Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Position Description
Position Title: Horticulturalist
Department: Horticulture
Supervisor: Area Manager- Horticulture
Position Status: Full-time, Nonexempt
Company Overview:
Nashville Zoo is dedicated to inspiring a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation, and leadership. With a diverse collection of animals and a commitment to wildlife preservation, we provide engaging experiences for visitors of all ages.
Position Description:
The Horticulturalist position is responsible for maintaining the landscape of their assigned area. The Horticulturalist is to maintain a record of all new plants added to the zoo grounds and care requirements. The Horticulturalist is required to help the Horticulture Manager with all job related research. The Horticulturalist must work hours appropriate to meet the needs of the Zoo. This may require weekend, holiday, and early or late shift start times.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Prune and weed landscaped areas
- Monitor irrigation systems and ensure they are working properly
- Hand water all plantings that are not established
- Install plants when necessary
- Responsible for assisting other departments and staff when requested
- Responsible for completing assigned tasks in an orderly efficient manner
- Responsible for furthering horticulture knowledge during tenure at the Zoo
- Responsible for spraying herbicide in areas that need attention
- Responsible for over seeding any and all exhibits in assigned area
- Responsible for overall health and quality of plants in assigned area, relaying all issues to the Horticulture Manager.
- Responsible for assisting keepers with exhibit maintenance when exhibit falls in your assigned area
- It is your duty to relay any and all work requests to the Horticulture Manager
- Responsible for designing/learning to design annual beds in assigned areas
- Responsible for mentoring new staff when Horticulture Manager is unavailable
- Responsible for relaying any issues at the park, to the Horticulture Manager when he is absent
- Responsible for recognizing plant disease/illness and preparing a solution
- Responsible for assisting the Horticulture Manager with staff training
- Responsible for cataloging and filing all new plant orders/purchases
- Responsible for researching unknown plants
- Responsible for relaying issues found in respective areas to Gardeners
- Responsible for updating task board on a weekly basis, after you have conferred with the Horticulture Manager
Qualifications
Skills:
- Ability to work with little or no supervision
- Ability and motivation to learn the plants on grounds and their proper care
- Ability to help guide new employees through daily tasks
- Ability to interact professionally with both staff and visitors
- Ability to perform assigned tasks in an organized and efficient manner
- Ability to professionally and safely use small, medium and heavy equipment and tools required for the execution of assigned tasks
- Ability to identify issues in assigned area and work to find an efficient expedient solution
- Ability to keep an open line of communication with Horticulture Manager and Gardener staff
Education/ Experience:
- Minimum High School diploma or GED equivalent is required.
- Horticulture degree or equivalent.
- A background in landscaping or grounds maintenance is preferred.
- A valid driver’s license is required.
Physical Responsibilities:
- Working Conditions are primarily outside. Must be able to work outside year round in inclement weather such as extreme high/low temperatures, snow and rain conditions.
- Stand, sit, or walk for an extended period of time or for an entire work shift. Applicants are required to have the ability to bend, stoop and extend oneself etc., as required for performing assigned tasks.
- Move, lift, carry, push, pull, and place objects weighing less than or equal to 50 pounds without assistance.
Work Schedule:
Full-time position, averaging 40 hours per week.
Flexibility: Position may require flexibility in working hours to accommodate special events, emergencies, or animal care needs.
Benefits:
Nashville Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, Employee Assistance Programs, a 401(k) plan with company match, paid time off, sick leave, long-term disability coverage, park discounts, and membership benefits.
Pre-employment requirements:
Nashville Zoo is an EEO Institution and a Drug Free Workplace.
At-will employment
Candidates for this position are required to submit to a criminal background check and pass a drug test.
Candidates for this position are subject to yearly Tuberculosis Screenings.
