Description:
The Cummer Museum seeks a Gardener with horticulture experience contribute substantially to achieving our vision. The Gardener, working under the supervision of the Doolittle Family Director of Gardens and Horticulture, is a key member of our team, ensuring that we execute the highest gardening and aesthetic levels. We seek a creative and energetic individual who is enthusiastic to instill a fine gardening aesthetic into the culture of our gardens. A successful Gardener enjoys working outdoors and has a strong understanding of plant care. They are responsible for keeping gardened areas healthy and beautiful. The Gardener has the opportunity to think creatively and progressively, with the Director of Gardens and Horticulture, to envision new horticultural displays that are modern and fun but rooted in respect for our historically significant gardens. This position also helps elevate the visitor experience and collaborates with other staff to provide plant-based experiences.
Essential Function:
- Support the Museum’s mission, vision, and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: excellence and competence, collaboration, innovation, respect of individual, commitment to our community, and accountability and ownership.
- Maintain and evolve the gardens and landscapes to a high level of gardening/horticultural excellence.
- Maintain the gardens to a high aesthetic standard.
- Complete hands-on maintenance activities including planting, pruning, weeding, watering, debris removal, mulching, fertilizing, etc.
- Use and maintain gardening tools and light gardening machinery.
- Identify and treat diseases, pest infestations and other issues.
- Work with Director of Gardens and Horticulture to devise propagation and rotation schedules to achieve the highest aesthetics throughout the year.
- Coordinate with garden contractors to assess irrigation, fertilization, and integrated pest management needs.
- Implement best practices for monitoring and enhancing soil and plant health following modern horticultural techniques.
- Recommend sustainability practices to embed a value of stewardship more fully into our gardens.
- Inspire and work alongside a committed group of garden volunteers.
- Complete plant orders and coordinate with growers, suppliers, and other vendors.
- Contribute to the development of annual and project plans, as well as budgets and timelines.
- Maintain basic plant records and site maintenance records.
- Apply all appropriate risk management steps to ensure the safety and security of the grounds, visitors, and staff.
- Ensure accuracy of all invoices and ensure timely payment.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- At least 2-3 years of gardening or landscape maintenance experience, preferably in a public garden or private estate setting working with a full range of woody and herbaceous plants.
- Enthusiasm and ability to research plants and horticultural techniques suitable for Northeast Florida.
- Passion for gardening, a desire to pursue professional growth by keeping pace with horticultural practices and developments through hands-on experience and educational opportunities, and a finely attuned aesthetic sensibility.
- Knowledge of grounds maintenance procedures and gardening practices.
- Experience in the proper use of tools and equipment commonly used in gardening and horticulture.
- Ability to communicate effectively and with diplomacy when interacting with donors, vendors, staff, visitors, and volunteers.
- Passion for excellence, especially pertaining to ensuring the highest quality visitor experience.
- Ability to succeed working independently and collaboratively as a valued member of our team.
- Capacity to perform physical labor in a variety of weather conditions.
- Valid Florida driver’s license, or the ability to obtain one within a reasonable timeframe
- Ability to collaborate with vendors, master gardeners, visitors and colleagues in sharing information and answering questions.
- Confidence in designing and leading interactive programs to enhance the guest experience.
- Spanish language proficiency is helpful but not required.