Botanical Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.

Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do - from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies.

At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.

• Intellectual Curiosity:Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.

• Collaboration:Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.

• Stewardship:We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.

• Belonging:We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.

• Integrity:We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.

About the Role

The Gardener I/II, Display Courts positionreports to The Garden Manager of Asian Gardens to ensure that assigned areas of the Chinese, Japanese, and/or North Vista Gardens are maintained and cared for to the highest standards of quality and display. The candidate will showcase a strong interest in both Japanese and Chinese style gardening, and a background working with plants in a professional garden setting. The candidate will be able to successfully collaborate with other garden staff and demonstrate a background of working with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.

This is a full-time, limited-term position, budgeted for six months, to cover a leave of absence.

Essential Duties

• Daily garden maintenance in bonsai and penjing gardens (weeding, watering, pruning, planting, mulching, fertilizing, and propagation)

• Work collaboratively with other garden crew on group projects as needed
• Supervise and instruct volunteers

• Must adhere to written safety policy, following all precautions and directions in use of equipment and chemicals
• Perform tasks in other areas of the Huntington Botanical Gardens as needed

Candidate Requirements

• Passion for Chinese / Japanese style gardening and culture
• Strong interest in horticulture, and a desire to learn more
• 1-2 years of professional gardening experience
• Knowledge of general plant cultivation, watering, pruning, planting, and soil health

• Strong observational skills and detailed oriented work ethic
• Must work well independently and collaboratively
• A strong understanding of English highly desirable

Working Conditions

• Outdoor work in variable weather conditions (intense heat, cold, wind, rain etc.)
• Must be able to lift at least 40 lbs. on a regular basis
• Must be able to stoop, bend, walk long distances and lift moderate and occasionally heavy loads.
• Must be competent in the proper use of hand and mechanized tools.
• Must be able to work safely, efficiently, and complete tasks within specified timeframe.

Compensation & Benefits

We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:

• Pay Range:$19.25 - $21.00/hr. Commensurate with experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays
• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants
• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds

The Application Process

Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment.

You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the "My Experience" section of the application.