Plant Recorder

Theuniversityunion; Lower Merion Township (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 25,000 - 27,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Vacation & holidays

Professional development

Job summary

Natural Lands seeks a Plant Recorder to maintain and update plant collection information, including records databases, at Stoneleigh: a natural garden in Villanova, PA. The role emphasizes accuracy, teamwork, and support for the living collections.

The part-time, on-site position involves data entry, plant inventories, label creation, and collaboration with horticulture staff to ensure up-to-date maps and living collections information, while working weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• Interest in horticulture, botany, or taxonomy.
• Experience in information management or database management preferred.
• Passion for ecological horticulture and native plants is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Professional demeanor with positive energy.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate plant records in the IrisBG database by entering new accessions, de-accessions, notes, images, sources, and data updates.
• Perform plant inventories in conjunction with Horticulture staff.
• Create display labels and accession tags for plants and assist with label installation.
• Provide information on the living collections and offer training, updates, and reports.
• Research and verify plant names.
• Maintain digital bed maps with Horticulture staff as new garden areas are developed.
• Stay current on plant records software and technology.
• With managerial approval, source and purchase office supplies and equipment.
• Collaborate with contractors, volunteers, and seasonal staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Horticulture interest

Information management

Detail-oriented

Teamwork

Professional demeanor

Tools

IrisBG database

Plant records management

Job description

• Base Pay $22.00 / Hour
• Other Compensation We offer a range of benefits and incentives including health insurance, retirement plans, time off including vacation and holidays, and professional development opportunities.
• Employee Type PT Non-Exempt

Natural Lands, a vibrant, regional, nonprofit organization and leader in land conservation, natural resource stewardship, and public engagement, seeks a Plant Recorder to join our team.

Since the early 1950s, Natural Lands has saved open space, cared for nature, and connected people to the outdoors in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Today, the organization is one of the nation’s largest regional land conservancies and is widely respected for its record of success, technical expertise, respectful and creative approach to partnerships, fiscal strength, and integrity.

Over the course of its nearly 70-year history, Natural Lands has helped preserve more than 135,000 acres including a network of 40+ nature preserves and one public garden across two states and 13 counties. These properties total 23,000 acres and include many of the most spectacular and diverse properties in the region, which are enjoyed by more than 300,000 visitors annually.

Natural Lands seeks to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes our organization stronger. We aim to build a workplace where employees feel empowered to be their full, authentic selves. We welcome you to explore a career at Natural Lands.

Located in Villanova, PA, Stoneleigh: a natural garden is a 42-acre former private estate that opened as the Philadelphia area’s newest public garden in May of 2018. Stoneleigh’s fast-growing plant collection represents a diverse array of native taxa. The Plant Recorder’s primary role is to maintain and update all plant collection information, including the plant records database. They will also be required to perform any additional tasks as needed to support Stoneleigh's continued development.

This is a part-time, on-site position requiring approximately 22.5 hours per week across three workdays. The selected candidate may choose the three days that best fit their schedule, Monday through Friday.

Primary Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate plant records in the IrisBG database by entering new accessions, de-accessions, notes, images, sources, and other data updates.
• Perform plant inventories in conjunction with Horticulture staff.
• Create all necessary display labels and accession tags for plants in the collection. Assist with installation of labels.
• Serve as the organizational resource for providing information on the living collections by providing training, instruction, updates, and reports.
• Research and verify plant names.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date digital bed maps in collaboration with Horticulture staff as new garden areas are developed.
• Remain current on all new technology and software relating to plant records management.
• With managerial approval, source, procure and purchase office supplies, hardware, software, and other materials and equipment.
• Work with contractors, consultants, volunteers, and seasonal staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Must have an interest in horticulture, botany, or taxonomy.
• Experience in information management or database management preferred.
• Passion for ecological horticulture and native plants is a plus.
• Ability to work independently, and as part of a team.
• Highly motivated, responsible, reliable, and dependable.
• Detail-oriented, strong organizational skills.
• Must carry out tasks in a professional manner and have an aptitude for injecting positive energy and good humor into the workday.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

• Must have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and a good driving record.
• Successfully pass a background check.
• Must be able to walk, stand, bend and squat on uneven terrain; must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds and push up to 50 pounds.
• Work is primarily indoors, but candidate must be prepared to work outdoors under all conditions, including heat, cold, and with occasional exposure to poison ivy, biting and stinging insects, etc.
• Must be available to work weekends on a rotational basis as well as some evenings and holidays.

Summary

Natural Lands is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. We aim to build a workplace where employees feel empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.