance, training others, and contributing to the garden's biodiversity efforts. Candidates should have relevant horticultural qualifications and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Competitive compensation offered.

Qualifications

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives.
• Commitment to enhancing awareness related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine maintenance tasks at UBC Botanical Gardens.
• Use horticultural tools for planting and maintaining grounds.
• Conduct investigations and evaluate plant care methods.
• Assist in training Horticulturists and student trainees.

Skills

Attention to detail

Ability to work independently

Manual dexterity

Education

Certificate in Practical Horticulture

Diploma in Horticulture

BC Pesticide Applicator's Certificate

Degree in horticulture or related discipline

Job description

Staff - Union Job Category CUPE 116 Job ProfileCUPE 116 Salaried - Horticulturist Job Title CUPE116 Salaried - Horticulturist Department Horticulturists | Botanical Garden and Centre for Horticulture Compensation Range $5,655.00 - $6,071.00 CAD Monthly Posting End Date November 11, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date October 19, 2026

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Description Summary

Positions at this level perform diversified horticulture activities at UBC Botanical Gardens.

Our Vision is that plants are understood, valued, celebrated, and secure in a healthy, biodiverse world.

The mission of UBC Botanical Garden is to assemble, curate, and maintain a documented living collection of temperate plants for the purposes of education, research, conservation, community outreach, and public display.

How we do it: As Canada s oldest university botanical garden, we steward a living and growing repository of plants representing the biodiversity of selected native and exotic temperate ecosystems. The total collection of approximately 120,000 accessioned plants represents some 6,000 taxa and includes significant collections of Magnolia, Acer (maples), Sorbus (mountain ash, Styracaceae (storax family), Rhododendron and climbing plants.

A key part of the University s biodiversity collections, the Botanical Garden provides resources to researchers, students and the public that reach far beyond its collections to provide a window onto the species, ecosystems and genetic diversity of the natural world.

Organizational Status

Horticulturists at the Garden work in a variety of areas within the Botanical Garden, Nitobe Memorial Garden, and the Nursery, under the direction of the Garden Supervisor or delegated senior horticulturists while working in curated areas of the Garden. In addition Horticulturists may work under the direction of the Principle Instructor of the Horticulture Training Program.

Work Performed

Carries out tasks related to UBC Botanical Gardens involving routine maintenance. Uses a range of horticultural tools to prepare and maintain UBC Botanical Garden grounds. Plants trees, shrubs, bulbs, seeds and related plants material. Conducts investigations, evaluates plants, and applies new and improved methods and techniques relating to cultural requirements, growing procedures, nutritional requirements, production of nursery stock, etc. of plants and species in the area of specialization.

Assists in the propagation of a variety of plant material, identifies and maintains the accessioning and labeling of plant materials and carries out plant and seed collection in the field.

Assists senior horticulturists in conducting investigations, including writing reports/publications related to area of responsibility.

Provides input to the collection of plant material for the advancement of the Botanical Garden collection.

Performs duties such as calculating basic quantities, assists in updating databases and collection, coding, distributing, filing and indexing of plants.

Works in a correct and safe manner and follows established policies and procedures.

Participates in the training of Horticulturist, Labourers, Apprentices, and Student Trainees (including Horticulture Training Program Students).

May coordinate the work of and provide assistance to employees at lower level classifications.

Carries out any other related duties as required in keeping with the qualifications and requirements of positions in this classification.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Work requires planning the sequence of duties, the work methods to be employed and the action to be taken, applying knowledge of procedures and makes decisions based on guidelines and established policies; carries out all assignments within the guidelines of the University Safety Policy.

Supervision Received

Works under direction, performing the general phases of the work independently but within established guidelines.

Supervision Given

Coordinates the work of and provides assistance to employees at lower classifications as requested.

Minimum Qualifications

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Completion of a certificate in Practical Horticulture
• Completion of a diploma in Horticulture
• BC Pesticide Applicator s Certificate and a Pesticide Applicator s Certificate
• Valid B.C. Driver s License and-Completion of a BC or other provincial, state or national horticulture certifi-cate (1 year) program, diploma (2 year) program, or degree in horticulture or other plant-related discipline;4 years relevant experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A responsible and energetic individual who takes direction and is able to work independently
• A valid BC Driver s License
• Must be able to demonstrate sufficient attention to detail in job perform-ance, as well as accuracy in record keeping and labeling, in order to maintain the high standard of horticultural practice required in the Botanical Garden.
• Knowledge of the precise cultural care required by plants in the Botanical Garden collections is an asset
• Good manual dexterity and the ability to work out-of-doors