Job Description

Why Cheekwood?

Working at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens offers you the opportunity to work for one of the most beautiful places in Nashville. Formerly the home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, Cheekwood now serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum with period rooms and art galleries. At Cheekwood, you will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of roles tailored to your skills and interests. Whether you are passionate about horticulture, art curation, historical preservation, or one of our many other career opportunities, you would have the chance to thrive and make a meaningful impact here. Working in such a place that cherishes its rich history, vibrant art scene, and serene gardens offers a unique blend of fulfillment and inspiration. You will find yourself in a supportive environment where every day brings new opportunities for personal and professional growth, amidst the backdrop of picturesque settings.

What does the Cheekwood Garden Team do and why join?

At Cheekwood, the gardening team is responsible for the care and maintenance of the garden's plants and landscapes. Their tasks typically include planting and propagating a diverse array of flora, ensuring proper soil health and nutrition, watering schedules, pruning for shape and health, pest and disease management, and seasonal upkeep. Joining the gardening team at Cheekwood offers the opportunity to work with a diverse range of plants, including rare and exotic species, which can be rewarding for plant enthusiasts. We also offer offers a peaceful and beautiful work environment surrounded by nature, making it an attractive career for those who enjoy working outdoors and appreciate the tranquility of gardens.

What will you be doing?

This position at Cheekwood oversees warehouse inventory and ensures the smooth operation of all annual programs, festivals, and TRAIN exhibits.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

TRAIN Exhibits (Permanent, Summer and Atrium Display)

• Maintains the functionality of all the TRAIN displays.
• Responsible for starting the TRAINS in the morning and turning them off at closing time as scheduled.
• Professionally interacts with guests, including discussing the display with talking points.
• Works closely with Color Garden Supervisor to report planting issues with photos including points of reference and a brief description of the issue.
• Supports Garden staff with additional duties, as assigned. Example: Weeding, Watering, Small Planting projects.
• Maintain tracks, including clearing vegetation and debris and ensures stainless tracks are never scrubbed but appropriately cleaned on rare, needed occasions.
• Troubleshoots electrical issues with tracks & engines and troubleshoots mechanical issues with cars.
• Troubleshoots issues of track level, wear, and obstructions. Notice areas of frequent derailment, solves the problem, enlists help from Director of Garden.
• Operations and Master Carpenter and vols when needed.
• Keeps display areas tidy, picking up trash and running a blower each day.

Festivals & Annual Programs (Holiday LIGHTS/ Harvest /A&G /Orchids and others

• Directly supports the annual delivery of garden festival exhibitions
• Directly supports Holiday Lights installation
• Provides onsite tech coverage for Holiday Lights and other exhibitions as scheduled.
• Assists building exhibit elements using shop drawing and other design documentation.
• Handles, installs, and strikes seasonal display and special exhibit elements
• Performs basic maintenance and repairs to inventory on display, such as properly reattaching loose parts and troubleshooting and correcting electrical and data transmission issues.
• Assists with inventory and data management for the purposes of production planning, budget management, and internal communications.
• Contributes to custom-built elements and installations
• Makes every reasonable effort to ensure the safety and comfort of all people moving through the garden.

Inventory & Warehouse

• Warehouse work as directed to include:
• Organization and maintenance of work zones and storage zones
• Inventory and receiving as directed, including jack o lanterns and s4 shipments
• Troubleshooting and repair of exhibit features as directed including simple continuity testing of cables, power testing of string lights & features, testing of decoders and data systems. For example, testing and repairing Candy Canes with programming. For example, quality check of Trees of Light. For Example, testing, repairing and sometimes re-lighting Grapevine Balls.
• Retrofit existing display items for new designs, e.g. Mum Topiary to Jack o' Lantern Mosaic, e.g. adding data decoders to static Candy Canes
• Pulling needed stock as directed, including Funkins, cables, and lighting
• Assembly of new features at warehouse or workshop as needed
• Occasionally direct labor crews moving display items, like Two Men and a Truck.

Other Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned
• Is present at critical install and strike schedules

Requirements

• Ability to learn about G Scale train operations, simple electrics and simple repairs
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve train derailing’s and common low voltage electrical issues
• Must interact with guests professionally and answer questions about our TRAIN display and all other seasonal display’s.
• Safely operate a 12-foot orchard ladder, enlisting a spotter when needed
• Valid driver’s license
• Must have the ability to multi-task and endure extended periods of standing and walking in all types of weather conditions.
• Knowledge of basic shop safety in the operation of hand tools and power tools
• Hands-on display production / prop building, a plus.
• Ability to interpret schedules and inventories produced in Excel
• Ability to establish and maintain professional courteous working relationships with the team and the department leads.
• Part Time, 20 hours, some weekends, and evenings required.

Part-time Benefits

• Membership & Discounts: As an employee, you receive a Cheekwood membership, which entitles you to unlimited admission during regular Garden hours and a limited number of free tickets to special events. Members also receive discounts on classes, ticketed events, and purchases at the Gift Shop. Your Cheekwood membership also include reciprocal admission for named members to more than 300 gardens though the American Horticultural Society.
• Reciprocal Admission: As an employee of Cheekwood you have free general admission access to many local cultural, historical, and art institutions as part of the employee admission program.