Assistant Horticulturist

Title: Assistant Horticulturist

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Display Gardens

Reports to: Senior Horticulturist or Horticulturist

Seasonal Full-time, anticipated to start mid-March 2025 for approximately nine months

Supervises: Seasonals and volunteers

Seasonal Full-time employees with a six or more month assignment and scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (HSA), Life & AD&D insurance, Legal Shield, Commuter Reimbursement, Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Personal days, Holidays, Holiday Thank you pay
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Cafe, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Employee events such as Orchid show, Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns, Lightscape employee & friends preview night

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate’s qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate’s salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual’s contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview: The seasonal assistant horticulturist will work closely with the managing horticulturist to maintain a diverse collection of plants in different display gardens with high attention to detail. He or she will spend most of the time working in the gardens and assisting with the supervision of other seasonal staff and volunteers.

Responsibilities

In the assistant horticulturist role you will be responsible for the following:  

• Lead crews under the direction of the managing horticulturist and perform general landscape maintenance and installation including weeding, mulching, watering, deadheading, grooming perennials, fertilizing, planting, removing debris, pruning, edging, mowing, and maintaining tools.
• Respond to public and staff questions for general information.
• Provide current information to horticulturists regarding plant accessions, removals, transfers, and label requirements. Label plants and assist with installation of accession tags. 
• Inform horticulturists of disease, insect, weed, and animal problems.
• Assist with special events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Completed a horticulture training program or taken classes in gardening with experience in landscape maintenance and installation
• The ability to lead a small crew under the guidance of a managing horticulturist in maintaining gardens
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Valid driver’s license insurable by the Garden

Physical Demands: 

Must be able to lift, push, pull, and carry items up to 50 pounds. Be comfortable working on stepladders. Be able to work outside in all types of weather.

Why Apply? 
 Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.