Nursery Associate

A Day in the Life:

As Nursery Associate, you are responsible for the daily operations within the Garden’s retail nursery. You’re involved in all aspects of a nursery retail setting, with strong emphasis on: maintenance and care of merchandise; positive and informative customer service; organization, labeling, and pricing of plants and hardgoods; accurate and detailed record keeping.  You may also help support and supervise retail volunteers under the guidance of the Retail Manager. Overall cleanliness and maintenance of the shop and retail nursery are important, but equally important is your job as a native plant ambassador! As “front-facing” staff, you have the opportunity to share our mission with the public and help transform the Santa Barbara landscape. This part-time (18 hours per week, composed of three 6-hour shifts), non-exempt position, reports to the Retail Manager. 

The Team

Our staff love plants and more importantly, they love talking about plants! Our shop is a popular gathering spot during Garden visits, and our retail staff are there to welcome and inform our new native plant converts! We are fortunate to have an experienced shop team who know their way around a cash register but also understand that how we interact with guests can set the entire tone of their visit. Interactions with our shop and retail nursery team are often called out as a highlight in people’s reviews of their visit. You will join an amazing team!

What You’ll Do:

Retail  

• Ensure merchandise and plants are accurately priced, labeled, and attractively displayed
• Provide outstanding customer service, acting as a front-line information source, answering gardening and retail nursery-related questions, including in-person and online inquiries
• Develop and implement appropriate merchandising displays (under the guidance of the Retail Coordinator or Retail Manager)
• Fulfill online plant sales and returns including email support to customers for any online sales
• Support the retail volunteer group, one of the largest cohorts at the Garden, and participate in their recruitment, training, and supervision, as needed
• Cover breaks or lunches for other guest services staff, including those who work in the admissions kiosk

Plant Care 

• Maintain live merchandise to a high standard, ensuring that watering, fertilizing, pest management, weeding, and grooming are completed according to daily and seasonal schedules
• Manage pests and plant diseases under the guidance of the Retail Manager
• Maintain proper care of tools and technical equipment
• Help keep indoor and outdoor facilities clean and tidy at all times

Record Keeping 

• Help the Retail Manager ensure accurate inventory of goods, including live plants and nursery merchandise items, updated in real time through online software
• Complete and record assigned tasks in daily log, as well as inventory of back stock and supplies as directed

You Must Be Able To:

• Communicate effectively and provide excellent customer service
• Perform basic plant care, including watering, planting, pruning, propagation, and pest control
• Operate a computer and POS cash register, as well as a back end of point-of-sale system
• Multi-task and manage time in a fast-paced environment, prioritizing customer service above other tasks and projects, as needed
• Work independently and as part of a team to further the mission of the organization
• Drive an electric cart on Garden grounds and occasionally drive to offsite locations
• Work weekends, as needed
• Lift and carry 50 lbs., bend, squat and walk stairs and the SBBG trails
• Stand/walk for up to 2 hours at a time, and use a computer or phone for lengthy periods

You Will Definitely Need: 

• One year’s experience serving the public and operating a cash register
• Knowledge of, or the desire to learn, horticultural requirements and uses for a range of California native plants, including familiarity with scientific and common plant nomenclature
• Proficiency with database and spreadsheet software
• A valid California driver’s license (because you will drive a Garden “cart”)

It Would Be Nice if You Had:

• Knowledge of plants and local history
• Bilingual in Spanish (not necessary, but we would love this!)
• Public garden or museum experience

More About Us

The Garden is a beautiful place to work!  And in this role, you are often outdoors. In addition to beautiful views, outdoor work environments also include exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, small wild animals, and sun exposure.

Disclaimer:

You must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. 

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.