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Horticulturist I, II, and Senior

Job Details

Phoenix Zoo - Phoenix, AZ
Full Time

Description

Department: Living Collections - Horticulture

Supervisor: Collection Manager of Horticulture

Supervises: None

FLSA Status: Full Time; Regular; Non-Exempt

Starting Pay Rates:

  • Horticulturist I: $23.70/hour
  • Horticulturist II: $24.89/hour
  • Senior Horticulturist: $27.44/hour

Application Submission Deadline: Open until filled

We are actively recruiting a horticulturist to join our team, level dependent upon experience. Candidates need only apply once.

General Statement:

Horticulturist I: The Horticulturist performs the installation and maintenance of landscape materials, irrigation systems and the use and maintenance of power equipment. This position will also act to support public interactions and programming.

Horticulturist II: The Horticulturist II in this position is responsible for performing the installing and maintenance of landscape materials, irrigation systems and the use and maintenance of power equipment. This position will also act to support public interactions and programming.

Senior Horticulturist: The Senior Horticulturist is responsible for performing the installing and maintenance of landscape materials, water features and irrigation systems, and the use and maintenance of power equipment.

Essential Duties:

Horticulturist I:

  1. Provide quality guest service to both internal and external guests by maintaining a WILD (friendly, helpful, positive and professional) working attitude and appearance.
  2. Responsible for installation of plant and landscape materials, general grounds maintenance, basic maintenance of irrigation systems, maintenance of lakes and waterways, and fertilization of plants and turf areas.
  3. Responsible for routine preventive vehicle and equipment maintenance.
  4. Work collaboratively with other departments to meet the Zoo’s overall revenue goals and objectives.
  5. Interact with guests in support of the Zoo’s mission by conducting public presentations in support of program activities.
  6. Serve as backup to irrigation technician when necessary.

Horticulturist II:

  1. Provide quality guest service to both internal and external guests by maintaining a WILD (friendly, helpful, positive and professional) working attitude and appearance.
  2. Responsible for installation of plant and landscape materials, general grounds maintenance, basic maintenance of irrigation systems, maintenance of lakes and waterways;
  3. Responsible for assessing overall landscape health and needs (i.e., weed and irrigation problems and assist in identifying appropriate solutions) including the fertilization of plants and turf areas.
  4. Responsible for routine preventive vehicle and equipment maintenance.
  5. Work collaboratively with other departments to meet the Zoo’s overall revenue goals and objectives.
  6. Interact with guests in support of the Zoo’s mission by conducting public presentations in support of program activities.
  7. Serve as backup to irrigation technician when necessary.

Senior Horticulturist:

  1. Provide quality guest service to both internal and external guests by maintaining a WILD (friendly, helpful, positive and professional) working attitude and appearance.
  2. Responsible for landscape design and installation, general grounds maintenance that includes pesticide application, basic maintenance of irrigation systems, maintenance of lakes and waterways.
  3. Responsible for identifying plant needs, problems and provide appropriate solutions
  4. Responsible for routine preventive vehicle and equipment maintenance.
  5. Assume role as mentor to other Horticulturists by providing technical horticulture information and demonstrating positive solution-oriented approaches to problems.
  6. Act as project manager for volunteer staff projects.
  7. Interpret the horticulture collection to the public.
  8. Serve as backup to irrigation technician when necessary.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g. emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments).

Qualifications

Horticulturist I:

  1. High school diploma required.
  2. Minimum six months paid or one-year volunteer experience in work relevant to grounds maintenance or horticulture.
  3. Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Botany, or equivalent degree or experience/knowledge, or combination of experience with a technical certificate preferred.
  4. Knowledge or experience with local plant palette desired.
  5. Ability to safely operate and maintain hand and power equipment.
  6. Strong interpersonal skills.
  7. Ability to carry out oral and written instructions.
  8. Ability to perform heavy physical labor such as lifting up to 50lbs, use of picks, breaker bars, stake drivers, ladders and boats; occasionally tree climbing and use of jack hammer.
  9. Ability to bend, stoop, crawl and walk over uneven surfaces and work in extreme weather conditions.
  10. Possession of a valid driver’s license.
  11. Ability to pass pre-employment background check, drug test, DMV check and clear annual TB test.

Horticulturist II:

  1. High school diploma required.
  2. Minimum 2 years paid experience in landscape maintenance or horticulture.
  3. Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Botany, or equivalent degree or experience/knowledge, or combination of experience with a technical certificate preferred.
  4. State Certification in Structural Pest Control for Turf and Ornamental preferred.
  5. Knowledge and skill in use of landscape and irrigation equipment (i.e., PVC, valves and drip irrigation)
  6. Knowledge or experience with local plant palette required.
  7. Ability to safely operate and maintain hand and power equipment.
  8. Ability to work independently and demonstrate self initiative.
  9. Strong interpersonal skills.
  10. Ability to carry out oral and written instructions.
  11. Ability to perform heavy physical labor such as lifting up to 50lbs., use of picks, breaker bars, stake drivers, ladders and boats; occasionally tree climbing and use of jack hammer.
  12. Ability to bend, stoop, crawl and walk over uneven surfaces and work in extreme weather conditions.
  13. Possession of a valid driver’s license.
  14. Ability to pass pre-employment background check, drug test, DMV check and clear annual TB test.

Senior Horticulturist:

  1. High school diploma required.
  2. Minimum 5 years paid experience in landscape maintenance or horticulture.
  3. Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Botany, or equivalent degree or combination of experience with a technical certificate strongly preferred.
  4. Knowledge of landscape and irrigation equipment (i.e., PVC, valves and drip irrigation)
  5. Knowledge or experience with local plant palette required.
  6. Ability to safely operate and maintain hand and power equipment.
  7. Ability to work independently and demonstrate self initiative.
  8. Strong interpersonal skills.
  9. Ability to perform heavy physical labor such as lifting up to 50lbs., use of picks, breaker bars, stake drivers, ladders and boats; occasionally tree climbing and use of jack hammer.
  10. Ability to bend, stoop, crawl and walk over uneven surfaces and work in extreme weather conditions.
  11. Possession of a valid driver’s license
  12. Ability to pass pre-employment background check, drug test, DMV check and clear annual TB test.

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