Garden and Operations Manager

Position Summary

The Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens Garden & Operations Manager is the team member responsible for care and maintenance of all plants, grounds, equipment, and outdoor facilities. Responsibilities include garden design and landscaping, plant and pond care, curation of plant collections and oversight of garden staff and volunteers. This team member must be responsive, polite, punctual and relational to members and visitors. The hours of this position vary throughout the year: pruning season in the fall, planning during winter and collaborating with green houses, spring-late summer full garden operation. This position confers regularly (at minimum weekly) with Executive Director to ensure garden needs are met by volunteers

Essential Functions

Plant Care

• Provide or oversee care of all gardens and trees to ensure healthy, beautiful displays all season

long.

• Provide instruction as necessary to garden staff and volunteers regarding proper plant care

(planting, watering, weeding, pruning, fertilizing, etc.). Oversee watering all plants, mosaicultures and planters.

• Expert on evaluation of the health of flowers, beds and annual plants to ensure beautiful

displays all season long

• Oversee curation of plant collections

Grounds Care

• Ensure driveway is graded properly

• Walkways free of debris and weeds

• Barn tools are organized

• Chemicals are properly marked and managed (plant care)

• Assisting with mowing/weeding as needed

• Oversee grounds and equipment maintenance
• Work with staff and volunteers to maintain gardens, grounds, and facilities to optimal standards, adhering to safety standards

• Respond to after-hours issues, security alarm notifications, electrical outages, water leaks, or

other emergency maintenance incidents

• Oversee third-party vendor contracts, including contractors for maintenance and gardening.

Confers with contracted pond care contractor

• Maintenance of outdoor trash and cleaning/organizing the barn

• Provide all volunteer hours to the Office Coordinator

• Managing inventory of supplies, equipment and plants.

Commitment to Diversity

In alignment with the American Public Gardens Association, we value and respect diversity and choose to be inclusive through its acceptance of all individuals regardless of race, age, gender, religion, ability, cultural identity, or sexual orientation. This includes asserting that individuals, without exception, are intrinsically valuable. We are committed to:

• Developing programs that respond to the needs of its membership, guests and community

_ Utilizing hiring and employment practices that are free of bias _

_ Hiring and maintaining a diverse staff and corps of volunteers _

_ Maintaining a safe environment that is free of acts of discrimination or harassment against any individual_

Required Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:

• Horticulture education/background and experience with plant care, nursery and plant design

• Highly punctual, communicative and exceptional relational skills

• Proven garden skill (examples through photo, portfolio or referral letter)

• Communication through text, phone and email

• Experience/knowledge of equipment and systems maintenance

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount

Schedule:

• Choose your own hours

Ability to Commute:

• Waterloo, IA 50701 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Waterloo, IA 50701: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20