Assistant Horticulturist, Entrance Gardens

Title: Assistant Horticulturist, Entrance Gardens

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Display Gardens

Reports to: Senior Horticulturist, Entrance Gardens

Year-round Full-time

Supervises: Volunteers and seasonal staff

Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• 2025 Chicago Botanic Garden Benefit Guide - Year-Round Full-time

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

Make a great first impression on visitors to the Garden by maintaining the first gardens they see upon arrival at the highest level. Maintain an area consisting of the Barbara Carr Administrative Center, path from the Administrative Center to the Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden and Entrance Gardens, the Link, and the perimeters of parking lots 4 and 5. Work weekend duty on a rotational basis during the growing season and winter exhibits to water plants and perform general garden maintenance.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Maintain assigned gardens through weeding, watering, deadheading, fertilizing, planting, removing debris, pruning, edging, mowing, mulching, winterizing, removing snow, and maintaining and inventorying tools.
• Assist with the maintenance of the Visitor Center, parking lots, Link, Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden, Kleinman Family Cove, and Learning Campus Garden.
• Safely operate small equipment such as mowers, rototillers, sod cutters, leaf blowers, snow blowers, and weed whips.
• Develop designs and select and order plants for annual and permanent displays with approval of the Executive Vice President and Director of the Garden and the Director of Horticulture.
• Provide current information to Supervisor, Plant Records, regarding plant accessions, removals, transfers, and label requirements for display plants. Label plant material in a timely manner and assist with installing accession tags.
• Inform the Supervisor, Plant Health Care, of disease, insect, animal, and weed problems.
• Serve as a horticultural resource for the Garden by leading tours, giving demonstrations, answering visitor and staff questions, and serving on planning teams.
• Maintain a good level of computer literacy for purposes of interdepartmental documentation and communication.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Associate's degree in horticulture or commensurate experience.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• A valid driver's license; must be insurable by the Garden.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to lift, push, pull, and carry items up to 50 pounds. Work outside in all types of weather.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.