Horticulture Technician 1-Part Time

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Jacksonville, FL, is seeking a hands-on Plant Care / Garden Specialist to provide professional care of diverse plantings, manage gardens and greenhouse spaces, and engage guests through tours and talks. The role emphasizes safety, conservation, and collaborating with teams across the zoo.

We value flexibility and a passion for horticulture, with a commitment to a drug-free workplace, E-verify, and accommodations as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and willingness to learn new software.
• Strong passion for horticulture and desire for long-term growth.
• Ability to compile a plant list within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent care of plants through planting, pruning, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilizing and pest management.
• Identify plants on the property and understand regional growth needs.
• Care for trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials, annuals, tropicals, palms, succulents, aquatics, turf, and groundcover.
• Maintain gardens and green spaces to be aesthetically pleasing and functional.
• Safely use tools (pruners, shovels, rakes, mowers, landscape equipment) for garden upkeep.
• Maintain the greenhouse, nursery, and shop area.
• Engage with staff and guests, contributing to an inclusive and safe environment.
• Collaborate with teams to share information and support guest experiences.
• Assist with recruitment, training, and mentoring of new staff, volunteers, and interns.
• Identify and mitigate safety hazards, reporting issues promptly.
• Protect plants, animals, and habitats; transplant and plant materials properly.

Skills

Plant care

Garden maintenance

Guest engagement

Safety awareness

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Microsoft Office familiarity

Interest in horticulture

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Consider a career at Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens where you can share your passion about the wonders of wildlife and plants with our community and guests.

Join the innovative, award winning Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens family, ranked as a top twenty-five zoo in the USA by Trip Advisor and granted a Gold Award by First Coast Worksite Wellness Council. The number one paid destination in North Florida is seeking friendly, flexible team players, with excellent communication skills, who have the ability to interact positively with a variety of personalities and ages.

If you think you possess the above qualities, consider joining our awarding winning team, by applying for the job opportunity listed below. We are a Drug-Free workplace and participate in E‑verify.

The Zoo will provide reasonable accommodation to complete the online application consistent with applicable law. If you require an accommodation, please contact a human resources representative at [e-mail] .

Location: Jacksonville, FL

Job Id: 897

# of Openings: 1

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

PLANT CARE

• Provide excellent and professional care of plants through proper planting, pruning, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and pest management.
• Identify plants that are present on the property. Be familiar with plants that grow in our region. Understand the culture and care of these plants.
• The scope of plant care includes trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials, annuals, tropicals, palms, succulents, aquatics, turf, and groundcover.

GARDEN CARE

• Maintain gardens and green spaces at a high level to be aesthetically pleasing, engaging, and functional.
• Safely, effectively, and efficiently use tools such as pruners, shovels, rakes, mowers, landscape power equipment, etc. to maintain garden and green spaces.
• Maintain the greenhouse, nursery, and shop area.

COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION

• Engage positively with staff and guests, contributing to an inclusive and safe environment.
• As a plant and garden care expert, collaborate with other teams to share information.
• Support revenue generating plans and functions.
• Conduct engaging guest experiences including tours, formal and informal talks, and behind the scenes experiences.
• Assist with recruitment, training, mentoring, and oversight of new team members including volunteers and interns.
• Identify and mitigate any potential safety hazards or risks.
• Immediately report any safety issues to the appropriate personnel, ensuring swift resolution and maintaining a safe environment for all visitors and staff.
• Support the protection of plants, animals, and habitats.
• Demonstrated ability to transplant and plant materials properly.
• Demonstrated ability to perform tasks related to plant care, garden upkeep, and landscape maintenance.
• Ability to identify and understand a wide range of plant species, including their growth habits, care requirements, and environmental needs.
• Knowledge of or ability to access and utilize resources like approved browse plant lists and toxic plants.
• Ability to compile a list of common toxic plants and common plant pests found on zoo property.
• Ability to differentiate between established garden plantings and nuisance weeds.
• Ability to interact positively and in a safe manner with fellow employees and zoo guests.
• Ability to remain focused despite interruptions and manage stress to perform job effectively.
• Ability to work independently, using sound judgement, critical thinking skills, and creative problem solving.
• Ability to learn and share information about plants, gardening, and zoo horticulture.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent time management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, self‑motivate, and meet goals and deadlines.
• Keen observation skills and attention to detail.
• Embraces diversity and fosters an inclusive work environment.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• High School diploma or equivalent
• Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to learn new computer software, as needed to perform role.
• Strong passion for horticulture, with a clear desire to learn, grow, and contribute to the field as part of a long‑term career path.
• Ability to compile a list of 30 plants by common and Latin names within the first 90 days of employment.
• Study of horticulture, wildlife conservation, environmental sciences, etc.
• Availability to accommodate a flexible schedule, including extended hours, holidays, weekends, and a willingness to share on‑call duties.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to remain standing for extended periods.
• Ability to ascend/descend ladders, steps, and uneven terrain, while maintaining body equilibrium while performing various jobs.
• Requires hand‑eye coordination and fine motor skills for tasks such as grasping, turning, and manipulating objects of varying size and weight.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move objects up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to walk, bend, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, and reach.
• Requires visual acuity for reading, writing, and observing surroundings, and auditory acuity for communication.
• Ability to operate motorized carts, trucks, and power tools.

WORK CONDITIONS

• Exposure to various weather conditions, including extreme heat, humidity, sunlight, cold, rain, and wind.
• Potential exposure to allergens (dust, animal dander, pollen, etc.), sharp and irritating plant parts, various soil types and amendments, fertilizers, pesticides, bloodborne pathogens, zoonotic diseases and injuries from animals.
• Irregular work hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays sometimes required.
• Exposure to hazards such wildlife, waste, equipment, loud noises, chemicals, and heights.
• Working in small, enclosed areas.
• Working around and in water.
• Working in elevated workspaces.
• Working in active construction sites.

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS

• A valid driver’s license and clear driving record and be over age 18 to drive organizational vehicles.
• May require local or international travel.

COMMITMENT TO JACKSONVILLE ZOO & GARDENS

• Support Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ (JZG) mission and vision of “Connecting communities with wildlife and wild places,” to create “a vibrant community energized by a connection to nature that enriches lives and inspires all to preserve and protect our natural world.”
• Live JZG’s values of:
  • CULTURE: We strive to develop a collaborative culture where safety is the foundation driving our actions and interactions to create safe spaces and habitats through the cultivation of equity and well‑being for all forms of life.
  • CONSERVATION: We commit to being proactive, emphasizing the urgency of environmental and sustainability challenges while fostering empathy, support and compassion toward our planet and its inhabitants.
  • EDUCATION: We recognize that every interaction is a learning and teaching opportunity that inspires change, enriches one another and our visitors, promotes accessibility, and connects our communities.
  • INNOVATION: We embrace the challenge to continuously grow and develop our organization, valuing creativity and diversity to support one another and remain relevant within our community.

Please note that this is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and that the requirements of the job are subject to change as required.

About JZG

• Inclusion, diversity, and equality as a value: At Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, we recognize that an inclusive and healthy culture is paramount to our success. We aspire to be the employer of choice, where every team member feels valued and has the agency to contribute their unique skills and perspectives. Committed to our team’s wellbeing, we invest in providing exceptional benefits, fostering a collaborative work environment and creating opportunities for learning and growth. By prioritizing our people, we ensure that everyone thrives and contributes wholeheartedly to our mission of connecting our community to wildlife and wild places.
• We are also proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of a person's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, weight, or height.
• We are a Drug‑Free workplace and participate in E‑verify.
• JZG is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

This position is open for applications. The Program is skilled. If interested, apply online today to move forward in this exciting role.