Gardener

About the role

Kansas City’s Botanical Garden, Powell Gardens, offers a unique environment where visitors can experience the fleeting nature of nature. With over 175 acres open to the public, Powell Gardens features themed display gardens, a three-mile nature trail, seasonal festivals, and exceptional architecture. Founded in 1988, Powell Gardens is dedicated to providing a space for release, rejuvenation, and celebration.

Responsibilities

• Seasonal garden installation on schedule.
• Impactful garden display including produced plants, designed gardens, container gardens, and updated plant tags.
• Weeding, mulching, watering, planting, and general maintenance.
• Design and implementation of creative displays in the assigned beds of the Core Gardens with a focus on collections.
• Interacting and interpreting different elements of our displays through talks and chalkboard signs.
• Quickly change out plants as needed so no dead or declining plants are on display.
• Accurate documentation of the area’s plant records and requests for new and updated plant tags.
• Snow and ice removal on sidewalks.
• Timely plant maintenance, pest and disease control, record keeping; may include collection houses and/or production.
• Identify and control any threatening plant pests and diseases as required.
• Support garden activation in collaboration with education department, private events, development team, festivals, exhibits.
• Participation in meetings, creating designs, hands-on construction, and working festival shifts beyond traditional garden hours.
• Effective collaboration with maintenance team.
• Inspect and communicate concerns and needs in a timely manner allowing enough lead time to manage issues.
• Cooking and supporting a team of volunteers.
• Assist with meeting timelines for displays, installation, maintenance, and containers.
• Use monthly checklists to ensure all tasks are completed.
• Working relationship within departments to complete festival tasks.
• Garden Manual.
• Maintenance of plants in the collections’ greenhouses.

Requirements

• Associate Degree in Horticulture field or related area preferred.
• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 1+ years botanical garden or similar experience preferred.
• Valid Driver's License required.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Must be able to lift 40lbs; accomplish strenuous work on an ongoing basis in various conditions, including extreme heat and cold.
• Ability to work weekend schedule (typically Sunday to Thursday) and evenings, holidays as required.

Qualifications

• Experience with horticultural installation, display, maintenance, growing crops, and collections care.
• Knowledge of design maintenance and development of various areas providing impactful moments to visitors.
• Ability to interact and interpret different elements of displays through talks and chalkboard signs.
• Ability to quickly change out plants as needed.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation of plant records and requests for new and updated plant tags.
• Ability to identify and control plant pests and diseases as required.
• Ability to assist with seasonal festival shifts, installation, and support of the Garden.
• Ability to participate in meetings, create designs, hands-on construction, and work festival shifts beyond traditional garden hours.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with the maintenance team.
• Ability to inspect and communicate concerns and needs in a timely manner.
• Ability to coordinate and develop a team of volunteers.
• Ability to assist with meeting timelines for displays, installation, maintenance, and containers.
• Ability to use monthly checklists to ensure all tasks are completed.
• Ability to work with departments to complete festival tasks.
• Ability to assist with annual content updates for the area’s garden manual.
• Ability to assist with maintenance of plants in the collections’ greenhouses.

Skills

• Strong horticultural skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings.

Benefits

At Powell Gardens, we offer a supportive and collaborative work environment where you can make a meaningful impact. Our benefits package includes:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Health insurance coverage.
• Paid time off.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Flexible work schedule.

Pay

The salary for this position is $20-$25 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

The schedule for this position typically runs from March to November, with some flexibility during the winter months.