Assistant Horticulturist

About the role

Assists in the day-to-day cultivation, care and maintenance of plant life within a designated area, including planting, weeding, pruning, irrigation management, pest control, and propagation, under the guidance of a head horticulturist, ensuring the overall health and aesthetic appeal of the landscape or garden space.

Responsibilities

• Preparing garden sites: Using hand tools or machines to prepare new garden plots, soils, and sites
• Planting and transplanting: Assisting with and supervising the planting and transplanting of flowers, shrubs, trees, seeds, bulbs, and lawns
• Plant Care: Maintaining plants and gardens by watering, weeding, fertilizing, shearing, pruning to achieve aesthetic, design goals
• Pest and Disease Management: Following GBMI best management practices for integrated pest management. Scout and monitor for pest, disease, and fungal issues. Report to the spray tech with recommended IMP cultural controls
• Subordinate tree pruning: Removing, shortening competing branches to develop a single leader to improve the structure and stability of each tree following ANSI A300 and Z133 or newer pruning standards
• Greenhouse: Working with the Lead Horticulturist to oversee, plan, and schedule the production of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Adjusting irrigation systems, mist irrigation systems, shade, and ventilation in greenhouses, gardens, or nurseries
• Maintaining equipment: Operating, adjusting, and performing minor maintenance and repairs on equipment used in cultivation, moving plants, soil mixing, and spraying
• Maintaining records: Keeping records of plant materials, supplies, equipment, and other requisitioned items
• Identifying plants: Assisting with plant identification signage labels
• Training student employees: Providing training and work direction to student employees
• Directing campus volunteers: Providing training and work direction for campus landscape and grounds volunteers

Qualifications

• Completion of an approved certification in horticulture, botany or plant-based sciences field and 2+ years of relevant experience or a high school diploma and 4+ years of relevant experience
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219

Skills

• Knowledge of horticultural practices and techniques
• Ability to follow safety protocols and guidelines
• Strong organizational and record-keeping skills
• Attention to detail and ability to maintain a clean and healthy environment

Benefits

• Flexible scheduling
• Health insurance
• Retirement plan

Pay

• $15 - $18 per hour

Schedule

• Variable hours based on department needs