Job Listing: Conservatory Horticulturist
Name of Organization – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Richmond, VA
Closes – Until Position is Filled
Title – Conservatory Horticulturist
Compensation – $19-22 per hour
Type – Full Time, Non-Exempt
Apply – To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to hr@lewisginter.org.
Summary – Under the guidance of the Horticulture Section Leaders, the Conservatory Horticulturist is responsible for planning, coordinating, and assisting with the development, management, and daily care of the plant displays and thematic collections in the Conservatory, Massey Greenhouses, and nearby grounds. Individuals should have a strong understanding of horticulture, display mastery of the skills necessary to perform horticulture tasks, and be familiar with the identification and cultivation of a wide variety of tropical and subtropical plants. They will be able to design creative and aesthetically pleasing displays and be familiar with the principals of glasshouse operation and management and mastery of plant propagation methods. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and have a strong eye for design.
Responsibilities –
Horticulture & Design
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- Coordinate, oversee, and assist with the daily hands-on maintenance of the Conservatory displays and plant collections in a manner consistent with the horticultural standards of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
- Physically work in all aspects of Conservatory maintenance and development including soil preparation, planting & transplanting, mulching, watering, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, propagating, potting, raking, sweeping & blowing.
- Conceive and design innovative and aesthetically pleasing year-round, seasonal, and container plant displays; develop plans, select plants, and locate plant sources.
- Monitor the Conservatory plant collections for pests and diseases; coordinate scouting and control treatments with IPM Horticulturist.
- Apply pesticides and fertilizers in accordance with IPM protocols and maintain application records.
- Utilize hand and power tools effectively and in accordance with LGBG safety protocols and regulatory standards.
Collections Management
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- Serve as a leading member of the team that will create the collections and design the displays for the new Conservatory.
- Collaborate with other public gardens, specialty nurseries, plant societies, and hobbyists to locate and acquire plants for the Conservatory expansion.
- Report plant additions and removals to the Plant Records Curator; perform periodic plant inventories and request accession tags and display labels.
- Develop strategies for renovating and rejuvenating the Conservatory collections.
- Assist with managing the greenhouse plant collections and inventories to support garden designs and team plantings.
Supervisory
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- Prioritize horticultural tasks, develop work schedules, and coordinate their implementation with the West Section Leader.
- Lead and supervise Assistant Horticulturists, Seasonal Gardeners, interns, and volunteers.
- Monitor operation of Conservatory and Greenhouse mechanical systems; regulate Conservatory environment using Argus climate control system.
- Participate in group projects with other horticulture staff and in cross-departmental projects.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Horticulture Section Leader, West Section, or their designee.
Qualifications –
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A passion for growing, exhibiting, and promoting tender plants and a commitment to conservatories as places where people may admire, study, and interact with tropical plants from around the world.
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Enthusiasm for horticulture, garden design, and plant collections, and a commitment to the “public” in public horticulture.
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A demonstrated understanding of the horticultural practices and procedures required for managing plants in a conservatory including soil preparation, planting, mulching, watering, weeding, fertilizing, and pruning.
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The ability to create innovative, engaging and aesthetically pleasing horticultural displays.
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The ability to identify a wide variety of tropical and subtropical plants by common and botanical name.
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Familiarity with conservatory mechanical and environmental control systems.
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The ability to identify and prioritize work tasks and to organize, coordinate, and supervise staff and volunteers.
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The ability to identify glasshouse pests and diseases and to manage them according to IPM protocols.
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The ability to accomplish work assignments effectively and efficiently.
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A willingness to interact with the public on an informal basis by answering questions, providing directions, etc.
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The ability to conduct oneself in a manner consistent with the Garden’s Core Values; a willingness to create a harmonious and productive work environment.
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The ability to collaborate graciously with other staff and other departments; a willingness to be patient, flexible, and adaptable to change.
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The ability to use horticultural hand tools and power equipment safely and effectively to accomplish work tasks.
- Must comply with provisions of the current Employee handbook, all published personnel policies and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
- Must comply with provisions of the current Employee handbook, all published personnel policies and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
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Must perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals, families, and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
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Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
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Must report all injuries and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and to Human Resources.
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Must ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
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Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
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Physical Demands / Working Conditions
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Must have the physical strength, dexterity, and coordination sufficient to perform the above functions.
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Must be able to bend, squat, kneel, stand and walk long distances for extended periods of time.
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Must be able to work out-of-doors and under glass in Central Virginia seasonal extremes.
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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
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An Associate's degree in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or a related field; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
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Two years’ professional experience working with tropical plants in a conservatory or greenhouse; public garden experience beneficial.
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Virginia Pesticide Applicator’s License (or the ability to obtain one within six months of hire).
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Possession of a valid driver's license.
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Other combinations of education / experience appropriate to the job will be considered.
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Proficiency in conversational Spanish desired.
About – 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.