The University of North Carolina System Hiring for – Horticulture Specialist, Formal Gardens at Asheville, NC  Full Time

Nestled in one of the most botanically diverse and beautiful natural settings in America, The North Carolina Arboretum contains 65 acres of cultivated gardens that delight the senses, pay tribute to the region’s rich cultural heritage and reinforce the importance of plants to our world. Come join our mission to Cultivate Connections Between People, Plants and Places as a Horticulture Specialist in our formal gardens.

This position includes benefits offered through the State of North Carolina and University of North Carolina System. The hiring salary will be between $34,000 and $37,500 and applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 14.

The Horticulture Specialist – Formal Gardens position will install and maintain intensely planted horticultural demonstration areas through the 434+ acres of The North Carolina Arboretum property. Reporting daily to the Garden Crew Leader, this position is responsible for the many duties required for maintaining the beauty and health of all horticultural displays and participation in continuing development, renovation and construction of horticultural displays and exhibits. Within the formal gardens zone, this position will be responsible for the care of all landscape demonstrations and continued landscape development. Maintenance activities focused on preserving the beauty, health and safety of the gardens will be paramount as will integrated pest management, education and records. The goal of this position is to not only maintain a healthy and beautiful garden display, but also to develop and interpret the garden in such a way as to provide an educational opportunity for the visiting public.

Duties will include:

Plant Health Care & General Garden Maintenance

The North Carolina Arboretum gardens are home to one of the most valuable and educational plant collections in the state. Expertise in a wide range of horticultural techniques is required to insure the health and vigor of this outstanding collection. Proper installation of all new herbaceous and woody plant material is essential to the survival of specimens in the collection. This position is expected to be well versed in the most current standards for this pursuit. Several tasks follow planting to insure the survival of specimens added to the collection. These tasks are as follows: choosing the correct mulch and applying it in the proper fashion, irrigating the collection and monitoring soil moisture, pruning both woody and herbaceous plants to insure optimum health, growth and safety and applying fertilizer at the appropriate rate to promote optimum performance. An extensive knowledge of a wide range of species is required to address the needs of each distinct specimen. The control of invasive weeds and vines is also essential to the health of the collection. This position also addresses soil issues related to plant health care as follows: tilling, incorporating amendments, both organic and non-organic, adding nutrients, increasing drainage and stabilizing top soil.

Tasks performed on a set schedule to maintain the beauty and safety of the Arboretum are the responsibility of this position. A daily cleaning routine must be performed to remove unsightly debris and litter, trash cans and ash trays must be changed and kept tidy. All walkways must be kept clear of debris and in good order. The gardens will be checked on a daily basis to insure the safety of our guests. All hardscape must be kept in good order including seating, containers, benches, trellises, gates, fences, arbors, stone work and sculpture. Snow removal, leaf removal, and storm damage clean up are also within the realm of garden maintenance.

Integrated Pest Management
This position is entrusted with the task of protecting all plant material within the assigned garden from the damaging effects of pest and disease. The gardener will practice Integrated Pest Management as a means to control these pathogens. The plants housed in the assigned garden will be monitored on a set schedule in order to detect early signs of damage. This position must be capable of recognizing and interpreting damage symptoms and is expected to report their findings to the Garden Crew Leader. The most environmentally responsible treatment will then be applied by this position. The gardener is expected to keep up to date records, identifying key plants and key plant pest within the Assigned garden and treatments that are applied.

Education

The significant increase in visitation in the recent years has dramatically increased the interaction of this gardening position with the general public. Increased contact with the public leads to an increased need for each Gardener to provide interpretation of the Formal Gardens. This position is also required to participate in programs within and outside of their specific area of responsibility, to include assistance with guided garden tours, symposiums, and other events as needed. The gardener also has contact with and provides horticultural information to the visiting public on a daily basis. Positive public relations require this position to be able to communicate effectively on a variety of levels.

In addition, the gardener will provide leadership, training and support to our Horticulture Assistant Staff & valuable corps of volunteers, whose services are vital to our work.

