Horticulturist I – Indoor Nursery (Tropical)

Summary: The Horticulturist I performs all job duties associated with the production and maintenance of hardy and nonhardy plant material, seasonal display crops, and plants for the Garden flower shows amongst nursery site(s) and greenhouses. This position ensures all plant material is produced at the highest and most sustainable standards. They are responsible for supporting the Garden’s living collections by implementing appropriate cultivation techniques, timely plant database records, and proper labeling of plant material.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs a wide range of greenhouse and nursery plant production tasks critical to supporting the Garden’s landscapes and living collections; including but not limited to watering, weeding, mulching, applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM), monitoring and scouting crops, plant growth regulator applications, achieving necessary plant nutrient levels, sowing seeds, sticking cuttings, dividing plants, grafting, transplanting, pruning, and pesticide applications as needed.
  • Identifies and corrects nutrient deficiencies.
  • Ensures optimum temperature, light, and humidity levels.
  • Identifies and treats pests and diseases.
  • Adjusts irrigation systems, shade, and ventilation in greenhouses.
  • Maintains proper soil fertility.
  • Sterilizes and cleans greenhouses and their contents periodically.
• Operates technical equipment; submits maintenance requests in a timely manner, and maintains general care of horticultural tools and equipment necessary for operations to include but not limited to vehicles, forklifts, pallet trucks, carts, Cushmans, tractors, mechanical sprayers, and a variety of hand tools.
• Maintains the highest standards of plant record keeping by updating the Living Collections Management System when plant status changes; ensures plants are labeled properly.
• Adheres to MBG’s living collections policy, collections acquisitions processes, and collections focus.
• Follows and is mindful of all appropriate legal and ethical concerns when acquiring plants and sharing plants for the Garden; obliges with national and international permits and regulations including patent laws, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Trains and effectively utilizes assigned volunteers, interns, and students.
• As assigned, provides information/text for the collection’s interpretation.
• Ability to remove snow, ice, leaves, and results of storm damage from work environment.
• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed, adapts or modifies work methods to reduce hazards, and reports all accidents, injuries, and near-miss accidents immediately.
• Ensures that all tool storage areas and work areas are kept clean and tidy.
• Responsible for assigned weekend and holiday watering rotation duties.
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines, and Department Policies.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperations, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors, and others.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies:

• Communication – Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations.

• Collaboration – Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.
• Accountability – Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; Effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues’ concerns.
• Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; Recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; Includes appropriate people in making decisions.
• Stewardship – Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.

Qualifications/experience:

• Minimum of (3-4) years of hands-on, relevant experience in plant production required.
• Working knowledge of greenhouse and nursery mechanical systems.
• Demonstrated experience in producing various greenhouse and nursery crops – annuals, tropicals, holiday crops, woody and herbaceous plant material, etc..
• Strong knowledge of appropriate and effective watering practices for a wide range of plant material.
• Foundational understanding of landscape design to assist in planning/scheduling of crops; thus, ensuring timely delivery.
• Experience in identifying various greenhouse pests and pathogens, and apply sound, appropriate remedies; working knowledge regarding the use of biological pest controls is preferred.
• Proficient in operating and knowledge of safe operation procedures of various types of landscape maintenance equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and direct the work of others to complete general projects, including volunteers is required.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must enjoy and feel comfortable interacting and working in close proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions regarding horticulture inquiries.
• Scheduling flexibility that allows working weekends and holidays as needed.
• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers, and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required.
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

education:

• Associate’s or B.S. degree in Horticulture, Biology, Botany, and/or related field required.
• An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Solid Internet research skills.
• Ability to use e-mail to communicate with Garden staff to answer questions and service their needs.

Language Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English (verbal and written).
• Ability to read and understand pesticide and chemical labels .

Mathematical Skills:

• Requires ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals.

Reasoning Ability:

• Requires ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain valid driver’s license and pesticide applicator’s license.
• Must have ability to pass a background screening and motor vehicle report (MVR) to meet minimum insurance underwriting criteria.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. (i.e., load, unload and move gardening supplies, medium to heavy weight tools and equipment).
• Must be able to work in high heat and humidity.
• Requires standing, walking, bending, stooping and reaching for extended periods of time– 90% or more of the workday is standing on feet.
• Ability to transport cumbersome potted plants and trays of varying weights while safely navigating narrow greenhouse aisles.
• Ability to operate equipment including tractors, forklifts, utility vehicles, sprayers, cultivators, and mowing machinery.
• Ability to wear Garden-issued Personal Protective Equipment.
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, etc.).
• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing).

Work Environment:

• Ability to work in all weather conditions (i.e., humid conditions, temperatures over 100F as well as temperatures below 0F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed).
• Wet conditions much of the time as watering is frequent.
• Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering general questions regarding the Garden’s operations, events, facilities, etc.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

• • Garden Employees, Volunteers, Interns, Students, Guests, Green Industry Vendors, and Contractors

Supervisor (title not person):

• • Supervisor, Production- Nursery