- Location
- NW Chicago subburbs, Illinois
Position: Lead Horticulturist – Japanese Garden
Department: Horticulture
Supervisor: Horticulture Manager
Pay Type: Full time, Hourly, Non-exempt
Last Reviewed: Steve LaWarre, 2/2013
Job Description: Specific but not limited to the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. Performs all duties associated with design, maintenance and care of the outdoor displays and collections. Duties are directly related to the design, installation and care of the collections, woody and herbaceous plant material and annual display crops. Seasonal designs, plant selection and ordering (as needed) and careful attention to accession record keeping and plant labeling are critical components of this position.
General Functions:
- Responsible for the care, maintenance and development of the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden.
- Performs a wide range of landscape/maintenance tasks important to the preservation, protection and transplanting of existing plants; including but not limited to soil preparation, planting, pruning, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilization, irrigation and pesticide application.
- Completes display designs, annual and perennial, on a regular basis, orders plants as needed for designs and oversees/performs the layout and installation of the designs.
- Ability to lead and direct the work of others to complete general projects, including other staff and volunteers is required.
- Oversees the day-to-day responsibilities of managing the landscape, maintenance issues and volunteer assignments.
- May be responsible for interacting with the media (TV, radio, newspaper etc), working with Public Relations to provide information about the horticultural content of their respective areas.
- Performs “off-season” tasks (i.e., tree pruning, leaf pick-up, annual flower show set-up.)
- In “winter” months, plows paths and roadways and shovels snow, reporting early and on weekends and holidays as needed.
- Adherence to all health and safety guidelines.
- Responsible for assigned weekend & Holiday rotation duties. - Maintains general care of horticultural tools, and equipment (i.e., apply lubrication and general cleaning. Refers more serious problems to Supervisor)
Expected Functions:
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor
- Adhere to and enforce all Meijer Gardens’ policies, procedures and guiding principles with a strong emphasis on professional behavior and the treatment of others with dignity and respect
- Embrace the fact we are a non-profit institution that serves the public and that you will work with a broad and diverse group of associates, volunteers and general public
- Exhibit strong moral and ethical values.
- Ability to work outside, often in variable environments and weather conditions.
- May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, etc.)
- Ability to lift/move up to 10 pounds regularly, frequently up to 50 pounds, and occasionally up to 100 pounds. (i.e., load, unload and move gardening supplies, medium to heavy weight tools and equipment)
- Ability to obtain and maintain valid drivers, chauffeurs, and pesticide applicator’s licenses.
- Requires standing, walking, bending, stooping and reaching for extended periods of time-- 90% or more of the workday is standing on feet
- Ability to wear Garden-issued Personal Protective Equipment, including a full face respirator
- Scheduling flexibility that allows working weekends and holidays for annual watering schedule and snow/ice removal.
Education and/or qualifications preferred:
- Minimum of (5-7) years’ hands-on, relevant horticulture work experience required.
- Excellent working knowledge of plant materials and landscape maintenance techniques; proficient in operating various landscaping tools and equipment.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must enjoy and feel comfortable interacting and working in close proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions regarding horticulture collection.
- Must be able to perform simple tasks independently after being given assignments.
- B.S. degree in Horticulture, Biology, Botany and/or related field required.
- An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.
- Proficient experience using Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Outlook, Access, Excel, Word)
Working Conditions:
- Manual labor - Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100°F as well as temperatures below 0°F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed)
- Actively works hands-on with horticulture crew to complete landscape maintenance tasks and projects
- Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions regarding horticulture collection
- Flexible schedule will include some evenings, weekends and holidays.
David S. Hooker
President & CEO
1000 East Beltline Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
PH 616.975.3149
Cell 616.340.0399
TF 888.957.1580
FX 616.957.5792
dhooker@meijergardens.org
www.meijergardens.org
Department: Horticulture
Supervisor: Horticulture Manager
Pay Type: Full time, Hourly, Non-exempt
Last Reviewed: Steve LaWarre, 2/2013
Job Description: Specific but not limited to the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. Performs all duties associated with design, maintenance and care of the outdoor displays and collections. Duties are directly related to the design, installation and care of the collections, woody and herbaceous plant material and annual display crops. Seasonal designs, plant selection and ordering (as needed) and careful attention to accession record keeping and plant labeling are critical components of this position.
General Functions:
- Responsible for the care, maintenance and development of the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden.
- Performs a wide range of landscape/maintenance tasks important to the preservation, protection and transplanting of existing plants; including but not limited to soil preparation, planting, pruning, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilization, irrigation and pesticide application.
- Completes display designs, annual and perennial, on a regular basis, orders plants as needed for designs and oversees/performs the layout and installation of the designs.
- Ability to lead and direct the work of others to complete general projects, including other staff and volunteers is required.
- Oversees the day-to-day responsibilities of managing the landscape, maintenance issues and volunteer assignments.
- May be responsible for interacting with the media (TV, radio, newspaper etc), working with Public Relations to provide information about the horticultural content of their respective areas.
- Performs “off-season” tasks (i.e., tree pruning, leaf pick-up, annual flower show set-up.)
- In “winter” months, plows paths and roadways and shovels snow, reporting early and on weekends and holidays as needed.
- Adherence to all health and safety guidelines.
- Responsible for assigned weekend & Holiday rotation duties. - Maintains general care of horticultural tools, and equipment (i.e., apply lubrication and general cleaning. Refers more serious problems to Supervisor)
Expected Functions:
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor
- Adhere to and enforce all Meijer Gardens’ policies, procedures and guiding principles with a strong emphasis on professional behavior and the treatment of others with dignity and respect
- Embrace the fact we are a non-profit institution that serves the public and that you will work with a broad and diverse group of associates, volunteers and general public
- Exhibit strong moral and ethical values.
- Ability to work outside, often in variable environments and weather conditions.
- May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, etc.)
- Ability to lift/move up to 10 pounds regularly, frequently up to 50 pounds, and occasionally up to 100 pounds. (i.e., load, unload and move gardening supplies, medium to heavy weight tools and equipment)
- Ability to obtain and maintain valid drivers, chauffeurs, and pesticide applicator’s licenses.
- Requires standing, walking, bending, stooping and reaching for extended periods of time-- 90% or more of the workday is standing on feet
- Ability to wear Garden-issued Personal Protective Equipment, including a full face respirator
- Scheduling flexibility that allows working weekends and holidays for annual watering schedule and snow/ice removal.
Education and/or qualifications preferred:
- Minimum of (5-7) years’ hands-on, relevant horticulture work experience required.
- Excellent working knowledge of plant materials and landscape maintenance techniques; proficient in operating various landscaping tools and equipment.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must enjoy and feel comfortable interacting and working in close proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions regarding horticulture collection.
- Must be able to perform simple tasks independently after being given assignments.
- B.S. degree in Horticulture, Biology, Botany and/or related field required.
- An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered.
- Proficient experience using Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Outlook, Access, Excel, Word)
Working Conditions:
- Manual labor - Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100°F as well as temperatures below 0°F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed)
- Actively works hands-on with horticulture crew to complete landscape maintenance tasks and projects
- Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions regarding horticulture collection
- Flexible schedule will include some evenings, weekends and holidays.
David S. Hooker
President & CEO
1000 East Beltline Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
PH 616.975.3149
Cell 616.340.0399
TF 888.957.1580
FX 616.957.5792
dhooker@meijergardens.org
www.meijergardens.org
