Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is hiring: Seasonal Horticulture Assistant in

Seasonal Horticulture Assistant

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden offers a unique experience in public horticulture, combining animal immersion habitats within a botanical garden environment. The CZBG is the second oldest zoo and display park (1875) in the US. The Garden features a wide diversity of woody and herbaceous collections and an expansive plant production and growing nursery. Seasonal displays include summer annuals and a diverse collection of perennials, and the Zoo is a regionally significant trial site for annuals and perennials.

The Horticulture Department is seeking Seasonal Horticulture Assistants to join our Team. Seasonal Horticulture Assistants will work alongside Horticulture Staff to complete a variety of tasks in the garden, including the following:

• Garden Maintenance – habitat maintenance, perennial and grass cutbacks, planting and watering new plantings of perennials, trees, and shrubs, mulching, pruning trees and shrubs, string trimming, and weed control in naturalized garden areas
• Display Garden Installation and Maintenance – maintaining indoor conservatories, tilling and amending soil, planting, mulching, watering, weeding in display beds, pruning, potting and maintaining decorative containers, and evaluating plant performance
• Nursery Growing and Maintenance – watering, growing summer annuals, tropicals, perennials, and shrubs, weed and pest control, labeling, assisting with plant inventories
• Projects – assisting with installation of new landscapes, planting trees & shrubs, placing rocks, grading soil, and mulching
• Outer Property Maintenance – mowing, string trimming, planting, mulching, and weed control in parking lots, community gardens, and adjacent properties
• Garden Event Prep – assisting staff with set up and facilitation of indoor and outdoor garden events

Qualifications/Experience: Education and/or experience in horticulture or landscape maintenance preferred; ability to lift and move 50 pounds without mechanical assistance; valid driver’s license and insurable to drive a Zoo vehicle.

Working Conditions: Employment is contingent upon passing a pre-employment, post-offer drug screen and background check. We are open 7 days a week, so the ability to work a flexible schedule including holidays and weekends is required. While performing the duties of the job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, walk and use various tools, machines and equipment. The job requires the ability to bend up and down regularly. The incumbent is also regularly exposed to various weather conditions and a wide diversity of plant material.

Requirements for Horticulture Assistant positions include:

• Individuals will have a passion for and general knowledge of plants, a willingness to learn and follow directions, and the ability to perform physical labor in an outdoor environment
• May perform physical labor around areas of heavy construction
• Maintain a safe work environment through proper care of landscaping tools and equipment
• May operate motorized landscaping equipment (string trimmers, blowers, reciprocating saws, hedge trimmers, tillers) and vehicles (dump trucks, vans, golf carts, John Deere tractors and trailers)
• Identifies a wide array of plant species and cultivars
• Safe handling and responsible application of herbicides when necessary
• Lead volunteer groups, work with other team members, and assist zoo visitors
• Support other departmental crews during peak seasons, such as planting annuals/tulips in spring/fall, potting in the nursery, and during installation of new landscapes
• Ability to be a good teammate and model the Zoo’s Core Values

Job Details:

Hours: Variable hours, ranging from 20-40 per week

Pay Rate: Depending on experience

Key Perks & Benefits

• Fun & engaging work environment
• Ability to earn Paid Time Off
• Complimentary Zoo passes
• Discount on food & retail on Zoo grounds
• Positive team culture
• Flexible scheduling (Student Friendly)
• Free Metro Bus Pass provided for the duration of employment
• Personal & professional development opportunities (career development, education, training, etc.)

How to apply

Please include a resume/work history with your online application.