Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $16-$17 per hour

Horticulture Assistant

Reports to: Horticulturist and Collections Manager

This is a part-time, non-exempt position

Hourly Rate: $16-$17 per hour

Job Responsibilities: The Horticulture Assistant will collaborate with the Horticulture team and internal and external volunteers to maintain and enhance the plant collection in both indoor and outdoor garden spaces. This individual will assist with the care and maintenance of our plant collection, as well as help create seasonal plant exhibits and displays that engage and excite visitors. The Horticulture Assistant should demonstrate a strong passion for mission-driven community centered horticulture.

Horticulture

• Collaborate with the Horticulture team and volunteers to enhance and maintain collections and display
• Adhere to the established planting and maintenance schedule for the plant collection including watering, fertilizing, seeding, propagating, transplanting, re-potting, weeding, raking, mulching, planting, sweeping, removal of garbage and general care of the plant collection and grounds.
• Provide expert care by using appropriate horticulture techniques to care for the collection, which includes tropical plants, trees, shrubs, and plants for seasonal exhibits and displays.
• Maintain an exceptional standard of cleanliness to ensure a healthy, thriving plant collection.
• Collaborate with volunteers daily. This includes coordinating their daily tasks alongside the Horticulturist and Collections Manager and Horticulture Coordinator, providing hands-on support, and ensuring their ongoing positive engagement and involvement in horticultural tasks.
• Assist with strategic planning, set up and breakdown of horticulture exhibits and events.
• Share in the responsibility to ensure the plants are fully labeled and the conservatory is tidy and free of safety issues that will put staff, volunteers or visitors at risk.
• Safely and properly operate equipment including golf carts, vehicles, sprayers and other gardening tools and machinery.

Teamwork& Relationship Building

• Positively serve as a representative of the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens to all visitors, volunteers, vendors, government officials and any/all external sources.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships and proactive and respectful communication with co-workers, volunteers and vendors.
• Lead by example to ensure a welcoming environment and an excellent experience for visitors from arrival to departure.
• Take initiative and work with the entire team to ensure thoughtful compliance with the organizations Mission, Vision, Policies, Procedures, Core Values and Inclusion Code of Conduct.
• Individuals will be required to work a flexible schedule, and schedules will be seasonally weather dependent with some evenings, weekends and holidays required.
• Assist at Botanical Gardens events/exhibits as needed.
• Additional duties as assigned.
  

Education and Experience:

A high school diploma or equivalent is required, along with basic gardening skills. Candidates should have at least one year of professional experience in gardening or landscaping, practical knowledge, and a willingness to learn new skills. Previous experience working with and leading volunteers is desirable.

Skills and Characteristics:

• A passion for mission-driven community-centered horticulture, and for nurturing both plant life, and healthy professional relationships with co-workers, volunteers and partners.
• Must be enthusiastic, self-motivated, trustworthy, reliable and team orientated.
• Maintain a positive attitude and apparent enthusiasm for the job and organization.
• Basic computer skills including Microsoft applications, and other workflow software.
• Must be willing and able to sustain moderate to heavy physical exertion all day long for 5 consecutive days per week with a full range of body motion, lift up to 50lbs, and work in all weather conditions.
• Ability to safely operate garden equipment including golf carts, lawnmowers, rototillers, leaf blowers, weed whackers, delivery van and dump truck.

Professionalism

• Maintain a professional appearance at all times.
• Maintain required attendance and punctuality.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Shows respect and courtesy in all interactions with all of the Botanical Gardens relationships.

Teamwork and Diversity

• Support and communicate with supervisors and co-workers in a cooperative manner.
• Share in the housekeeping of the Botanical Gardens to ensure staff and visitor safety.
• Assist with special events as required.
• Practice respect, fair treatment, and acceptance of people of all identities, beliefs, and viewpoints in all interpersonal interactions.
• Demonstrate initiative in learning about and implementing skills related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

We are committed to overcoming barriers to be the most inclusive organization we can be, where all feel welcome and included, and we can grow together. All employees have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. A successful work environment is built on:

• Respectful communication and cooperation between all employees.
• Fair treatment, and acceptance of people of all identities, beliefs, and viewpoints in all interpersonal interactions.
• Teamwork and employee participation that embraces all perspectives.
• Demonstrating initiative in learning about and implementing skills related to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.
• Employer and employee contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity

Our Mission

Deepening the connection between people and plants through beautiful gardens and extraordinary experiences.

Core Values

The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens welcomes all visitors and is committed to creating an environment free of discrimination and harassment where all individuals are treated with respect. The Society strives to ensure that its collection, facilities, and programming are inclusive and accessible in order to provide a successful and engaging experience for all audiences.

It is extremely important to us that our employees demonstrate the utmost respect for co-workers, volunteers, visitors, our plant collections, historic conservatory, grounds, and campus buildings.

• We are fascinated by plants. Plants provide fundamental nutrients that sustain life on our planet. We connect people to the power of plants through educational storytelling and an inspiring, immersive plant environment.
• We create wonder. We are innovative and enthusiastic; we embrace possibility. Through curating rich and colorful educational experiences, we seek to inspire curiosity about the natural world.
• We respect our planet. We recognize that Earths health fundamentally depends on a thriving ecosystem of plants and pollinators. We respect our environment, preserve natural resources, and strive to improve sustainability.
• We welcome all. The Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is for everyone. We are committed to being wholeheartedly inclusive, where all feel welcome. We continue to work to overcome barriers, address systemic injustices, and challenge ourselves to grow together and to be the most welcoming organization we can be.
• We celebrate our legacy. We are stewards of our historic conservatory and our legacy

Botanical Gardens Culture

We strive to create Wow, Wonder and Welcome within our team and for the public. We create the Wow factor by being innovative, creative and enthusiastic, by embracing all possibilities and celebrating our successes. We generate Wonder by building experiences that are beautiful, colorful, inspire curiosity and encourage our visitors and each other to be engaged in the natural world. We are always inclusive and Welcoming to all by being kind, empathetic and respectful to all individuals and their unique perspectives. We look forward to exploring how you can positively contribute to our Wow, Wonder and Welcome culture.

Benefits

This is a part-time position, and we offer life insurance, a retirement plan option with company match, paid time off and flexible scheduling.

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