Job Details

A Day in the Life:

The Gardener 1 role is responsible for garden maintenance under the direction of the Grounds Manager or designee. This is a front-line position in primary plant care, including: weeding (by hand, hoe, spade), manual watering and operation of irrigation systems, mulching, planting, pruning, grooming and dead heading, trapping rodents, removal of trash and debris, and generally maintaining aesthetic standards of the Garden for our guests. Gardener 1 also participates in cleaning and maintenance of tools and inventorying of supplies, ensuring that all equipment is kept in safe, working order. The Garden is a museum-curated living collection and Gardeners should understand the importance of their role in maintaining the integrity of plant labeling and providing high-quality plant care. This full-time (40 hours/week), non-exempt position reports to the Grounds Manager.

The Team:

Our Horticulture team is better than ever. We are fortunate to have folks with a variety of skills and backgrounds, including grounds staff with more than 20 years of experience, to those new to the native plant world. Working under the direction of our Grounds Manager, you will serve a very important role on an amazing team!

What You'll Do:

• Provide general plant care, including: soil preparation, watering, weeding, pruning, fertilizing, planting, soil amending, mulching, and monitoring and controlling pest populations.
• Assist with general maintenance of the Garden grounds, including: trails, brush chipping, compost pile turning and seasonal weed mitigation in undeveloped sections.
• Participate in staff crew days outside of your section and lead volunteer work crews, when assigned.
• Assist in the installation, maintenance, and repair of irrigation systems in assigned sections.
• Conduct all assigned tasks in accordance with the Garden's safety procedures and trainings.
• Proactively participate in teamwork with coworkers to ensure that the Garden is maintained to a high aesthetic degree for public enjoyment.
• You may be assigned to perform one or more of the following:

1. 1. Water containerized plants within nurseries
   2. Substitute to cover other Gardeners' holidays, vacations, and sick days
   3. Participate in set-up for Garden events when needed
   4. Train volunteers in safe and effective gardening tasks when needed

You Must Be Able To:

• Regularly perform physically strenuous work assignments, 8 hours a day.
• Stand/walk for extended periods of time, lift and carry up to 75 lbs., bend, squat, and walk the Garden trails.
• Operate non-mechanical tools, such as shovels, rakes, shears, saws, wheelbarrow, etc.
• Operate (or be willing to learn to operate) mechanical power tools, such as chainsaws, blowers, line trimmers, electric carts, tractor, and manual vehicles.
• Take initiative and ownership of your responsibilities, including the ability to prioritize, and the working knowledge and skills to act.
• Interface professionally with guests and volunteers to answer questions and give information regarding the Garden and its mission.
• Collaborate, incorporating teamwork, mutual respect, active engagement, cooperation, and visitor focus.
• Use MS Word and Outlook email for effective written communication.
• Manage time and work under pressure to meet deadlines and priorities.
• Maintain a positive and professional working relationship with all staff, volunteers, and visitors. Assist visitors in answering questions and wayfinding, as needed, to ensure great customer experience.

You Will Definitely Need:

• Some experience in gardening, ecological restoration, and/or landscape maintenance.
• Listening skills and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and writing,
• Problem-solving skills, along with creativity and resourcefulness.
• A valid California driver license and maintenance of an acceptable driving record.

It Would Be Nice if You Had:

• Knowledge of California plants and their cultivation.
• Education in horticulture or ecological.
• Experience with ornamental garden techniques and standards.

More About Us:

The Garden is a beautiful place to work! And in this role, you are often outdoors. In addition to beautiful views, outdoor work environments also include exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, small wild animals, and sun exposure.

Disclaimer:

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.