Conservatory Specialist

About the Role

This is a horticulture-based position that cultivates plants in the Conservatory and Tropical Collections. This individual will work with other gardeners, nursery assistants, and volunteers in maintaining facilities, collections, and programs. At times S/he/they may lead work activities with volunteers and other staff. This individual will also be the primary liaison with Ask Me docents in the Rose Hills Conservatory. S/he/they will provide living material and assistance to support interpretive exhibits, programs, and classes on as as-needed basis. Reports to the Curator of the Conservatory and Tropical Collections.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

Essential Duties

• Cultivates, propagates, waters, fertilizes, and chemically treats plants.
• Assists inventorying and mapping of living collections.
• Gathers and processes material for collections archiving and documentation.
• Participates in Huntington video communications and interviews for the public.
• Helps organize and provide supplies including potting mix, pots, tools, labels, etc.
• Calculates formulas and measures fertilizers, pesticides, etc.
• Cleans, organizes, and evaluates work areas as needed.
• Maintains assigned areas of the Conservatory and supports greenhouses in an orderly manner.
• Monitors and reports regularly on greenhouse climate conditions.
• Monitors plant health, including plant pests and development of controls.
• Maintains a working knowledge of key species in the Conservatory.
• Maintains necessary records and labeling practices.
• Assists with oversight of equipment and with repairs when needed.
• Works in collaboration with the Conservatory Technician in exhibit set-up and maintenance, as well as providing plants for programs, labs, and exhibits.
• Assists other Gardens staff with routine maintenance of areas immediately surrounding the Conservatory exterior.
• May perform other related duties as assigned.

Candidate Requirements and Experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Some coursework in horticulture and greenhouse practices required.
• Ability to work safely with equipment and chemicals required.
• Ability to maintain and develop irrigation systems required.
• Ability to communicate effectively and amicably with staff, volunteers, and visitors required.
• Ability to perform physical duties required, including lifting (50 lbs. regularly), digging, carrying, etc.
• Ability to perform careful, thoughtful work required.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work schedule required.
• Effective written and oral communication skills required.
• Proficient reading ability and accuracy with details such as may be obtained through completion of some college course work.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Preferred:

• Two years’ experience with nursery practices and indoor horticulture preferred.
• Successful completion of two-year college horticulture program preferred.
• Knowledge of scientific names of plants, botany and horticulture preferred.

Working Conditions  

• Working conditions include indoor environments subject to high humidity and high temperatures.
• The ability to navigate through vegetation, over rocks and up and down slopes is essential.
• The subject workplace is regularly occupied by visitors, and this may require answering questions relevant to the features of the site.

Compensation & Benefits 

We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including: 

• Pay Range: $21.00- $23.00/hr. Commensurate with experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays
• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants
• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds