Horticulturist

About the role

The Oregon Zoo’s Horticulture department seeks a Horticulturist to join their team. This position assists the Lead Horticulturist and other staff in horticulture planning, projects, construction, maintenance, and other functions.

Responsibilities

• Performs geographic zone area horticulture and gardening functions for designated areas such as the Africa, Elephant or Great Northwest areas, and works with keepers and other colleagues to diagnose, test, plant, and maintain unique and specialized landscape and gardening.
• Maintains turf areas by mowing, trimming, edging, fertilizing, and spraying. Plants grass by laying sod or spreading grass seed.
• Operates gas and battery-powered equipment including lawn mowers, tiller, sod cutter, chipper, blowers, chain saws, and edger and uses a variety of other hand tools, including sprayers, pruning saws and other garden tools; keeps all equipment clean and in proper working condition through preventative maintenance and by making minor repairs.
• Troubleshoots problems such as pathway obstructions, irrigation breaks, plant disease concerns, visitor safety or exhibit substrate issues. Operates motorized vehicles, pickup trucks, front-end loaders, tractors, backhoe, forklift, skid-steer loaders, lifts, dump trucks and other equipment necessary for performance of essential duties.
• Plants bulbs, trees, shrubs, flowers and exotic plant material; pots plants and transplants plants; maintains trees, flowers and shrubs by pruning, thinning, spraying, staking and arranging; pulls weeds, rakes leaves, cleans plant beds and replenishes bark dust covering.
• Installs, repairs, modifies and maintains landscape irrigation systems, programs irrigation controllers. Performs and assists in conservation and restoration activities and in landscape construction; performs duties such as excavation, site preparation and installation of drainage systems, rock walls, retaining walls, plant material installation, prepping roadbeds and walkways, and fence construction.
• Fertilizes, mixes and conditions soil for different types of flowers, shrubs, trees and other plants; inspects for pests, disease and other deteriorating agents; selects and uses appropriate herbicides and pesticides; repairs damaged trees, shrubs and flowers.
• Assists and works with animal keepers and other staff in evaluating and planning landscape and horticulture needs, specialty zone area plant selection, landscape and gardening practices to ensure animal care, horticulture, safety and guest service requirements.
• Identifies appropriate plant browse materials for specific animals throughout the zoo; cuts and distributes browse to enrich animals' diets.
• Affords excellent customer service by meeting the needs and interacting with employees, volunteers, vendors, the public and others encountered during work in a courteous and professional manner.

Qualifications

• An associate's degree or post-secondary equivalent; AND
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional horticulture and gardening experience; OR
• Any combination of experience and education that provides the necessary skills, knowledge and ability to perform assigned tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working in a union environment.
• Previous experience working in a zoo.
• Previous experience working in a public ornamental garden.
• Previous experience obtaining and maintaining an Oregon Public Pesticide Applicator license.

Skills

• Plant Identification
• Tool Identification and Use
• Lifting
• Landscape Irrigation Problem Solving
• Pruning Theory and Practice

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision health insurance
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation, holiday, and other leave
• Paid parental leave
• Full contribution to Oregon PERS retirement
• No-cost TriMet Hop Pass
• Employee Assistance Program
• Training opportunities
• Flexible schedules depending on position and department
• Hybrid/Telework living in Oregon /Washington depending on position and department