Assistant Horticulturist - Part Time or Full Time

JOB DESCRIPTION: Nursery Associate / Assistant Horticulturist (Part Time or Full Time)

This is a Part Time position with a start date in Spring 2025.

Background

Serving the community for over 113 years, Snow’s Garden Center has grown into one of the premier garden centers in Central Virginia. We carry all the horticultural products customers need to garden successfully and carry out landscape operations for their small businesses. We have the knowledge and experience to guide them through the challenges of soil and climate here in Jefferson's Country.

Snow’s Core Values

• People. We are committed to providing enriching experiences for our customers and high- level professional pathways for our employees and staff.
• Expertise. We strive to function as a one-stop source for the best horticultural information in the Piedmont based upon industry standards and new research performed locally and internationally. We embody “Snow Knows” – we know how to help our customers and are always prepared to give an answer.
• Gratitude. We desire to be an active member of the growth and development of Albemarle County, VA by sponsoring other small businesses, non-profits, schools, places of worship, and other communities, many of which have supported the Snow’s Family for generations.

As an Assistant Horticulturist, you have an opportunity to participate in a generational legacy while also helping to create long-term results based upon the mission and vision of Snow’s.

The Assistant Horticulturist provides consultation in the Garden Center 3-5 days per week with Saturdays and Mondays required in the busy season. The candidate will function a resource for horticultural questions alongside the other Horticulturists on duty. We are looking for an expert to assist our team with extra customer service help during Spring and Fall 2025 seasons.

All Snow’s associates deliver unparalleled customer service while maintaining a nursery that is safe, neat, and prepared with the garden products that our customers need. As an Assistant Horticulturist you will:

• Professionally greet customers and guide them to appropriate landscape solutions.
• Operate a cash register using our point-of-sale software.
• Answer phones, answer in-person questions, and deliver messages to appropriate personnel.
• Practice safety techniques while on the sales floor and use best horticultural practices.
• Maintain our products, back stock, and store front for a daily show-ready appearance.
• Regulate the health of our plant material and appearance of our facilities by performing various irrigation, pruning, weeding, deadheading, and cleaning of our nursery grounds.
• Assist with deliveries by loading and unloading trucks.
• Merchandise our products by pricing, creating displays, setting up end-caps, and producing beautifully crafted signage.
• Educate customers and community members using Snow’s horticultural information along with your own personal gardening experience and landscape maintenance practices.

HORTICULTURAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• On an as-needed basis, perform brief landscape design consultations within short, 15-minute conversations that may involve plant selection, plant lists, design ideas, and providing other suggestions to customers.
• Discuss pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide use by using an Integrated Pest Management approach with customers.
• Utilize on-site resources such as plant manuals, textbooks, and online research tools to provide customers with the education they need to be successful with their purchases.
• Assist with the maintenance of our Greenhouse displays.
• Assist with workshops, wreath-making, and other seasonal events on a voluntary basis.

This is a Part Time or Full Time job classification and is generally scheduled 24-40 hours per week. Mondays and Saturdays required in spring and fall. Closed on Sundays. Additional hours may be negotiated based upon performance.

Minimum Requirements

• Current Driver’s License
• 2 years prior experience in the landscape, agricultural, or nursery trade
• Knowledge of safety techniques for proper lifting, use of PPE, and vehicle use
• Physical ability to perform tasks that may require prolonged standing, sitting, and other activities necessary to perform job duties
• Minimally must be able to lift 25 pounds without assistance; may lift over 25 pounds with or without assistance

Preferred Qualifications

• Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association (VNLA) certification.
• Certification in horticulture, forestry, landscape design, or a related field.
• 2 years working in a nursery setting with ornamental crops.
• Experience using Counterpoint Point-of-Sale software.

Compensation and Opportunities

• Salary $17.00-18.00 per hour range
• 30% employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Professional development opportunities, including certifications and industry training.
• Opportunities for advancement and diversification of job duties based upon performance.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $17.00 - $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 24 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Have you completed a certification program in horticulture, forestry, plant science, agronomy, ecology, or a related field?

Experience:

• landscape, agricultural, or nursery trade: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17 - $18