Job Listing: Children’s Garden Seasonal Assistant Horticulturist

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - Richmond, VA

Closes - open until filled

Position Title - Children’s Garden Seasonal Assistant Horticulturist 

Compensation - $15.00 - $17.00 per hour 

Job Type - full-time; seasonal; Non-exempt 

Apply - To apply, please send resume and cover letter to HR@lewisginter.org 

Summary - As an integral member of the Horticulture team, the Children’s Garden Seasonal Gardener is responsible for assisting and supporting full-time Horticulture staff with the installation and care of the display gardens and educational collections in and around the Children’s Garden. Individuals in this position should have a keen interest in horticulture and gardening, a general understanding of horticultural principles, and the skills necessary to perform basic horticultural tasks. 

Job Responsibilities - 

• Participate in maintenance of horticultural displays, botanical collections and Garden natural areas.
  • Assist with the hands-on maintenance of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and tropical plants in a manner consistent with the horticulture standards of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
  • Physically work in all aspects of garden maintenance and development including soil preparation, planting & transplanting, mulching, watering, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, propagating, potting, raking, sweeping & blowing, tree & brush cutting, and recordkeeping.
• Safe and correct use of Garden tools and equipment.
  • Utilize shovels, trowels, fan rakes, grading rakes, spades, digging forks, pickaxes, brooms, hand shears, hand saws, loppers, pole pruners & pole saws, wheelbarrows, fertilizer spreaders, garden carts, ladders, and other hand tools to complete assigned tasks.
  • Operate push mowers, weed-whackers, backpack blowers, push blowers, garden ATVs, tractors, pickup trucks, and other power equipment in accordance with LGBG safety protocols and regulatory standards (training will be provided).
• Work collaboratively with a dynamic team to achieve horticultural standard of excellence.
  • Participate in weekly group maintenance tasks such as blowing walkways, filling gas cans, and caring for tools and equipment.
  • Participate in group projects and meetings with other horticulture staff and in cross-departmental projects.
  • Work collaboratively with both the Youth and Family Engagement team and Horticulture staff to plan and implement improvements to increase opportunities for hands-on teaching in the garden.
  • Work alongside youth volunteers and interns demonstrating horticultural best practices.
  • Work with Horticulture Volunteers.
• Maintained high standards within the Children’s Garden
  • Ensure plants are health and the ChG is well-kept and welcoming for youth
  • Monitor and address safety concerns related to wildlife, insects, and invasive and toxic plants.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Horticulture Section Lead or their designee.

Qualifications -

Skills and Abilities:

• A passion for horticulture and plant collections, and a commitment to the “public” in public horticulture.
• A thorough understanding of horticultural practices and procedures and the ability to identify frequently used woody, herbaceous, and annual landscape plants.
• The ability to use hand and power tools effectively and safely.
• Strong work ethic and an enthusiasm for physical work outdoors.
• A willingness to interact with the public on an informal basis by answering questions, providing directions, etc.
• The ability to work with a diverse staff and group of volunteers.
• Experience working with youth in an informal educational setting
• Able to work independently and collaboratively.
• The ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, ensuring coverage for Horticulture outside the traditional work week/day

Physical Demands / Working Conditions:

• Must have the physical strength, dexterity, and coordination sufficient to perform the above functions.
• Must be able to bend, squat, kneel, stand and walk long distances for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to work out-of-doors and under glass in Central Virginia seasonal extremes.
• Must have the ability to push, pull and/or lift 50 pounds repeatedly.
• Note: Duties described above, other duties and physical demands have been identified as essential.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• One year of experience as a professional gardener or groundskeeper.
• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Other combinations of education/experience appropriate to the job will be considered.

Preferred:

• An Associate's degree in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or a related field.

Each Employee of Lewis Ginter:

• Must comply with provisions of the current Employee Handbook, all published personnel policies and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
• Must conduct herself or himself and perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals and families, and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
• Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to the security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
• Must report all mishaps, injuries, and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and to Human Resources.
• Must ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor. 

About Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden -

Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a non-profit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting education programs and more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected and appreciated.

We are committed to elevating diverse backgrounds and experiences that aren’t currently represented amongst our Horticulture Team. We value the opportunity to work with individuals from different cultures and understand that like diverse ecosystems, diverse workplaces are needed for success. Our Horticulture staff exhibits a tireless commitment to creating new and innovative gardens and displays that delight and inspire visitors of all ages and from all backgrounds. We are committed to demonstrating the use and cultivation of a wide palette of native and exotic plants suitable for use in Central Virginia and strive to maintain our collections to the highest standards in an environmentally responsible way. We think independently, work collaboratively, and are unified in our passion for horticulture. We come from diverse backgrounds and celebrate different ways of being, in ourselves and in others.