TRAIL HORTICULTURIST SUPERVISOR

Description

Position Purpose

A participating member of the Trail Horticulture team responsible for the health, care and growth of plant material used in the Garden’s dynamic trails, gardens and displays with the goal of achieving the highest level of excellence in alignment with best practices in horticultural care for desert plants and visitor experience. Directly supervises a team of Gardeners to assist in the maintenance of assigned areas.

Essential Duties

• Leads the maintenance and care for team areas ensuring that all plant beds meet the Garden’s standards of health, aesthetic and cultivation including the development of care strategies and implementation of solutions. Participates in the evaluation of plant bed performance and plant acquisition in collaboration with the Trail Horticulturist Manager and Director of Horticulture for Trails and Displays.
• Serve as a knowledge expert for their team by identifying desert plant species including significant collection plants, performing plant diagnostics with treatment recommendations and communicating specific cultural needs required for plants in assigned areas.
• Actively manage and monitor living collection accessioned plants in areas of responsibility including the documentation, review and evaluation for the collection’s care, health and growth in collaboration with Trail Horticulture Manager, Plant Form Specialists and Plant Registrars.
• Actively leads a team of Gardeners for area by organizing and prioritizing their day-to-day tasks while providing coaching and evaluation of performance. 
• Teaches and serves as a subject matter expert (SME) for selected classes and content for the Garden’s Desert Landscape School in coordination with the Education department. 
• Supervise, manage, and communicate with volunteers working with the Horticulture Trail team. 
• Provide support for all departmental activities including plant sales, display installations, collecting trips and Garden activities.
• Participates in departmental, Garden, and planning meetings; assist with reports and proposals; continue professional education and participation in professional organizations. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Salary Range: $51,600 - $61,900 annually

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, agronomy, life sciences, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of automatic irrigation systems, IPM practices, and pruning of woody and herbaceous desert plants.
• Preferred experience working in a horticulture-based position for a public garden, museum, or display garden.
• Exceptional time management, communication and organizational skills.
• The ability to solve problems using discretion and good judgment, high levels of personal motivation and professionalism.
• Valid Driver’s license for cart training and use.
• Ability to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed. 

Equipment Used

Typical office equipment. This role will also use small hand tools (loppers, pruners, pick axe, shovels, sharp shooter, etc.) and some power tools (chainsaw) and construction equipment (scissor lift, fork lift, trencher) for landscape maintenance and care. 

Internal Communication

Regular communication with Garden staff and volunteers.

External Communication

Interaction with Garden visitors, plant sale customers and vendors.

Working Conditions

Must be able to walk, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, bend, see, hear, speak, read, and type. Operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer. Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder or scissor lift to 15’-20’. Frequently moves and lifts materials weighing up to 50 pounds. Consistently works in outside conditions that include inclement weather, humidity and extreme heat during summer months. The Horticulture department implements a summer schedule to support the safety and well-being of staff working outside. Reasonable accommodations may be made, when necessary and feasible, to allow a qualified individual to perform essential job functions.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Desert Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law.

The Garden fosters and supports workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion to honor the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions of all, to celebrate successes, and to cultivate individual and institutional excellence.

All employees will help add to the Garden’s diversity and fully embrace it. 

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and deliverables of the role. This is not a contract and should not be viewed as such. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor and/or his/her/their designee.

Salary : $51,600 - $61,900