Horticulturist – Seasonal

Job Category
CUPE 116

Job Title
Horticulturist – Seasonal

Department
Horticulturists tendersglobal.net Botanical Garden and Centre for Horticulture

Posting End Date
February 14, 2024

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date
Oct 31, 2024

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Summary

The Seasonal Horticulture position with the Botanical Garden is a term appointment. Positions at this level perform diversified horticulture activities at UBC Botanical Gardens. UBC Botanical Garden is hiring four term seasonal horticulture appointments. Planned term dates March 1, 2024-October 31, 2024.

Our Vision is that plants are understood, valued, celebrated, and secure in a healthy, biodiverse world. The mission of UBC Botanical Garden is to assemble, curate, and maintain a documented living collection of temperate plants for the purposes of education, research, conservation, community outreach, and public display. How we do it: As Canada’s oldest university botanical garden, we steward a living and growing repository of plants representing the biodiversity of selected native and exotic temperate ecosystems. The total collection of approximately 120,000 accessioned plants represents some 6,000 taxa and includes significant collections of Magnolia, Acer (maples), Sorbus (mountain ash, Styracaceae (storax family), Rhododendron and climbing plants. A key part of the University’s biodiversity collections, the Botanical Garden provides resources to researchers, students and the public that reach far beyond its collections to provide a window onto the species, ecosystems and genetic diversity of the natural world. 

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS 

Horticulturists at the Garden work in a variety of areas within the Botanical Garden, Nitobe Memorial Garden, and the Nursery, under the direction of the Garden Supervisor or delegated senior horticulturists while working in curated areas of the Garden. In addition, Horticulturists may work under the direction of the Principle Instructor of the Horticulture Training Program. 
 

WORK PERFORMED 

Carries out tasks related to UBC Botanical Gardens involving routine maintenance. Uses a range of horticultural tools to prepare and maintain UBC Botanical Garden grounds. Plants trees, shrubs, bulbs, seeds and related plants material. Conducts investigations, evaluates plants, and applies new and improved methods and techniques relating to cultural requirements, growing procedures, nutritional requirements, production of nursery stock, etc. of plants and species in the area of specialization. Assists in the propagation of a variety of plant material, identifies and maintains the 

accessioning and labeling of plant materials and carries out plant and seed collection in the field. Assists senior horticulturists in conducting investigations, including writing reports/publications related to area of responsibility. Provides input to the collection of plant material for the advancement of the Botanical Garden collection. 

Performs duties such as calculating basic quantities, assists in updating databases and collection, coding, distributing, filing and indexing of plants. Works in a correct and safe manner and follows established policies and procedures. Participates in the training of Horticulturist, Labourers, Apprentices, and Student Trainees (including Horticulture Training Program Students). May coordinate the work of and provide assistance to employees at lower level classifications. Carries out any other related duties as required in keeping with the qualifications and requirements of positions in this classification. 

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR 

Work requires planning the sequence of duties, the work methods to be employed and the action to be taken, applying knowledge of procedures and makes decisions based on guidelines and established policies; carries out all assignments within the guidelines of the University Safety Policy. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED 

Works under direction, performing the general phases of the work independently but within established guidelines. 

SUPERVISION GIVEN 

Coordinates the work and provides assistance to employees at lower classifications as requested. 

Minimum QUALIFICATIONS 

Valid B.C. Driver’s License 

Pesticide Applicator’s Certificate 

Completion of a BC or other provincial, state or national horticulture certificate program, diploma (2 year) program, or degree in horticulture or other plant-related discipline 

4 years relevant experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience 

A responsible and energetic individual who takes direction and is able to work independently A valid BC Driver’s License Must be able to demonstrate sufficient attention to detail in job performance, as well as accuracy in record keeping and labeling, in order to maintain the high standard of horticultural practice required in the Botanical Garden; Knowledge of the precise cultural care required by plants in the Botanical Garden collections is an asset; Good manual dexterity and the ability to work out-of-doors 

Expectations for all UBC employees:
– Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
– Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion