Senior Horticulturist

Job Description

Position Overview:
The Senior Horticulturist is a full-time, non-exempt status position, working under the direct supervision of the Senior Manager of Horticulture. The Senior Horticulturist supports the overall mission of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and the Department to preserve, care for, and interpret the Association’s historic, cultural, and natural resources. The Senior Horticulturist helps care for the estate’s historic gardens and landscapes. Responsibilities include: planting, pruning, harvesting, applying soil amendments, water management, weed and pest control.

Compensation:
Commesurate with experience.

Expected hours:
40 hours/week, Must be available to work occasional weekends, holidays, and evenings.

About Us

Open 365 days of the year, Mount Vernon is the most popular historic estate in America. Over 96 million people have visited Mount Vernon since 1860, when the estate officially opened to the public. Today, Mount Vernon welcomes an average of one million guests each year.

The estate, gardens, and farm of Mount Vernon totaled some 8,000 acres in the 18th century. Presently, an estimated 500 acres of this historic property have been painstakingly preserved along the banks of the Potomac River.

Duties & Responsibilities

Essential Duties:
Areas of responsibility include the upper or pleasure garden, and the incumbent will also assist with tasks or projects in the other gardens, and the historic and non-historic landscape as needed.
Tasks include: daily inspection and grooming; planning; planting; harvesting; pruning; boxwood hedge and parterre care; applying soil amendments; water management; debris removal; weed and pest control; mulching; mowing; and assisting with invasive plant management.
Uses current best practices and responsible stewardship when performing the tasks outlined above.
Work with other members of the team to identify and control insects, diseases, and weeds. Apply insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides safely and properly, and maintain pesticide records. This position requires seasonal after-hours spraying of fruit trees to mitigate disease.
Understands basic soil structure and soil health, and the relationship to plant health.
Operates and maintains equipment and power tools as needed.
Develop and maintain planting schedules, keep daily records of work activities, and submit information for monthly reports.
Interacts positively with visitors, answering questions and giving directions.
Practices and maintains safety standards and procedures in all work areas and assures others’ work safety as well.
Works independently and with minimum supervision, however, certain tasks require the individual to work closely with other horticulture staff in a team setting.
Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation within the Horticulture department and throughout the Estate, with co-workers, management, and volunteers.
Conducts all work in accordance with the Mount Vernon Ladies Association’s procedures and guidelines.
Performs other related duties as requested by the immediate supervisor and carries out the completion of special assignments.
This position is classified as essential, and the incumbent must be able to participate in ice and snow removal as well as storm damage clean-up as needed.

Education and Experience

Qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree in horticulture or a related field of study, and a minimum of five years’ work experience in public/historic gardens, or similar field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in planting, growing, and harvesting vegetables and fruits.
Knowledge and ability to implement proper pruning techniques for woody plants, including espaliered fruit trees, boxwood hedges and parterres.
Knowledgeable in the cultivation practices of native and non-native trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and possesses an awareness of environmental practices that enhance local ecosystems. The ability to identify invasive plants and experience with controlling them is a plus.
Must have experience in operating a variety of equipment, including assorted hand and power tools, chainsaws, electric and diesel gators, tractors, loaders, and dump trucks.
A background in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, experience, and knowledge of pesticides, including the proper application of pesticides and possession of or the ability to obtain a Virginia pesticide applicator’s license, are essential for this position.
Detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to perform strenuous work in a variety of weather conditions, including extreme high and low temperatures.
Work requires frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, and the ability to navigate uneven terrain.
The incumbent will frequently handle objects weighing up to 30 pounds (occasionally 50 pounds) unassisted. On a regular basis, drag, lift, and carry heavy debris and watering hoses, and load or unload heavy items from powered and hand-operated carts.
Valid driver’s license.
Work Environment:
Work is performed mostly outdoors in gardens, greenhouses, and landscaped areas. Conditions can include exposure to heat, humidity, cold, and potential contact with insects and chemicals (with PPE provided). Tasks may involve working alone or with a team.

Physical Requirements:
Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, kneel, bend, reach, and stand for long periods. Frequent use of hands for planting and pruning is required. Ability to safely use horticultural tools and equipment is essential.

Application Instructions

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