Gardener Jobs

Department: Plant Science & Conservation
Supervisor: Area Supervisors
Supervises: N/A
FLSA Salary Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Revision Date: July 2023
Availability: Ability to work a flexible schedule. Work will require regular weekend rotations and occasional holiday hours depending on the garden’s needs.

Position Summary: Performs landscape maintenance throughout the Garden including fertilizing and mowing lawns, edging, installing plants and seasonal flower designs, pruning trees and shrubs, mulching, watering, and weeding garden beds. Executes maintenance to ensure the Garden is in excellent horticultural and aesthetic condition.

Essential Functions:

• Prepare and maintain the Garden for special events, exhibitions, and other large-scale projects.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Monitor and maintain Garden water features. Responsible for reporting necessary garden features, equipment, and hardscape repairs to appropriate supervisors. Monitor irrigation equipment and notify supervisors of concerns.
• Demonstrate the ability to safely operate and maintain all equipment according to the operator’s manuals. Responsible for proper operation and maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Monitor and control invasive species and threatening insects, diseases, and nuisance pests. Mix, apply, store, and safely handle herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides
• Perform all functions involved in the care of the Garden, including planting, dividing, and transplanting trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Weeding, mulching, watering, cultivating, and fertilizing. Under the direction of the area supervisor or horticulturists, pruning plants and trees for beneficial plant growth and health. Weed eating, edging, removing unwanted sod, brush cutting, and turf care. Removing litter, twigs, leaves, and other debris. Maintaining plant labels and reporting damaged or missing plant labels, utilizing mapping tools, i.e., Survey 123.
• Communicate with supervisors and co-workers to understand and achieve individual garden and garden collection objectives.

Minimum Qualifications: High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent and 1+ year practical experience in horticulture, landscaping, or related field or an equivalent combination of training, skills, and experience. Must be able to understand and follow all safety requirements, guides, and procedures, and possess a strong interest in plants and their proper culture and care. Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office Outlook.

Success Factors:

• 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.
• Efficient and effective in the 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.
• Skilled in using hand tools and operating small power equipment required.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) with a passion for sharing plant knowledge with staff, volunteers and visitors.
• Aptitude and experience with safely operating large equipment, such as trucks, tractors, and riding mowers required.

Preferred Qualifications: 2+ years practical experience in horticulture, landscaping, or related field or an equivalent combination of training, skills, and experience. Demonstrated experience operating equipment used for landscape maintenance such as mowers, weed eaters, tractors, etc.

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.

• 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.
• Physical Demands: Requires continuous physical activity such as occasional lifting (50 to 100-lb) with assistance several times each day, frequent solo lifting (up to 50-lb), positioning self to maintain garden beds, containers and displays, ascending/descending ladders, lifts, etc. (up to 15-ft), traversing over uneven and sloping terrain. The ability to observe, identify, judge and manipulate details at close range. Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment as required.
• Work Environment: Work is performed primarily outdoors in all weather conditions. Exposure to loud, prolonged noises and/or vibrations.

Job descriptions 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.