Horticulturist, Deserts of the Americas/Arid House

Job Description

The Horticulturist’s primary responsibility is to maintain the integrity of established garden collections and ecological plantings. The basic duties are to maintain the health and attractiveness of the diverse living collection. Garden plantings and collections are highly diverse and specialized. Each collection, area or grouping of plants is of unique, scientific, educational, and horticultural value and is irreplaceable. The duties of the Horticulturists are complex and require a high level of knowledge, skill and training that goes beyond standard horticultural maintenance. The Botanical Garden’s plantings are dynamic and constantly changing. Plants of all kinds from short-lived herbs to mature trees grow, reach maturity, become senescent, and must be removed and replaced. Therefore, these plantings require continual assessment, replanting, and development.

Horticulturists evaluate and develop their assigned collections in consultation with garden management, the Curator, and the Educational Program.

About Us

The University of California Botanical Garden (UCBG) is a living museum that features one of the most diverse plant collections in the United States.

Established in 1890, the Garden’s 34 acres contain over 12,000 taxas and more than 20,000 accessions (including many rare and endangered species) from all over the world arranged by region. The Mission Statement for the UCBG is “to develop and maintain a diverse living collection of plants to support teaching and worldwide research in plant biology, further the conservation of plant diversity, and promote public understanding and appreciation of plants and the natural environment.”

Duties & Responsibilities

Horticulture Maintenance

Watering, fertilizing, mulching, amending the soil, weeding, pruning, raking, planting and other activities involved in cultivating plants.
Assessing the watering needs of collection through knowledge of drip and/or low volume and conventional irrigation systems; altering systems as needed.
Recognize insect and plant pathogen problems within the collection and either alleviate the problem and/or mitigate any conditions that contribute to the problem using IPM methodology.
Maintain the aesthetic or cultural style(s) appropriate for the collection through enhancement, supplementation and routine alterations of plant displays within horticulturists’ areas.
Initiate requests to nursery propagator for re-propagation of existing plant material and new seed acquisitions in order to maintain the integrity of the Garden collections.
Work with and direct volunteers, students, and interns.
Perform construction and reconstruction projects which includes path and road work, resurfacing and grading paths with road base; repairing rock work, bed edging, and stairways; keeping paths, roads and streams clear of debris; controlling erosion in planted and traffic areas with berms, water bars, drainage systems, application of jute, etc.
Use garden equipment, including but not limited to pick-up truck and van (which may be used off-site as assigned), go-cart, chipper/shredder, power weed cutters, rototiller, and caterpillar.
Horticultural chemical applications as needed.

Curation

Maintain plant information (records), conservation of plant collection, and collection development.
Initiate requests (coordinated with the Curatorial office) for taxonomic updates, revisions, and/or determinations for plants and their areas.
Record keeping duties to include mapping, imaging, initiating record change forms, plant removal forms, and label requests.
Maintain plant labels in assigned area(s).
Participate in approved collection travel to scout collection sites, voucher specimens, and collect seeds and other material from worldwide sources.
Maintain accurate and detailed field notes.
Research growth habits of plants.
Decide which conditions (e.g., soil type, light, etc) are needed to cultivate the plants.
Serve as an expert on the growth habits of the plants from the particular geographic area for which the Museum Scientist is responsible.
Decide where the collections need to be amended (increased/decreased).
Correspond with other Gardens and collectors to obtain new wild-collected plants (Plants with Provenance).
Work with the Curator/Assistant Curator to decide which plants to select and send/exchange with cooperating institutional gardens.

Area Development

Initiates improvements and development of assigned area(s).
Routine development is performed with a high degree of independence involving continuing evaluation and reassessment of plantings, revising the planting schemes, replanting, library research, acquisition of plants, and improving displays for enhanced interpretation and/or horticultural success.

Education

Work with IB 112 students in Horticultural Methods class.
Participate in training and interpretation of assigned areas for volunteers with both tours and/or written materials.
Assist and participate in the preparation of interpretive materials and the acquisition of plants to illustrate educational themes.
Assist with public outreach programs, as needed.
Write articles for Garden publications and/or botanical or horticultural journals is encouraged.
Provide expertise/tours to visiting clientele.

Miscellaneous

Attend professional meetings, seminars, and symposia to promote personal and professional growth at the discretion of Garden management and consistent with Garden scheduling priorities.
Assist at Plant Sales and other fund raisers.
Weekend staffing responsibilities.
Other independent and team duties as assigned.
Occasional travel for fieldwork, collections development and conservation projects required.

Education and Experience

Required Qualifications

Working knowledge of basic landscape maintenance, including various irrigation systems operations, troubleshooting and repair.
Ability to work independently, set and meet objectives, and coordinate objectives with other members of the staff.
Familiarity with the establishment/maintenance of natural community-based gardens.
Ability to maintain accurate records and to research collection acquisitions and their horticultural requirements through botanical literature.
Ability to work well with a diverse group of staff, volunteers and the public.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills are a must.
Ability to perform physical labor, including lifting up to 100 lbs on occasion.

Education / Training

Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture or related field, and/or or equivalent experience/training. (Preferred)

Licenses / Certifications

Valid CA drivers license

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter on the University of California, Berkeley Careers website by searching for Job #87447 in the keyword search.

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