Horticulturist I

The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned, nonprofit institution dedicated to the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world.  We welcome more than 1.1 million guests every year to our 1,718-acre in the western suburbs of Chicago with about 16 miles of hiking trails, 9 miles of roads, and 222,000 plant specimens representing 4,650 plant taxa that are cared for in our landscapes, collections, and natural areas. We are seeking a horticulturist to join our team to maintain assigned collections in excellent horticultural and aesthetic condition. The successful candidate will be able to work outside in all weather conditions alone or as part of a team. They should also have exceptional time management and data-keeping skills with the ability to oversee temporary employees and volunteers.

Position Summary:  Maintain assigned garden(s) or collection(s) in excellent horticultural and aesthetic condition. 

• Communicate with supervisor to understand and achieve individual garden and collection objectives.

• Perform all functions involved in the care of a specified area, including:

  • planting, dividing, and transplanting trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and herbaceous plants

  • weeding, mulching, and watering

  • cultivating and fertilizing

  • pruning and arboricultural work, removing dead and diseased wood, and dead plants

  • hedge trimming

  • edging beds, brush cutting

  • removing litter, twigs, leaves and other material from assigned and adjacent areas

  • safe and proper use of pesticides and pesticide mixing/storage facility

  • invasive species surveillance and control

  • monitoring and controlling threatening insects, diseases, and nuisance animals

  • record keeping; installing and maintaining proper plant labels

• Assist in selecting, designing, and determining site location for plants in gardens and collections.

• Learn, understand, and demonstrate the ability to safely operate and maintain all motorized equipment according to the operator manuals. Responsible for proper operation and maintenance of tools and equipment used in daily work.

• Work with, oversee, and advise supervisor as to the quality of the performance of assigned seasonal employees, contractors, or volunteers.

• Notify the appropriate supervisor of necessary repairs to garden features, irrigation systems, equipment, or hardscapes in an assigned garden or collection.

• Prepare and maintain assigned garden or collection for special events, exhibitions, and other large-scale grounds projects. 

• Participate in snow removal operations, including snow shoveling, snow blowing, and application of deicing materials. 

• May assist in the maintenance of natural areas, including prescribed burns and winter clearing.

• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Physical Demands: Requires significant physical activity: limited lifting (up to 100 lbs. assisted) carrying (up to 30-50 lbs.), bending, climbing (up to 15 ft.), walking over varied terrain. Sense of vision and hearing in the normal range with or without correction. Sense of touch and the ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment required.

• Work Environment: Work is performed primarily outdoors in all weather conditions. Exposure to loud, prolonged noises and/or vibrations. This position requires regular on-site presence.

• Equipment: Horticulture hand and power tools, landscape equipment, pesticides and related application equipment, irrigation controller, snow removal equipment, prescribed burn equipment, chipper, dump truck, front-end loader, mower, tractor, wheelbarrow, van, utility vehicle, aerial bucket truck, two-way radio, general office equipment.

• Schedule: Work requires occasional evening, weekend, and holiday hours depending on the season.