Horticulturist in a Botanical Garden

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups. We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence. The University of California Botanical Garden (UCBG) is a living museum that features one of the most diverse plant collections in the United States. Established in 1890, the Garden's 34 acres contain over 12,000 taxa and more than 20,000 accessions (including many rare and endangered species) from all over the world arranged by region. The Mission Statement for the UCBG is to develop and maintain a diverse living collection of plants to support teaching and worldwide research in plant biology, further the conservation of plant diversity, and promote public understanding and appreciation of plants and the natural environment.

The Horticulturist's primary responsibility is to maintain the integrity of established garden collections and ecological plantings. The basic duties are to maintain the health and attractiveness of the diverse living collection. Garden plantings and collections are highly diverse and specialized. Each collection, area or grouping of plants is of unique, scientific, educational, and horticultural value and is irreplaceable. The duties of the Horticulturists are complex and require a high level of knowledge, skill and training that goes beyond standard horticultural maintenance. The Botanical Garden's plantings are dynamic and constantly changing. Plants of all kinds from short-lived herbs to mature trees grow, reach maturity, become senescent, and must be removed and replaced. Horticulturists evaluate and develop their assigned collections in consultation with garden management, the Curator, and the Educational Program.

Application Review Date
Horticulture Maintenance

Watering, fertilizing, mulching, amending the soil, weeding, pruning, raking, planting and other activities involved in cultivating plants.

Assessing the watering needs of collection through knowledge of drip and/or low volume and conventional irrigation systems; Recognize insect and plant pathogen problems within the collection and either alleviate the problem and/or mitigate any conditions that contribute to the problem using IPM methodology.

Maintain the aesthetic or cultural style(s) appropriate for the collection through enhancement, supplementation and routine alterations of plant displays within horticulturists' areas.

Initiate requests to nursery propagator for re-propagation of existing plant material and new seed acquisitions in order to maintain the integrity of the Garden collections.

Perform construction and reconstruction projects including path and road work, resurfacing and grading paths with road base; controlling erosion in planted and traffic areas with berms, water bars, drainage systems, application of jute, etc.

Use garden equipment, including but not limited to pick-up truck and van (which may be used off-site as assigned), go-cart, chipper/shredder, power weed cutters, rototiller, and caterpillar.

Horticultural chemical applications as needed.

Maintain plant information (records), conservation of plant collection, and collection development.

Initiate requests (coordinated with the Curatorial office) for taxonomic updates, revisions, and/or determinations for plants and their areas.

Participate in approved collection travel to scout collection sites, voucher specimens, and collect seeds and other material from worldwide sources.

Maintain accurate and detailed field notes.

Research growth habits of plants.

Serve as an expert on the growth habits of the plants from the particular geographic area for which the Museum Scientist is responsible.

Decide where the collections need to be amended (increased/decreased).

Routine development is performed with a high degree of independence involving continuing evaluation and reassessment of plantings, revising the planting schemes, replanting, library research, acquisition of plants, and improving displays for enhanced interpretation and/or horticultural success.

Work with IB 112 students in Horticultural Methods class.

Participate in training and interpretation of assigned areas for volunteers with both tours and/or written materials.

Assist and participate in the preparation of interpretive materials and the acquisition of plants to illustrate educational themes.

Assist with public outreach programs, as needed.

Write articles for Garden publications and/or botanical or horticultural journals is encouraged.

Attend professional meetings, seminars, and symposia to promote personal and professional growth at the discretion of Garden management and consistent with Garden scheduling priorities.

Weekend staffing responsibilities.

Occasional travel for fieldwork, collections development and conservation projects required.

Working knowledge of basic landscape maintenance, including various irrigation systems operations, troubleshooting and repair.

Familiarity with the establishment/maintenance of natural community-based gardens.

Ability to maintain accurate records and to research collection acquisitions and their horticultural requirements through botanical literature.

Education / Training

Bachelor's degree in Horticulture or related field, and/or equivalent experience/training. (For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

This range takes into account factors considered in compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. The budgeted hourly range is $32.79 (Step 1) - $35.47 (Step 5).

This is a non-exempt, bi-weekly paid position.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

Required to hold a valid driver's license, have a driving record in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.

This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition.

This position is governed by the RX bargaining unit; Conviction History Background
This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check. Berkeley hires people with conviction histories and reviews information in the context of job responsibilities. As a condition of employment, the final candidate will disclose any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years regarding misconduct or related investigations with former employers. Definitions and examples of misconduct are provided by UC policies.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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