American Public Gardens Association

• Horticulture & Design
o Coordinate, oversee, and assist with the daily hands-on maintenance of the Nature
Reserve and plant collections in a manner consistent with the horticultural standards of
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
o Physically work in all aspects of Reserve maintenance and development including soil
preparation, planting & transplanting, mulching, watering, weeding, fertilizing, pruning,
propagating, potting, raking, sweeping & blowing.
o Preserve the aesthetics of the landscape throughout the seasonal by developing plans,
selection of plants, and locate plant sources.
o Monitor plant collections for pests and diseases and implement control treatments with
support from Lewis Ginter IPM Horticulturist.
o Apply pesticides and fertilizers in accordance with IPM protocols and maintain
application records.
o Utilize hand and power tools effectively and in accordance with LGBG safety protocols
and regulatory standards.
• Collections Management
o Serve as a lead for the accreditation of the azalea and rhododendron collection.
o Collaborate with other public gardens, specialty nurseries, plant societies, and
hobbyists to locate and source plants to expand or support the collection.
o Report plant additions and removals to the Plant Records Curator; perform periodic
plant inventories and request accession tags and display labels.
• Supervisory
o Prioritize horticultural tasks, develop work schedules, and coordinate their
implementation with staff and volunteers assisting at the Reserve.
o Lead and supervise Seasonal Gardeners, occasional interns, and volunteers.
o Monitor operation of irrigation, equipment and facilities at the Reserve.

Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge of and experience with edible landscapes and/or agricultural crop
maintenance practices and plant care appropriate to the region.
• Strong work ethic, keen interest in sustainable agriculture and organic food production,
and an enthusiasm for physical work outdoors.
• The ability to research vegetable cultivars and to plan crop sequences and design bed
layouts.
• A demonstrated understanding of the horticultural practices and procedures required
for soil preparation, planting & transplanting, mulching, watering, weeding, fertilizing,
pruning, propagating, mowing, raking, sweeping & blowing, and tree & brush cutting.
• The ability to use shovels, trowels, fan rakes, grading rakes, spades, digging forks,
pickaxes, brooms, hand shears, hand saws, loppers, pole pruners & pole saws,
wheelbarrows, fertilizer spreaders, garden carts, ladders, and other hand tools
effectively.
• The ability to operate push mowers, riding mowers, weed-whackers, backpack blowers,
push blowers, garden ATVs, pickup trucks, chainsaws, and other power equipment
safely and effectively.
• A willingness to interact with the public on an informal basis by answering questions,
providing directions, etc.
• The ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Possession of a valid driver's license.

Essential Functions:

Analyze a ca. 700-individual resequencing dataset of oaks, to characterize the genomic architecture of species differentiation and (potentially adaptive) introgression.

Collaborate in analyses that integrate genomic, functional, and phylogenetic data with data on oak symbionts to characterize how oak diversity shapes biotic communities.

Identify genomic regions associated with adaptation to climate and collaborate in analyses relating these to tree performance in replicated common gardens.

Collaborate with a large group of American and Chinese researchers in characterizing common and divergent processes and patterns in the oak syngameons of eastern North American and eastern China.

Participate in maintaining a replicated common garden and collecting data from it.

Assist in collecting material for extraction and measurement, and herbarium specimens, from wild populations, as needed.

Assist with data curation and archiving of genomic data.

Conduct literature research and other independent learning as needed to accomplish tasks associated with the project and keep abreast of new scientific advances.

Prepare and submit scientific articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals, as well as other analyses needed by the partnership.

Participate in public outreach and data sharing efforts to promote and expand the general impact of the project.

Participate in the Herbarium and Plant Systematics lab group by mentoring early-career scientists, students and interns and being an active lab member through lab meetings and collaboration in supplementary projects as needed.

Contribute to the Science and Conservation department through collaboration, providing scientific input and guidance, and engaging in departmental activities such as Monday Tree Talks and occasional discussion and planning meetings.

Other duties as assigned.

* Learn about the care & maintenance of Trans-Pecos region native plants--particularly trees, grasses, soils, and cacti.
* Work with accessioned lists for both the cactus collection and the plants in the Botanical Gardens.

