FWBG Horticulturist

Horticulturist

The minimum starting pay for this nonexempt position is $21.25/hr.

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to our Mission to explore the critically important world of plants, collaborate to discover the role they play in our cultural and natural environments, and engage people to conserve nature and improve the human experience. Our employees enjoy a positive workplace culture that serves our community, brings joy to children and families, and demonstrates the core values of respect, integrity, collaboration, and enthusiasm in our day-to-day interactions with each other. All full-time employees have access to outstanding medical benefits, exceptional paid time off, and flexible schedules.

As a Fort Worth Botanic Garden Horticulturist, you will design, cultivate, and maintain vibrant, sustainable plant collections and landscapes that enhance the aesthetic and educational appeal of the public garden. This includes fostering plant health, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring the garden serves as a resource for education, conservation, and community engagement. Through collaborating closely with groundskeepers, managers, and landscape designers to ensure outdoor spaces meet aesthetic and ecological goals, Horticulturalists play a crucial role in ensuring that the garden remains beautiful and safe, thereby enhancing the overall visitor experience

Accountability

1. Cultivate, plant, and maintain a wide variety of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and specialty collections. Monitor plant health, identify pests and diseases, and implement appropriate treatments. Prune, weed, fertilize, and irrigate to ensure optimal plant growth.
2. Maintain accurate records of plant collections, including inventory, and plant accessions. 
3. 3.    Creating visually impactful displays for high-traffic seasons. Assist with the preparation and execution of events, including seasonal festivals and plant sales.

People Management/Interactions
Supervise groundskeepers, interns, volunteers, and seasonal workers in horticultural tasks. 

1. Collaborate with staff, landscape architects, and educators, to achieve garden objectives, and design and implement seasonal displays, themed gardens, or specialty plantings.
2. Regularly collaborate with staff or volunteer teams and provide precise instructions and demonstration of techniques when needed for tasks including planting, pruning, or cleanup. 
3. Demonstrate professionalism and the FWBG Core Values while engaging with guests, interacting with coworkers, and managers with the ability to manage conflict. 
4. Continuously improve knowledge through attending and participating in workshops, seminars, staff meetings, organizational training, and digital resources.

Communication

1. Encourage job feedback/suggestions from team members, showing respect for their input.
2. Engage in all campus communication methods to stay informed and share information. This includes email, MS Teams, texts, calls, and newsletters. Communicate with others clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing. Ensure understanding of oral and written instructions.
3. Provide and communicate opportunities for public engagement regarding plants, ecosystems, and sustainability.

Qualifications

Competencies - Knowledge and Skills required:

• Knowledge of proper techniques and uses for a variety of hand and power tools, with the ability to use speciality or heavy equipment. 
• Knowledge of plants, soil, equipment, and safe landscaping practices with specialized skills in planting, pruning, propagation, pest/disease management, and soil health. 
• Experience with sustainable gardening techniques like composting, mulching, and water conservation.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety practices including use of PPE.
• Physically able to perform strenuous manual labor tasks related to assigned responsibilities. 
• Basic computer and mobile phone app skills for benefits enrollment, time reporting, and electronic communication.

Additional Job Requirements: 

• Successfully pass a physical exam to assess whether the individual can perform the duties of the position with or without accommodation. 
• Be adaptable and flexible to changing schedules and willing to work weekends and evenings when necessary.
• Ability to support and participate in FWBG public exhibitions and events.

Reasonable accommodation can be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job.

Apply through this job site or visit FWBG's Careers Page at https://fwbg.org/about-us/careers/. Apply online by answering screening questions and completing the application. Applicants who do not fully complete the application process will not be considered. Review of completed applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled

Candidates invited to final interviews must provide three professional references and contact information to verify work history. The successful candidate will receive a written offer and be required to submit personal information for a criminal background check. The anticipated start date is the first Monday after reference checks, background check, and applicable physical test are successfully passed.

Salary : $21