Nitobe Memorial Garden Horticulturist Trades Qualified

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

Job summary

An established industry player offers a unique opportunity for a Horticulturist to work at one of the world's most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan. This role emphasizes the maintenance of the Nitobe Memorial Garden while providing mentorship and growth opportunities within the field of Japanese gardening. The successful candidate will engage with diverse cultural practices, ensuring the garden's horticultural excellence and cultural significance. This position is ideal for those passionate about horticulture and eager to expand their skills through hands-on experience and collaboration with experts in the field.

Qualifications

• University degree in horticulture or related field required.
• 6+ years of related experience in horticulture and garden maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and supervise horticulture activities at Nitobe Memorial Garden.
• Provide mentorship to horticulture training program students.
• Collaborate with staff on Japanese garden practices and projects.

Skills

Japanese horticultural practices

Plant selection

Garden layout principles

Pest management

Supervisory skills

Communication skills

Education

University degree in a related field

Certification to a journeyperson level as a Horticulturist

Pesticide Applicator’s Certificate

Tools

Horticultural tools

Job description

Staff - Union

Job Category CUPE 116 Job Profile CUPE 116 Salaried - SubHead Trades 2 - Horticulturist Job Title Nitobe Memorial Garden Horticulturist Trades Qualified Department Horticulturists | Botanical Garden and Centre for Horticulture Compensation Range $6,774.00 - $7,226.00 CAD Monthly Posting End Date April 20, 2025

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

Job End Date

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.

This role offers a unique opportunity for growth and mentorship in the field of Japanese gardening. The primary goal is to prepare the candidate to potentially take on additional responsibilities in the future. While continued employment or promotion cannot be guaranteed, this position provides valuable exposure to traditional Japanese gardening techniques, direct interaction with the Japanese gardening community, patrons and stakeholders, and the chance to deepen your existing knowledge and experience. You'll have the opportunity to learn hands-on from an experienced mentor and further develop your expertise in Japanese garden practices and customs.

If you already possess comprehensive knowledge and experience in the field, and are eager to expand and refine your skills, this position is an excellent opportunity for both professional and personal growth.

Please note that weekend availability is required.

Job Summary

Nitobe Memorial Garden (NMG) is a part of UBC Botanical Garden and is one of the world’s most authentic Japanese Gardens outside Japan. The NMG Horticulturist TQ combines horticultural excellence with cultural knowledge and ambassadorship – omotenashi – Japanese hospitality. This position focuses on maintaining the many and varied aspects of NMG, along with acting as a representative of NMG participating in all aspects of work within a Japanese special collection. This position supports the NMG’s horticultural maintenance, including providing exceptional Japanese horticultural skills, techniques, and the continuation of cultural relevance.

This position participates in all aspects of work within NMG; including, but not limited to: plant acquisition, supervision of labour, mentorship of the horticulture training program students teaching, extension and research activities, and acting in an official capacity as a representative of the botanical garden and NMG with outside organizations. The Horticulturist TQ assists senior horticulturists and researchers in conducting and undertaking research, maintaining scientifically valuable plant collections, and develops and maintains contacts in the wider scientific community.

Organizational Status

Work is performed under the general supervision of Nitobe Memorial Garden Curator-Horticulture or appropriate senior staff as required.

Exercises judgement and initiative in handling matters of a non-routine nature in the absence of established policies, procedures, and guidelines. Works with and provides advice and guidance to Garden horticulture staff on all Japanese garden related needs. Collaborates with the Garden’s Director, the Education & Outreach team, Administration, Guest Services and Events, and all other areas of UBC Botanical Garden.

