Plant Curatorial Fellowship Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

Collections That Care; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library invites applications for the Plant Curatorial Fellowship, an opportunity to work in garden curation, collection management, or historic landscape interpretation at Winterthur's renowned historic garden.

The Fellow will document living collections, track plant condition, maintain records, and support collections management to ensure long-term health, with emphasis on peony groupings. Compensation is $19/hour, 35 hours/week, for one year with renewal possible.

Qualifications

• Graduate with 1 year of garden or museum experience.
• Experience in collections management, documentation, or interpretation.
• Basic knowledge of ornamental plants and plant health.

Responsibilities

• Assist with documentation and assessment of living collections, especially peony groupings.
• Track plant condition and maintain records for collections management.
• Support essential daily curatorial work and long-term health of the collections.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Plant knowledge

GIS basics

Database familiarity

Documentation methods

Education

Bachelor's degree in Natural Science or Humanities

Tools

GIS

Database software

Job description

Summary

The Plant Curatorial Fellowship supports an emerging professional in garden curation, collection management, or historic landscape interpretation, offering an opportunity to help steward Winterthur’s historic garden. Widely recognized as one of the nation’s most important examples of the twentieth century “wild garden” style, the Winterthur Garden is defined by its historic living collections and their artful integration within the natural landscape.

The Curatorial Fellow will assist with the documentation and assessment of Winterthur’s living collections, with an emphasis on key groupings such as the peony collections. The Fellow will participate in essential daily curatorial work, tracking plant condition, maintaining records, and supporting collections management to ensure the long-term health and continuity of the collections.

Key Details

Compensation: $19/hour

Duration:1 year, with opportunity for renewal (stars January 5, 2027)

Schedule:FT (35 hours/week)

Deadline:December 1, 2026

Eligibility

Minimum Experience:Graduate of an accredited college or university in Natural Science or Humanities with one year of experience in a garden or museum setting, including work related to collections management, documentation, or interpretation.

Knowledge/Skills:

1. Ability to execute oral and written directions.
2. Basic knowledge of ornamental plants and plant collections.
3. Ability to express ideas clearly, orally and in writing.
4. Basic knowledge of Horticulture and Plant Science including identification and basic assessment of plant health.
5. Experience applying research methods and documentation practices.
6. Familiarity with GIS and database programs.

Essential Functions:

1. Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
2. Must be able to lift 25 lbs.
3. Occasional exposure to garden elements including insects and pesticides
4. Ability to work at a computer for up to 8 hours a day

About

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library encompasses an unrivaled museum of American decorative arts in its mansion and galleries and a magnificent 60-acre naturalistic garden—all set on 1,000 gorgeous acres.