Plant Recorder

Natural Lands; Rosemont (PA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Natural Lands, a regional nonprofit focused on land conservation, seeks a Plant Recorder for its Stoneleigh garden in Villanova, PA. The role centers on maintaining plant records, inventories, and labels, supporting living collections and updated bed maps.

This part-time, on-site position offers opportunities to work with horticulture staff and volunteers across diverse natural spaces. Ideal candidates are passionate about ecology and native plants, with interest in taxonomy and database

Qualifications

• Interest in horticulture, botany, or taxonomy.
• Experience in information management or database management preferred.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate plant records in IrisBG by entering accessions, de-accessions, notes, images, sources, and updates.
• Perform plant inventories in coordination with Horticulture staff.
• Create display labels and accession tags; assist with label installation.
• Serve as resource for information on living collections with training and reports.
• Research and verify plant names.
• Maintain digital bed maps with Horticulture staff as gardens evolve.
• Stay current on new plant records software and technology.
• With managerial approval, source and procure office supplies and equipment.
• Collaborate with contractors, volunteers, and seasonal staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Plant records management

Plant inventory

Label creation

Digital bed maps

Database management

IrisBG database

Tools

IrisBG database

Job description

Brief Description
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.

Brief Description
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.