Senior Horticulturist & Horticulturist

(Paid Opportunities) Return to Paid Opportunities

 Compensation: $22-$28/hour for Horticulturist and $25-$32/hr for Senior Horticulturist per hour

Provides horticultural support for the care and maintenance of the plant collections, gardens and landscaped areas of the Scott Arboretum & Gardens and the entire Swarthmore College campus and properties owned by the College. Tasks performed include general gardening duties and plant collections maintenance; assisting in the maintenance of the Crum Woods and faculty/staff housing properties; program assistance for Scott Arboretum educational programs and volunteer education; co-supervising Horticulturists, volunteers, student workers and summer interns; providing assistance for College events; performing maintenance to keep the campus exteriors safe; providing assistance during weather emergencies, for snow and ice during winter storms, and for other grounds keeping duties; provides educational tours for Arboretum visitors.

Responsibilities/Duties

HORTICULTURAL TASKS  (70%)

  • Maintains the plant collections by performing timely planting, weeding, mulching, pruning, fertilizing, irrigating, leaf raking, and other plant cultural practices with minimal supervision in order to maintain campus aesthetics and provide proper horticultural care.  Assists in design modifications as needed to the Arboretum’s landscape and gardens.  Assists in plant records and plant curation as needed.
  • Maintains specialty garden areas consisting of Glade Garden, Harry Wood Garden, Nason  Garden, Pinetum, Pollinators Garden, Singer Hall landscape, Winter Garden, magnolia and  holly collections, green roofs, various courtyard gardens and major horticultural collections  as the most intensively-maintained gardens on campus.

GROUNDSKEEPING DUTIES  (20%)

  •  Keeps campus areas, turf, roads, sidewalks, and patios maintained in an efficient way.  Has the ability to prioritize these tasks in order to provide a safe and aesthetically-pleasing campus.
  • Performs trash removal, irrigation, turf renovation, turf mowing, snow removal, and leaf raking in order to efficiently maintain safety and high horticultural aesthetics on campus.
  • Assists with special function set-up and tear-down in order to prepare the facilities in a timely manner for College- and Arboretum-hosted events.
  •  Is present for and assists in College emergencies, bad weather occurrences, and special College functions in order to maintain campus safety for students, staff, and visitors.


COMMUNITY/EDUCATION SUPPORT (10%)

  • Develops, leads or assists with Arboretum classes and lectures open to members, the public  and volunteers; gives lectures as requested; assists with guided campus tours open to the public.
  • Provides horticultural information to the public, members, and volunteers.
  • Leads or assists with various educational programs (Arboretum tours, lectures, conferences, sales and events, and Alumni weekend tours) as needed.
  • Assists staff with various programs (e.g. evening lectures, Perennials and Woody Conferences, Greens Sales) as needed.
  •  Lends support when requested to the College’s professors, students and educational departments in their classes and laboratories that utilize the plant collections, gardens, and Crum Woods. 

Qualifications/Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in horticulture or related discipline; or, practical horticultural training course (two to four year program) plus three to five years of job-related experience.
  • Demonstrates a familiarity with the identification and maintenance of a broad range of trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous perennials, annuals, and turf grass; has the basic knowledge to provide proper horticultural care in a timely and efficient manner.  Demonstrates ability to decide a course of action relative to soils and fertilization. Possesses knowledge of current practices relative to soil care, pruning and planting in order to implement best management practices.
  • Demonstrates familiarity with the common diseases, insects, weeds, and cultural problems of landscapes and turf in the mid-Atlantic region in order to make proper decisions for daily maintenance.
  • Demonstrates familiarity with sustainable landscape/gardening practices relating to soil and plant health. 
  • Possesses basic knowledge of restoration processes and maintenance of natural areas such as the Crum Woods, as well as meadows and storm water retention/detention basins.
  • Must possess a Pennsylvania pesticide applicator’s license for the appropriate categories in order to legally and safely apply pesticides or organic control materials, or is willing to do so
  • Must possess a valid driver’s license.
  • Must be familiar with the operation and maintenance of hand tools and grounds maintenance equipment.
  • Works successfully with diverse others and upholds the College’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in order to help the organization realize its commitment to excellence through diversity.
  •  Is optimistic and constructive in work conduct and outlook.


INTERACTIVE SKILLS

  • Builds successful working relationships with coworkers and supervisors. Projects a positive image of Scott Arboretum & Gardens and of Swarthmore College. Communicates readily and works effectively as a member of a team.
  • Works successfully with coworkers, interns, students, and Arboretum volunteers in order to efficiently and effectively accomplish the workload of the department.
  • Adapts to new work situations, people, ideas, procedures, and organizational structures, in order to be successful in a constantly changing work environment.
  • Exhibits maturity, reliability, composure, and stability under pressure in order to handle on-the-job stresses and challenges.
  • Understands and abides by a high standard of professional ethics in order to ensure the integrity of the organization.

Contact Information

Scott Arboretum and Gardens
Contact Name: Anthony Aiello
Email: aaiello1@swarthmore.edu
Website: Apply Online