Work Performed

• Using traditional and modern Japanese Horticultural techniques and tools, this position participates in all aspects of work within NMG.
• Responsible for routine and specialized horticulture activities, including weeding, watering, planting, mulching, monitoring plant pests and plant health, applying fertilizers and integrated pest management plans, pruning, and all aspects of vegetative and seed propagation required for NMG.
• This work includes: accessing Japanese reference guides; overall understanding of Japanese aesthetic principles as they are applied to both gardening and ways of knowing; selection and acquisition of specialized Japanese plant materials; identifying and labeling plants according to current and correct botanical nomenclature.
• Responsible for the care of plants within research collections, including rare and specialized plants and plant collections, using the appropriate hand tools and mechanized equipment to maintain the plants.
• Performs specialized garden maintenance, such as maintenance of the area around the waterfall, the iris beds, maintain the moss areas, and ensuring the irrigation is working correctly and hand-watering areas that are not under the irrigation system.
• In the absence of the NMB Curator establishing priorities for subordinate staff; monitoring progress of major projects.
• Collaborating with the NMB Curator to help determine feasibility of and implementation strategies for new projects.
• As a fundamental approach, demonstrates Japanese gardening techniques, practices and culturally significant methods to garden research staff to ensure the ongoing integrity of the plant collections potentially impacted by research projects.
• Carries out tasks related to all components of NMG including routine garden maintenance.
• Uses a range of horticultural tools to prepare and maintain NMG grounds.
• Assists senior horticulturists in conducting investigations and developing new methods and techniques relating to cultural requirements, growing procedures, nutritional requirements, and production of nursery stock of plants and species in all areas of the NMG.
• Guides the development of junior horticultural staff, labourers, apprentices, and student trainees (including students in the Horticulture Training Program) through practical training, supervision, and horticultural leadership, emphasizing the direct importance and historical significance of NMG as a place of Japanese heritage and horticultural impact.
• May construct and deliver presentations in both Japanese and English to external groups, including government departments, cultural organizations, and gardening clubs.
• Participates in the planning and organizing work, equipment and tools to meet operational requirements following departmental policies, procedures and objectives for use within NMG.
• Supports the work of UBC Botanical Garden research staff to facilitate research, including (but not limited to) monitoring the work of researchers and responding to research enquiries, and relaying this information to the Botanical Garden Research Manager.
• Participates in the development of plans and strategies, including (but not limited to): strategic plans, landscape management, collections management, garden area management, climate adaptation, biodiversity management, and master plans.
• Participates in hiring processes of NMG staff and students as a member of the hiring committee.
• Participates in the planning and organizing of work, equipment and tools to meet operational requirements following departmental policies, procedures and objectives for use at NMG.
• Under the supervision of NMG Curator-Horticulturist monitors the work of external contractors during landscape or infrastructure projects to ensure work is being completed to specifications.
• May work with external organizations, including Japanese cultural and/or heritage organizations, governmental entities, to advance garden initiatives in areas such as plant conservation, research, or public outreach.
• Provides horticultural expertise and advice to external organizations on the techniques and elements associated with work within a Japanese garden, including (but not limited to) other botanical gardens and institutions.
• Participates in the writing of specialized reports/publications.
• Stays current in the practices of horticulture, specifically Japanese gardening, through professional development and self-directed learning.
• Performs work in a correct and safe manner in accordance with all normal safety standards and practices, including (but not limited to) those practices, policies, and procedures as determined by the Botanical Garden and the University.
• Reports safety concerns to supervisors and informs the garden's Local Safety Team.
• In a timely manner, corrects (or arranges for the correction of) any unsafe practices, procedures, or environmental hazards.
• Ensures that colleagues work in a correct and safe manner and in accordance with all normal safety standards and practices and university and departmental policies and procedures and uses UBC CAIRS system to report any safety concerns or incidents.
• Performs related duties as required in keeping with the qualifications and requirements of positions in this classification.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Exercises judgment in the handling of matters, including technical decisions involving complex problems and judgment and initiative in addressing such issues. Represents the university and is responsible for the integrity and cultural significance of NMG; inappropriate decisions may result in strained and/or loss of connections within the Japanese Canadian community, including ties with Japanese Consul and Japanese universities. Additionally, errors could jeopardize the collection, loss of collection and/or the loss of species and may cause service delays and costs, impacting the overall operations and budget of the garden.

Supervision Received

NMG TQ Horticulture work is performed under the direction of the Associate Director, Horticulture and Collections or delegate; horticultural work is performed under the supervisor of NMG Curator-Horticulturist, including mentorship in the unique elements of work within a authentic Japanese Garden.

Supervision Given

Supervises the work of a group of subordinate staff at NMG, with input into staff selection and performance evaluation; participants in the training, oversight and assignment of the work of staff and students with the input of managers. Under the supervision of NMG Curator-Horticulturist, monitors subordinate staff, and ensure they are utilizing the methods, practices and culture significance of Japanese gardening within NMG, including, when directed, to training Guest Services staff on the correct opening and closing procedures of all elements within the garden.

Minimum Qualifications

University degree in a related field, Certification to a journeyperson level as a Horticulturist and/or Red Seal, Pesticide Applicator’s Certificate, a valid BC driver’s license and a minimum six years of related experience.

• 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

• Degree in Japanese Landscape Planning, Design, Management, Resource Science is preferred.
• Training in Japanese horticulture and Japanese garden maintenance.
• Knowledge of Japanese horticultural practices and garden aesthetics, particularly for traditional Japanese gardens, including experience in pruning, plant selection, and garden layout principles unique to Japanese culture.
• Fluency in Japanese; reading, written and oral, understanding nuances between colloquial and formal language to engage effectively with Japanese partner institutions, stakeholders, and for the interpretation of traditional horticultural texts.
• Ability to clearly describe and explain complex horticultural and curatorial aspects of Japanese Gardens.
• Ability to perform advanced maintenance, and to plan and implement maintenance programs.
• Meticulous attention to detail and design.
• Ability to make thoughtful, informed decisions.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the job (e.g., lifting, standing, working outdoors, operating equipment, tree climbing/ladder work).
• Ability to participate in instructional and training programs related to areas of work.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to effectively train, supervise, and motivate employees.
• Ability to apply sustainability concepts to new and existing programs and facilities.
• Ability to work alongside volunteers.

Please note that weekend availability is required.