Horticulturalist

Horticulturalist

Facility - Fresno, CA 93728 End Date 10/25/2026

Overview

Salary Range $20.81 - $21.85 Hourly Level Entry Position Type Full Time Education Level None Category Facilities

Description

The Horticulturist will work independently or as part of a team to maintain the Fresno's Chaffee Zoo Corporation (FCZC) landscaping and grounds in an attractive, healthy, and safe manner. The Horticulturalist's work involves a variety of horticultural, maintenance, and grounds development tasks. This position requires collaboration with Zoo staff, contractors and the public to advance the Zoo's mission of inspiring our guests to care for animals, make connections, build community, and save wildlife.

Full-Time employees receive our comprehensive compensation package which includes 100% employer paid Medical/Dental/Vision, Employee Assistance Program, 401k, 10 Paid Holidays, Paid Sick and Paid Vacation time on an accrued basis. The pay range for this position is $20.81 - $21.85 per hour. Offers will be based on the successful candidate's experience

Essential Accountabilities

• Maintain the health, appearance, and diversity of the Zoo's landscaped areas, gardens, exhibits, and plant collections through accepted horticultural practices.
• Plant, transplant, prune, cultivate, and maintain trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, grasses and other ornamental plants as directed.
• Perform soil preparation, mulching, grading, and the installation or replacement of landscape materials including soil, gravel, sand, mulch, and decorative rock. Including the removal of debris and refuge of landscaping materials from Zoo grounds as needed.
• Safely operate gardening equipment including but not limited to lawn mowers, edgers, weed eaters, pole saws, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, backpack blowers and other gardening tools.
• Maintain the aesthetic appearance and safety of public areas, pathways, exhibit surroundings, and behind-the-scenes areas through routine landscape maintenance.
• Water and apply fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides to lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants as directed.
• Assist with the installation, repair, and maintenance of irrigation and sprinkler systems as needed.
• Assist with the general maintenance of facilities, equipment, buildings, and grounds.
• Identify plant needs for general care and maintenance.
• Safely operate a vehicle for business purposes including but not limited to going to and from the Zoo's facilities and offsite.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support team and organizational goals.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND JOB QUALIFICATIONS • Minimum one (1) year paid experience in commercial landscaping with knowledge of the maintenance and care of trees, lawns, flowers, and shrubs. • Minimum one (1) year of work experience safely operating commercial horticultural equipment, including leaf blowers, edgers, trimmers, soil aerators, and other horticulture hand tools required. • Minimum one (1) of documented experience working in an environment requiring strict adherence to operational safety rules and the mandatory use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required. • Minimum one (1) year paid experience vegetation management practices and plant species identification preferred. Experience can be substituted with 18 units of horticulture or plant science courses. • Minimum one (1) year experience operating various types of machinery including, but not limited to, forklifts, scissor lift, boom, bobcat, and pallet jacks preferred. • Minimum one (1) year working with Microsoft Office Suite and other business software preferred. • A valid California driver's license, valid vehicle insurance, enrolled in the CA Employer Pull Notice program and successful completion of the FCZ Drivers Training Program required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This position is required to bend, stoop, crouch, and kneel; use hands and arms for operation of gardening equipment and other machinery; use fingers for fine manipulation of hand tools and plants.
• This position is required to lift, push, pull or carry up to 100 pounds.
• This position is required to walk up to eight (8) miles daily.
• Visual acuity to operate machinery and read printed instructions and safety information, and to assess the thoroughness of the work assigned is required.
• This position requires receiving detailed information through oral communication (in person and via telephone), at normal speaking levels with or without correction.
• This position will be required to convey detailed or important spoken information to others in individual and small group settings.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position functions primarily outdoors, with exposure to heat, cold, inclement weather, insects, poor air quality, Zoo environments and external events.
• This position is required to work with others including Zoo executives and employees.
• The employee is exposed to hazardous chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.), fumes from equipment operation, and dust/dirt from Zoo grounds.
• This position is required to work at heights up to 80'.
• The position works in close proximity to Zoo animals.
• Occasional local travel and occasional out-of-town travel required
• Ability to work overtime, evenings, weekdays, weekends, and holidays.