Posting number: 2026-00883
Department: Seattle Parks & Recreation Department
Job classification: Gardener, Senior
Posting type: Open & Promotional
Categories: Parks and Recreation, Parks, Maintenance, Horticulture
About Seattle Parks and Recreation
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is a national leader and innovator in the services and programs we provide to our residents who enjoy our public spaces such as parks, community centers, specialty gardens and swimming pools. Our mission is to equip employees and the public for well-being as we support healthy people, a thriving environment and vibrant community. We provide safe and accessible spaces for residents and visitors to work, recreate, rejuvenate and enhance quality of life and wellness for children, teenagers, adults and seniors. We are committed to the City's Core Values of equity, inclusion, learning, accountability, and stewardship.
Equity & Inclusion:
Seattle Parks and Recreation commits to advancing equity and social justice in our department and in every neighborhood by growing a dynamic and diverse workforce, developing strong investments, growth opportunities and beneficial partner strategies as we acknowledge and pledge to close disparities created by historical practices which often hindered workforce development, environmental justice, access to quality open spaces, programs and facilities.
Our Commitment:
SPR commits to Our City Values, Workplace Expectations, and Racial Equity and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We support and hold ourselves accountable by striving to eliminate barriers to access and provide employees with equitable opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
About the Volunteer Park Conservatory
The Volunteer Park Conservatory is a historic, Victorian-style greenhouse and botanical garden, located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood. Inspired by London’s Crystal Palace, the conservatory covers 6,800 sq ft and is divided into five distinct display houses. The central Palm House includes orchid displays, cactus and succulent rooms, ferns, bromeliads, and a seasonal display area. Today, the conservatory serves as a living botanical museum showcasing subtropical and tropical environments while serving as an educational space and cultural hub, blending horticultural displays with art, science, and culture. The Conservatory hosts exhibits and horticultural events, tours, classes, community events, and educational programs.
About this Position
The Senior Gardner position reports to the Volunteer Park Conservatory and supports the care and maintenance of permanent living collection for five-house Conservatory displays. The responsibilities of the position also involve the design and plant selection for the seasonal display beds and the surrounding area around the Conservatory, and plant propagation. This position reports to the Conservatory education program supervisor under the direction of the Horticulture and Specialty Gardens Manager.
You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities for this position:
Special Working Conditions:
Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice
The full salary range for this position is $38.45 - $41.44 Hourly.
Application Process
Please submit the following with your online application:
Who May ApplyThis position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle Parks and Recreation values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle Parks and Recreation encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.
Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance,SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3 A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacationtime,12 paid holidays, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: Benefits - Human Resources | seattle.gov
Want to know more about Parks and Recreation? Check out our web page: Seattle Parks and Recreation - Parks | seattle.gov
SPR’s Core Competencies are:
Accountability & Action: Holding yourself accountable for achieving goals, completing tasks, and delivering quality work. Demonstrating thoughtful initiative in actions and decision-making and promoting high-quality standards.
Equity and Inclusion: Supporting the goals of the Race and Social Justice Initiative and the City's commitment to workforce equity.
CommunicationSharing and exchanging information and ideas with people in a variety of ways to help them understand and remember the information.
Service: An ongoing commitment to base decisions and actions on the needs and priorities of the City.
TeamworkParticipating as an engaged member of a team to achieve group goals. Effectively working with internal and external people to complete tasks and achieve work group goals.
We recognize that artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as chatbots, automated response generators, or language models, can be helpful during the job search process. If you choose to use them, please carefully review all materials before submission to ensure accuracy, as you will be required to affirm that your responses are true and correct during the application process. Submitting inaccurate or misleading information may result in disqualification. Please also note that relying on AI to complete text-based supplemental questions or during interviews may not accurately represent your skills and experiences, which are critical to applicant success. In some cases, you may be instructed not to use AI tools during the selection process. Learn more about the City of Seattle AI Policy here
Work With Purpose. Shape Seattle. Inspire the World.
Seattle is more than a world-class city — it’s a vibrant, evolving community rooted in shared values of sustainability, innovation, and inclusion. As a public employer, the City of Seattle is committed to building a city that works for everyone, where communities thrive, opportunity is accessible, and public service drives real, lasting impact.
With more than 12,000 employees across 40+ departments, we’re proud to serve the people of Seattle in every aspect of city life, from transportation and utilities to immigrant and refugee affairs, arts and culture, housing, and environmental stewardship. Whether you're maintaining parks, delivering clean water, strengthening neighborhoods, or shaping policy, your work helps power a city that puts people first.
We offer more than 1,100 job titles, from seasonal and entry-level positions to senior leadership roles, across a wide range of fields: skilled trades, technology, finance, urban planning, public health, human services, public safety, and more. Whatever your background or career path, there’s a meaningful place for you here!
At the City of Seattle, public service is more than a job; it's a shared purpose. We don’t just serve our community, we strive to be a model of what good government can be: inclusive, innovative, equitable, transparent, collaborative, and visionary. We believe that local leadership, done right, can inspire change far beyond our city limits.
Joining the City of Seattle means joining a diverse, dedicated team that believes in the power of community and the possibility of progress. Together, we’re building a city where everyone can live, work, and thrive, and showing what’s possible when government works for the people it serves!
Come build your career and community with us!
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