Gardener [Full-Time]

San Antonio Zoo; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The San Antonio Zoo seeks a Gardener to maintain ornamental plants and shrubs across zoo grounds. You will plant, mow, prune, fertilize, and monitor pests, reporting weekly progress to the Horticulture Manager while delivering excellent guest service.

Ideal candidates are prepared for early shifts, operate common gardening equipment, and comply with safety and background checks. Join a diverse team focused on wildlife conservation and guest experience.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older with a clean driving record.
• Two years of plant/landscape experience preferred but may substitute for related experience.
• Pre-employment background checks and drug screen required.
• Associate degree preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute large-scale landscaping operations and maintain grounds.
• Install new sod and repair lawns using suitable seed/fertilizers.
• Plant shrubs, trees, and flowers for landscape effects.
• Mow and trim lawns with appropriate equipment.
• Trim shrubs and cultivate gardens.
• Manage grounds cleanliness and irrigation needs.

Skills

Early morning schedule

Power equipment operation

Landscape design concepts

Fertilizer application

Pesticide application

Tropical plant knowledge

Education

Associate degree in conservation/plant science/biology/horticulture

Tools

Mowers

Tillers

Edgers

String trimmers

Shovels

Rakes

Clippers

Chainsaws

Wheelbarrows

Job description

Gardener

Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio

Choosing where to start and grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at, and its leaders, will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people and like-minded conservationists, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

As a Gardener, you will perform a variety of tasks related to the planting, landscaping, cultivating, and caring for ornamental plants and shrubs used to beautify zoo grounds. You assume primary responsibility for flower and shrub planting, and maintenance of assigned areas. The zoo grounds will act as your art canvas displayed to all guests and team members who will see and delight in. You will meet and report to the Horticulture Manager both verbally and in writing of work accomplished and in progress on a weekly basis for project and schedule updates. As you will be around zoo guests regularly; you are expected to constantly exhibit an exceptional guest service attitude and an obvious interest in guest assistance.

As a Gardener, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:

• Plans and executes large scale landscaping operations and maintains grounds and landscape of San Antonio Zoo®; in preparing and grading terrain, applying fertilizers, seeding and sodding lawns, and transplanting shrubs and plants, using manual and power-operated equipment.
• Installs new sod and repairs established lawns, using seed mixtures and fertilizers recommended for particular soil type and lawn location.
• Locates and plants shrubs, trees, and flowers selected those recommended for particular landscape effect.
• Mows and trims lawns, using hand mower or power mower.
• Trims shrubs and cultivates gardens.
• Cleans grounds, using rakes, brooms, and hose.
• Sprays trees and shrubs, and applies supplemental liquid and dry nutrients to lawn and trees.
• Water and care for plants in open beds; transplant decorative plants, flowers, shrubs and trees; plant special flowerbed designs.
• Fertilize and condition soil for different types of flowers and plants.
• Inspect for pests, diseases, or other deteriorating agents and take necessary steps for their eradication.
• Load/unload trucks and trailers as needed and able to push a loaded wheelbarrow over uneven terrain.
• Plant, mow, pickup debris, and maintain specified area.
• Understand and be able to maintain watering requirements of a diverse plant collection.
• Constantly exhibit a guest experience attitude, by conducting yourself at the highest level of integrity and empathy with both internal and external guests including following team members.
• Constantly exhibit exceptional guest experience, communicate with guests, and provide directions to various areas of the zoo in a courteous manner.
• When necessary take initiative to remove trash and debris from public areas.

• Any and all other duties as assigned.

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:

• Must be able to work an early morning schedule.
• Ability to start and safely operate powered equipment such as mowers, tillers, edgers, string weed trimmers, chain saws, motor vehicles, and standard gardening tools such as but not limited to rakes, shovels, shears, and clippers. Equipment is not limited to this list.
• Identify and follow landscape design concepts.
• Able to safely apply fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides as required
• Knowledge of the materials needed to grow mixed plants, various fertilizers, and use methods are needed.
• Knowledge of tropical and sub-tropical plants and familiarity with flowers, trees, plants, and shrubs common to south Texas are required.
• Associate degree in conservation, plant science, biology, horticulture, or related field preferred but not required.
• Two-year's of experience in caring for plants, flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns in a professional setting is preferred but may substitute for two years of other related experience.
• Must be 18 years of age or older with a clean driving record for vehicle operation.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment National Sex Offender Search, Criminal Background Check, and Drug Screen.

The San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.