Gardens Horticulturist

Position: Gardens Horticulturist

Reports to: Gardens Director

Status: Full-time / Non-Exempt

Position summary

The Gardens Horticulturist will be responsible for the complete care of a portion of the outdoor space and will work directly with the Gardens Director, collaborate with other Horticulturists, and supervise a team of dedicated volunteers to maintain the living collections as well as contribute to the designs of seasonal displays and exhibitions. Other duties include plant records upkeep, irrigation maintenance and repairs, plant propagation, IPM, and safe equipment usage.

Essential duties and responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Maintain assigned garden space following horticultural best practices. Tasks include weeding, watering, grooming, dead-heading, fertilizing, planting, removing debris, pruning, and mulching

• Develop landscape designs for review and approval prior to execution

• Be familiar with plant species under your care. Continually strive to improve horticultural plant knowledge

• Actively scout for any observed plant disease, insect, animal, or weed problems. Care for plants showing stress with a sense of urgency

• Manage irrigation system processes that affect your assigned area and make necessary adjustments as needed

• Maintain plant records by providing current information to management regarding plant accessions, removals, transfers and label requirements. Label permanent plants in a timely manner and assist with the installation of accession tags.

• Operate and maintain landscape equipment including chainsaws, backpack blowers, string trimmers, gas powered hedge shears, and tractor

• Follow IPM protocols when managing pest and diseases on the plants under your care.

Education and experience

• Associate degree or certificate in Horticulture

• Minimum of two years of significant experience in the management of tropical landscapes is preferred

• An equivalent combination of education and experience in landscaping or horticulture related work with strong willingness to learn and/or strong interest in gardening may be considered

• Must hold a valid Florida Pesticide Applicators License or be able to obtain one within 6 months of employment

Qualifications

• Strong time management skills and able to switch gears as necessary

• Focused on high quality controls to ensure horticultural excellence

• Must be able to sustain moderate physical exertion with a full range of body motion for lifting up to 50 lbs.

• Ability to operate hand and power garden equipment

• Ability to work weekends to meet the Gardens’ horticultural needs

Excellent indicators of a Successful Selby Gardens’ Team Member Include

• Strong work ethic

• Continuous and eager learner

• Actively lives and communicates the mission of Selby Gardens

• Passion to deliver exceptional service to internal and external customers through attention to detail and innovative methods of saying “thank you”

• Regularly offer innovative approaches to old concepts

• Flexibility and ability to switch gears when needed

• Resourceful, creative, and an initiative taker

• Assumes the best of others

• Approachable, kind, and compassionate

• Genuine authenticity

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Retirement Savings Plan w/matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Full time, up to 8 hour shift
• Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Sarasota, FL 34236: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person, Sarasota, FL

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT:

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only Selby Gardens’ culture, but our reputation as well.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Gardening: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20