Plant Records

The gardener will assist with keeping plant records. All plant material accessioned and de-accessioned from a gardener’s area of responsibility must be recorded and this information must be relayed to the Garden Crew Leader and the Plant Recorder. These records must be kept diligently and this information must be relayed promptly to insure that material is well interpreted to the visiting public.

Competencies Required:

Knowledge: Technical

To be successful, this position must possess considerable knowledge of the horticulture principles and practices applicable to the maintenance and upkeep of gardens. This should include extensive knowledge of soil and plant health, identification and maintenance of ground covers, bulbs, annuals, perennials and trees and shrub. Working knowledge of the principles and methods of garden construction and maintenance. The ability to operate large and small equipment is necessary.

Communication:

Excellent written and verbal skills to communicate with staff, volunteers and visiting public in a professional manner This includes the ability to interpret the Arboretum mission, plant displays and horticulture techniques to the general public.

Professional:

The incumbent must be able to use judgment and initiative while working independently to complete work assignments with a minimum of supervision. This role must also be capable of maintaining professional working relationships with crew members and volunteers to promote a positive environment for the general public. Participation in educational events, providing assistance with guided and self-guided garden tours is required.

Physical Environment and Abilities:

The incumbent must be able to move a work load of 50 pounds occasionally. Typical activities include moving plants, shrubs and trees, lifting bags of soil, moving large quantities of mulch or additives, mixing fertilizers, using ladders to place decorations, pulling water hoses, digging and planting with at least 70 percent of total work time involving some kind of physical activity. The Gardener will be exposed often to direct sunlight, heat and humidity, cold temperatures, machinery can make it a noisy environment and this role spends a significant amount of time standing on hard and/or uneven surfaces. Lifting, climbing ladders, squatting, twisting, using sprayers, walking on a variety of surfaces, digging, planting and exposure to the elements is commonplace. This role requires highly physical, finite visual attention skills, a high level of mental concentration and manipulation.

About the Team

The Horticulture Specialist – Formal Gardens is part of the Horticulture branch of The North Carolina Arboretum. By promoting the stewardship and enjoyment of the wealth of plant life within the Southern Appalachians through world-renowned gardens demonstrating cultivated and natural landscapes. Horticulture support activities include installation, maintenance and care of all gardens, landscape, turf, grounds and trails, the production within the greenhouse and nursery areas, and all other horticulture aspects relating to the use of the property. The specific program areas that are responsible for executing these activities are: production, azalea curation, bonsai curation, natural resources / landscape, grounds maintenance and formal gardens.
This position falls within the Grounds and Gardens program area. The staff in this area are responsible for the installation and maintenance of outdoor exhibits and areas of circulation throughout the nearly 100 acres of improved and cultivated area in both woodland and intensive garden settings.

Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills
Graduation from a two-year technical college with a degree in horticulture, landscape, gardening or closely related field and one year in landscape maintenance; Or, graduation from high school and three years in horticultural work, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduation from a four-year horticultural program will be considered as a substitute for the experience requirements.
The successful applicant will display significant knowledge of gardening and grounds-keeping principles, of the operation of grounds equipment, and of simple horticultural practices such as cultivation, spraying, deadheading, pruning, watering and fertilization of a wide variety of herbaceous and woody plants; and will demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills
Additional preferred qualifications include: demonstrated knowledge of regional plant material, public garden experience, holding a public pesticide applicator’s license, and/or ability and experience in heavy landscape construction.

• Classification: Horticulture Specialist
• Position Competency Level: Journey
• Position Number: UNCSO-A19123
• Employment Type: SHRA
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Location: 100 Fredrick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806 USA
• Posting Open Date: 6/14/2024
• Posting Close Date: 7/15/2024

EEO
The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To claim veteran’s preference, all eligible persons must indicate their eligibility as requested on the application. A DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, may be required later in the selection process.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Human Resources Contact Information
Applicants needing assistance with the application process are asked to contact: [email protected].

The University of North Carolina System Office (UNC System Office) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran. The UNC System Office is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and seeks priority referrals of protected veterans for our openings.