Gardener

Nashville Zoo; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 24,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

EAP

401(k) match

Paid time off

Zoo perks

Collaborative culture

AZA accreditation

Job summary

Nashville Zoo in Nashville, Tennessee is seeking a full-time Gardener to maintain vibrant landscapes year-round, monitor plant health, water, trim, and install plants, while operating landscaping equipment safely.

The ideal candidate will have a strong horticultural eye, attention to detail, and a willingness to work early mornings, weekends, and overtime as needed. Benefits include healthcare, retirement, time off, exclusive zoo perks, and a collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum high school diploma or GED required.
• Background in landscaping or grounds maintenance preferred.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Prune and weed-landscaped areas.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Uphold professional conduct and organizational values.
• Monitor irrigation systems and ensure proper operation.
• Hand water plantings not yet established.
• Install plants when necessary.
• Assist other departments as needed.
• Complete tasks in an orderly, efficient manner.
• Pursue horticulture knowledge during tenure.

Skills

Self-direction

Plant knowledge

Guest interaction

Organization

Equipment operation

Education

High School diploma or GED

Valid driver’s license

Job description

Nashville Zoo is dedicated to inspiring a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation, and leadership. With a diverse collection of animals and a commitment to wildlife preservation, we provide engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.

Why Work with Us

At the Nashville Zoo, we believe in taking care of our team just as well as we care for our animals. Full-time employees enjoy a robust benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and future:

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage – including medical, dental, and vision plans to keep you and your family healthy.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – confidential support services for mental, emotional, and financial well-being.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching – helping you build a secure future while you make a meaningful impact today.
• Generous paid time off and sick leave – because rest and recovery are vital.
• Exclusive zoo perks – enjoy discounts on park experiences, retail, and food services, plus complimentary membership benefits.
• A collaborative and inclusive culture – be part of a diverse team where your voice matters, your growth is nurtured, and collaboration thrives across all departments.
• AZA-accredited facility – Nashville Zoo is committed to top-tier animal care, ethics and global conservation efforts.

Position Description

Gardener responsibilities include monitoring the health of all plants and greenscapes, watering and feeding plants, trimming trees and shrubs, fertilizing and mowing lawns, weeding gardens, and keeping green spaces and walkways clear of debris and litter within their assigned area. The Gardener should know how to use and maintain landscaping equipment, including mowers, trimmers, and fertilizers while following health and safety regulations while making sure the gardens and green spaces are always healthy and beautiful. The ideal candidate possesses a strong appreciation for horticulture, an eye for detail, and a commitment to maintaining vibrant, attractive, and healthy landscapes year‑round.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prune and weed-landscaped areas.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Maintain professional conduct at all times and consistently model the organization’s values in all interactions with colleagues, guests, and stakeholders.
• Monitor irrigation systems and ensure they are working properly.
• Hand water all plantings that are not established.
• Install plants when necessary.
• Responsible for assisting other departments and staff when requested.
• Responsible for completing assigned tasks in an orderly efficient manner.
• Responsible for furthering horticulture knowledge during tenure at the Zoo.

Qualifications

Skills

• Ability to self-direct work tasks while ensuring safety and productivity.
• Ability and motivation to learn the plants on grounds and their proper care.
• Ability to interact professionally with both staff and visitors.
• Ability to perform assigned tasks in an organized and efficient manner.
• Ability to professionally and safely use small, medium and heavy equipment and tools required for the execution of assigned tasks.

Education/ Experience

• Minimum High School diploma or GED equivalent is required.
• A background in landscaping or grounds maintenance is preferred.
• A valid driver’s license is required.

Physical Responsibilities

Staff must frequently stand and walk for most of an 8–10‑hour shift and regularly bend, kneel, reach, climb, and perform repetitive motions while cleaning, maintaining grounds, or performing facilities repairs. These roles require frequently lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 50 lbs and occasionally heavier items with assistance, as well as safely navigating ladders, stairs, uneven surfaces, and wet or slippery areas. Adequate vision, hearing, hand dexterity, and clear communication are necessary to operate tools, equipment, vehicles, and radios safely. Work occurs both indoors and outdoors year‑round in all weather conditions, with routine exposure to dust, dirt, chemicals, cleaning agents, noise, and equipment vibration. Positions may involve using power tools, machinery, or motorized vehicles and require adherence to established safety procedures. PPE such as gloves, protective footwear, eye and hearing protection, or respirators may be required depending on the task. Schedules may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional overtime based on operational needs. The role must learn new tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete task independently, and make timely decisions in the context of a workflow.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Work Schedule

Full-Time position

Flexibility: Position may require flexibility in working hours to accommodate special events, emergencies, or animal care needs.

Pre-employment requirements

Nashville Zoo is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and maintains a drug‑free work environment. All employment is at‑will.

• All candidates are required to successfully complete a criminal background check and drug screening prior to hire.
• Pre‑employment and annual tuberculosis (TB) screenings are a condition of continued employment.

Pay Range

$17.39 - $18.50 USD

U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Nashville Zoo’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.