Gardener

Gardener Position at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark and accredited museum in Miami, Florida. The Gardener is a hands-on position that performs general landscape maintenance duties and assists in ensuring the effective care of horticultural displays and living collections. The position is on the Engagement & Cultural Resources Team in the Horticulture & Sustainability Department and reports to the Senior Horticulturist.

Vizcaya is owned by Miami-Dade County and is operated by the non-profit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust, Inc. Our mission is to preserve the estate's cultural and environmental resources to engage people in connecting with the past, understanding the present and shaping the future. Our vision is for Vizcaya to be "A Home for Miami, an Inspiration for All."

Essential Functions

• Participate in daily hands-on grounds maintenance related activities such as grass cutting, weed management, planting plants, watering by hand and with irrigation, and debris removal.
• Conduct and record fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide applications under supervision.
• Maintain, independently and under supervision, all landscaped areas and natural areas to desired standards.
• Lawn care including cutting, trimming, fertilization, and weed/pest control as directed.
• Work with a wide variety of hand tools and landscape power equipment.
• If required, manage volunteer teams on various garden-related tasks.
• Keep gardens clean by removing leaves, branches, and other debris.

This job description is not designed to be comprehensive; duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

• At least 1 year of work experience in landscape maintenance practices, including experience with common landscape tools and power equipment.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Capable of carrying up to 50 lbs. and working outside in all weather conditions, able to stand for long periods of time and safely traverse uneven surfaces.
• Knowledge of common South Florida landscape plants.
• Ability to work independently as required or as part of a group.
• Capable of applying pesticides or herbicides under supervision.
• Understanding of and experience with general landscape maintenance practices.
• Experience with the following: push and riding mowers, powered weed trimmers and backpack blowers.
• Experience with hand tools, such as rakes, brooms, pruners, hand saws and shovels.
• Positive attitude, good interpersonal skills, flexibility and commitment to collaboration and customer service.
• English fluency.

Factors Vizcaya Will Consider When Evaluating Applicants and Determining Compensation

• Additional relevant work experience, training and education.
• Experience including fertilization and weed control.
• Horticulture Professional Certificate or, in lieu of a Certificate, at least 2 additional years of the above experience.
• Spanish, Haitian Creole and other language skills.

Compensation

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens offers competitive compensation, generous paid leave, retirement benefits, and robust medical and other insurance for full-time employees. Compensation will be based on experience and skills. The salary for employees meeting the requirements of this position is $21/hour.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The majority of work is done outside in varying climatic conditions that include excessive heat and humidity. The position requires sitting, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling. The position requires the ability to stand for long periods of time and to safely traverse uneven surfaces. The position frequently lifts and/or moves up to 50 lbs. The position works with typical landscape maintenance equipment and materials. The position involves some interaction with the public, community members, partners, donors, vendors, contractors and other constituents. Vizcaya is a non-smoking environment.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time (40 hours per week), non-exempt position. Periodic evening and weekend work may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is committed to equity and inclusion and is engaged in a strategic process to ensure that our staff, Board and volunteers reflect our community's diversity. Vizcaya welcomes applicants from groups that are underrepresented in cultural organizations and seeks to recruit, develop and retain a diverse workforce.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an equal opportunity employer. Vizcaya respects people of all backgrounds and does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, familial status, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking, or other applicable legally protected characteristics protected by law.