Job Description

Job Title: Horticulturist

Department: Plant Science & Conservation

Supervisor: Horticulture Supervisor, Horticulture Educator, or Natural Areas Supervisor

Supervises: Gardeners, Volunteers, Seasonal Staff, and Intern(s)

FLSA Salary Classification: Full-time, Non-exempt, Hourly

Revision Date: March 2024

Availability: Ability to work a flexible schedule, work may require evening, weekend, and occasional holiday hours depending on the season.

General Summary:

Applies strategic and tactical horticultural skills in the essential functions of installation, care, and maintenance of collections, displays, exhibits, lawns, and cultivated areas of the Garden. Evaluate opportunities for containerized displays and beds. Support and participate in design planning and execution. This includes monitoring and programming irrigation, fertilization needs, implementing cultural controls, and applying IPM, in assignment areas to shrubs, perennials, annuals, and trees.

Essential Functions:

• Perform general gardening duties such as pruning, planting, weeding, mulching, and removing debris. Supervise tasks and work with gardeners daily, providing training in proper horticultural techniques as needed to teammates.
• Monitor and inspect plants for health deficiencies and problems, identify proper corrective measures and apply appropriate pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
• Participate in the research, design, and selection of new plant material and garden beds and containers. Assist with the development and design of new and existing garden areas.
• Contribute to weekly garden task scheduling and planning. Monitor irrigation systems, implement effective program changes, and enter work order requests for repairs.
• With managerial approval, source and request plant purchases, supplies, and materials such as trees, shrubs, seeds, mulch, soil and garden tools and equipment using the establish department process.
• Lead tours, provide demonstrations, and answer questions from garden guests and staff on horticultural topics. Teach and lead classes, and workshops on various Horticulture related topics to the public.
• Work with contractors, consultants, and temporary employees and aid in supervising and training interns.
• Operate garden equipment such as utility vehicles, chainsaws, blowers, mowers, tillers, skid steer, tractors, trucks, forklifts, and other heavy machinery after training.
• Occasional travel required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Associate's degree in horticulture or related field and 3+ years of experience in landscape installation or maintenance or an equivalent combination of training, skills and experience.

Success Factors:

• Efficient and effective in execution of tasks. Ability and willingness to adapt to a wide variety of duties and responsibilities in all weather conditions. Ability to organize work, maintain schedules, and problem solve. Decision making skills and the ability to prioritize.
• Guest service-focused with the ability to relate kindly and respectfully with persons internal and external to the Garden. Must demonstrate the Garden’s Core Values in all relationships at work and behave ethically in all business matters.
• Able to demonstrate horticultural best practices based on real examples
• Strong knowledge of U.S. Zone 7 plants and their proper care
• Must attain and maintain these credentials: 1) First Aid and CPR; 2) Alabama Pesticide Operator’s License (OTPC), and 3) Motor Vehicle operation insurability and pass an annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) report.
• Aptitude and experience with safely operating large equipment, such as trucks, tractors, and riding mowers required.
• Skilled in using hand tools and operating small power equipment required. Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) are required. Proficient with Microsoft Office.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in horticulture or a related field from an accredited program and 1+ years of experience in landscape installation or maintenance or an equivalent combination of training, skills and experience.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Physical Demands: Requires continuous physical activity such as occasional lifting (50 to 100-lb) with team member assistance several times each day, frequent solo lifting (up to 50-lb), bending, climbing (up to 15-ft), walking over uneven and sloping terrain. Sense of vision and hearing in the normal range with or without correction. Sense of touch and the ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment required.
• Work Environment: Work is performed primarily outdoors in all weather conditions. Exposure to loud, prolonged noises and/or vibrations.
• Equipment: Lawn mowers (riding, push, stand on), tree maintenance equipment (chipper, chain saw), backpack blower, aerator, string trimmer, edger, brush cutter, general gardening tools and equipment, utility vehicle, skid steer, tractor, front-end loader, dump truck, aerial lift, bucket truck, pick-up truck, two-way radio, cell phone, general office equipment.

s are guidelines that attempt to characterize major duties and responsibilities of employees, and are subject to change as needs and programs change. At Huntsville Botanical Garden they are considered neither inclusive nor exclusive. It is expected that up to 20% of your duties may change annually.

Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

The Huntsville Botanical Garden supports a culture of inclusion that attracts, inspires, and engages people to achieve success. The Garden is committed to hire and develop employees based on job-related qualifications irrespective of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or veteran status. To increase diversity in professions related to the public garden realm, we encourage applications from underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.