Are you ready to embark on a wild journey with a team that’s as passionate about the desert’s wonders as you are? The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is seeking a motivated, and driven individual to join our team as full-time Horticulturists II in our Botany Department.
Summary
A Horticulturist cares for plants, landscapes, and gardens at ASDM and provides botanical interpretation to visitors and the public.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
This position is responsible for installation, care and maintenance of plants and landscape features within exhibits and throughout the Museum grounds. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Shrub and tree installation. Shrub and tree pruning. Hazardous tree and cactus removal.
Site design and layout of new gardens. Mitigation and restoration of existing gardens.
Design, install, and troubleshoot irrigation systems.
Use and maintain hand and power tools.
Working aloft, using ladders, harnesses, and hydraulic lifts.
Oversee volunteers.
Keeping accurate accession records of the botanical collection within assigned areas of responsibility.
Interpretation of botanical and horticultural subjects to the general public.
May participate in tours and traditional/social media requests.
Involved in the preparation of special botanical events (Plant sales, Gala, Cool Summer Nights, special projects among others).
Apply pesticides as needed, guided by Integrated Pest Management concepts.
Opportunity to attend ASDM and public meetings, be involved in teaching and writing, and may be assigned propagation duties.
Opportunity to participate in field trips and off-ground work.
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor’s degree from four-year College or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Technical Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have basic computer software knowledge to include word processing, data base, and spreadsheet applications. Knowledge of or ability to learn Rain Bird Maxicom Central Control System highly desirable. Geographic Information Systems knowledge is desirable. New staff is trained by senior staff to enter data into a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database using tablet applications; cloud based mapping systems and desktop GIS applications. The position also reviews existing or incoming data for currency, accuracy, usefulness, quality, or completeness of documentation.
Other Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of plant taxonomy and Sonoran desert region flora desirable
Weekend and holiday work may be required.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Valid Arizona Driver’s License or ability to obtain
Satisfactory 39-month DMV report
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds with the assistance of equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly exposed to all aspects of outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly exposed to plants that are armed with spines, thorns, and urticating hairs. Some of these plants may contain chemical compounds that may irritate skin and/or cause allergic reactions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be exposed to stinging and biting insects, venomous reptiles, small mammals, and working in close proximity to housed mammals and reptiles.