Essential Duties:

California Native Plant Landscaper Curriculum (40%)

Deliver course contents and evaluation for 3 or more cohorts each calendar year.
Work within the Theodore Payne Foundation CNPLC online portal to communicate with, manage, and export student contacts.
Maintain a database of participants and alumni, and communicate regarding opportunities for continued involvement.
Organize virtual learning opportunities for remote students using Zoom and other video conferencing platforms.
Coordinate contracted instructors, workshops, field trips, guest speakers, and other curriculum elements.
Coordinate program delivery spaces, including at the Garden and in the community. Ensure spaces are reserved and set up for class, as well as space clean-up.
Work with the Garden’s Marketing and Communications team to advertise, recruit, and manage the course.
Collect, organize, and input evaluation data.

Expert Consultation (25%)

Consult with design professionals on native plant design, landscape sustainability and maintenance specifications.
Provide site visits and design advice to homeowners looking to convert their yards to native plant landscapes.

Plant With Purpose Residential Gardener Program (10%)

Help develop and deliver a multi-contact native plant horticulture program at the Garden and at least four workshops in the community, at least twice a year.
Coordinate guest speakers and experts to assist with public workshop content delivery.
Train and manage volunteer Instructional Aides who will assist with workshop logistics and support.
Outreach to community partners and develop relationships that result in the delivery of native plant horticulture workshops in the community at locations away from the Garden grounds.
Deliver webinars, lectures, and other programs for partners and community organizations.
Collect, organize, and input evaluation data.
Refine and revise course content based on evaluation program results.
Provide grant writing and reporting support.

Sustainable Sites Initiative Coordinator (10%)

Serve as the Garden’s project manager for our Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) application for Existing Landscapes Pilot Program.

Department and General Responsibilities (15%)

Attend regular department check-ins, program meetings, monthly All-Staff meetings, and quarterly planning meetings.
Collaborate with Education staff on interpretive materials and media.
Make presentations to conferences, partner organizations, and at meetings.
Help manage program budget.
Regularly report on accomplishments for annual reports, grant reports, and other official documents.
Produce articles and content for Garden newsletters, website Insights, social media, and other communications tools.

Knowledge and Abilities:

Expertise in California native plant horticulture, from design to propagation to installation and maintenance.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and accuracy.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 Suite, with an emphasis on Word Excel, and SharePoint
Able to work weekends and evenings. Most CNPL and the Plant with Purpose Residential gardening programs will be held in the evenings and on the weekends.
Able to work independently and as part of a team to further the mission of the organization.
Able to multi-task, work under pressure, and manage time to meet deadlines and priorities.
Comfortable in a fast-paced environment that requires quick turnaround and flexibility.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Performs garden maintenance and supports the supervisor to ensure all maintenance and preservation of assigned outdoor garden areas and the living plant collections meet excellent horticultural and aesthetic expectations and achieve individual collection objectives. This team has a strong focus on roses, plants in the Rosaceae family, perennials and grasses, spring bulbs, and annual plantings.
Assists and supports supervisor in managing and performing duties of natural border area maintenance, and waterway stewardship.
Assists supervisor with interviewing and hiring seasonal staff; jointly and independently leads seasonal staff and volunteers in the performance of garden maintenance while following safety guidelines.
Assists and supports the supervisor in evaluating, prioritizing, design, and implementing plant displays and improvements to plantings and garden areas that no longer meet performance expectations.
Monitors assigned areas and living plant collections for damage from a wide variety of pests, including invasive plant species, and coordinates treatment actions in advance to avoid disruption to scheduled events. Uses mechanical and chemical methods to safely control invasive plant species and garden pests.
Serves as a resource for professional horticultural knowledge through interacting with guests, responding to inquiries, and providing horticultural content for Garden publications and communications.
Participates in the Garden’s living plant Collection committees and meets periodically to monitor and evaluate the living plant collections, their care, and performance.
Ensures staff and volunteers are trained on department and UofU policies and guidelines applicable to the work performance required of their positions; enforces policies and guidelines accordingly.
Assists with snow and ice removal operations in a manner that is safe and efficient to preserve garden structures, hardscapes, and plant life.
Collaborates with the Horticulture department and supervisor to implement assigned section(s) of Fundraiser Plant Sales.
Reports and/or assists in coordinating preventative and routine maintenance and potential safety concerns.
May teach classes in areas of expertise.