Gardener

Desert Botanical Garden, Inc.; Arizona; On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Desert Botanical Garden, Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona is seeking a Trail Horticulture Assistant to support the health and growth of desert plants used in exhibits, trails, and displays. You will work under the supervision of a horticulturist to maintain beds and assist with seasonal projects.

This role requires physical stamina for outdoor work, weekend/evening availability, and the ability to supervise volunteers and coordinate with staff on plant care, irrigation, and display upkeep.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, botany, life sciences, or equivalent.
• Ability to work independently with direction from supervising horticulturist.
• Exceptional time management, communication, and organizational skills.
• The ability to solve problems using discretion and good judgment, high levels of personal motivation.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings when needed.
• Valid Arizona driver's license for cart training and use.
• Public Garden experience a plus

Responsibilities

• Support the health, care, and growth of plants in Garden displays and trails.
• Perform horticulture tasks including watering, bed detailing, irrigation maintenance, and pruning.
• Support care and health of accessioned plants with documentation and evaluation.
• Assist with plant sales, exhibit installations, and collecting trips.
• Supervise, manage, and communicate with volunteers on the Trail team.
• Participate in meetings and assist with reports and professional development.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Time management

Communication

Independent work

Problem solving

Weekend hours

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in horticulture, botany, life sciences

Tools

Loppers

Pruners

Shovels

Power tools

Job description

Description

Position Purpose

A participating member of the Trail Horticulture team responsible for the health, care, and growth of plants used in the Garden's displays, exhibits, and trails with the goal of achieving the highest level of excellence in alignment with best practices in horticultural care for desert plants.

Essential Duties

• Actively support the management and care for team areas ensuring that all plant beds meet the Garden's standards of health, aesthetic, and cultivation.
• Perform appropriate horticulture related tasks as assigned by the Supervisor including, manual watering, detailing for highly visible beds and displays, minor irrigation maintenance for assigned areas, and tree and shrub pruning.
• Actively support the care and health of the Garden's accessioned plants in assigned areas including documentation, review and evaluation in collaboration with the Supervisor.
• Provide support for all departmental activities including plant sales, exhibit and display installations, and collecting trips.
• Supervise, manage, and communicate with volunteers working with the Garden Trail team.
• Participates in departmental, Garden, and planning meetings; assist with reports and proposals; continue professional education and participation in professional organizations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Pay: $21.00 per hour

Requirements

Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in horticulture, botany, life sciences, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Be able to work independently with direction from supervising horticulturist.
• Exceptional time management, communication, and organizational skills.
• The ability to solve problems using discretion and good judgment, high levels of personal motivation.
• Ability to work weekends and evenings when needed.
• Valid Arizona driver's license for cart training and use.
• Public Garden experience a plus

Equipment Used

Typical office equipment. This role will also use small hand tools (loppers, pruners, pick axe, shovels, sharp shooter, etc.) and some power tools for landscaping maintenance and care.

Internal Communication

Regular communication with department and Garden staff and volunteers.

External Communication

Interaction with Garden visitors, plant sale customers and vendors.

Working Conditions

Must be able to walk, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, bend, see, hear, speak, read, and type. Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder or scissor lift to 15'-20'. Frequently moves and lifts materials weighing up to 50 pounds. Consistently works in outside conditions that include inclement weather, humidity and extreme heat during summer months. The Horticulture department implements a summer schedule to support the safety and well-being of staff working outside.

Reasonable accommodations may be made, when necessary and feasible, to allow a qualified individual to perform essential job functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Desert Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law. The Garden fosters and supports workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion to honor the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions of all, to celebrate successes, and to cultivate individual and institutional excellence.

All employees will help add to the Garden's diversity and fully embrace it.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and deliverables of the role. This is not a contract and should not be viewed as such. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor and/or his/her/their designee.