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Native Plant Horticulturist and Garden Steward

University of California Santa Cruz

Details

Posted:

February 10, 2021

Location:

Santa Cruz, California

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Salary:

Open

Categories:

Agricultural Sciences, Staff/Administrative

Native Plant Horticulturist and Garden Steward

Location: Santa Cruz
Job ID: 15271

Initial Review Date (IRD)
UC Santa Cruz staff jobs are posted until filled. Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. NOTE: Materials submitted after the IRD will be forwarded only at the request of the hiring unit. Submit your materials before the IRD to ensure consideration by the hiring unit.

The Initial Review Date (IRD) for this position is: 02-22-2021

Dept Marketing Statement
The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum features global collections, including from Mediterranean climatic regions, warm temperate conifers, succulents and more. Our California collections and Native Plant Program occupies a significant percentage of the Arboretum average under continuous development and collection building. Beyond the garden, the Native Plant Program is involved in State wide botanical conservation efforts including vegetation mapping and surveys and conservation seed banking.

Job Summary

Working under general direction with the California Native Plant Program Director, the Native Plant Horticulturist and Garden Steward, supports the Native Plant Program (NPP) through horticulture and collection care, vegetation mapping, garden stewardship. In support of the Arboretum property, operations and facilities, the incumbent is responsible for garden and nursery facilities development, resource protection of the Arboretum gardens and scientific collections; building botanical collections through field work and collaborations with other institutions and private botanical collections, propagation and nursery care; and work related to the day-to-day operation of the Arboretum and Native Plant Program including seed bank work, vegetation mapping and botanical surveys with the NPP Team.

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule
Salary Information: $25.27 - $35.39/hourly. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

No. of Positions: 1

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full

Schedule Information:
Part-time Variable
75% weekly
30-40 hours weekly
Mon-Fri, Occasional Weekends
Day Shift

Employee Classification: Career Appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: RX

Travel: Up to 25% of the time

Job Duties
30% - Horticulture and Collection Care

Perform grounds and expert horticultural care for native plant and other collections. Design and implement ecological themed displays within the native plant gardens, participate in the overall design and circulation system of the California Conservation Gardens, help determine display of ecological and geographic collections from the California central coast and Northern California regions. Collect, grow, display, and preserve California native plants for study, viewing by the public, and to protect rare and endangered plant species; prepare and install accession records and labels on native flora and assists with horticultural introduction and development of cultivars. Maintain areas of botanical garden which are representative of specific geographical areas and ecological themes of California.

Plant, transplant, propagation and cultivation of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. As appropriate; spray, fertilize, prune, trim, and water trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and other plants; mulch plant beds with gravel, chips, weed cloth, etc.; weeds, fertilizes, maintains collections, and mows grassland areas; prepare and renovate garden areas, add amendments and soil to terrains as necessary; identify hazardous trees and recommend trimming or removal; control invasive weeds, damaging insects and fungus, exterminate gophers, rodents, and other pests; apply integrated pest management practices.

25% - Develop Botanical and Horticultural Collections

Plan and participate in collecting expeditions, California rare plant seed banking projects, vegetation mapping and other botanical surveys. Work collaboratively with California Native Plant Program Director and Native Plant Project Manager to accomplish all goals of the Native Plant Program. Collect survey field data and enters data into field forms and project data bases.

25% - Garden Stewardship and Teaching

The incumbent Patrols the Arboretum California Conservation Garden and natural areas to check for potential hazards; protect and steward Arboretum collections and natural resources, including wildlife by monitoring the impact and activities within the Arboretum. Teach UCSC undergraduates about native plant horticulture, field botany, floristics and vegetation ecology. Write articles for journals and newsletters; update accession file databases relating to the history of plants and their life cycles. Work collaboratively with the Campus Natural Reserve staff and the UC Natural Reserves; give talks and tours; supervise and teach students, volunteer groups and crews; assist with special events.

10% - Garden Infrastructure Design/Build

Design and construct garden and nursery features: rock gardens, deer fencing, garden arbors, paths, shade houses, etc. This includes designing, installing, troubleshooting renovating and reconfiguring of watering systems; irrigate gardens and collections using drip, sprinklers, and various other types of irrigation systems; troubleshoots valves, impact heads, wiring, and broken pipes map and document locations of Arboretum irrigation system water mains distribution and their functioning.

5% - Operate and Maintain Equipment and Machines

Operate and maintain a variety of equipment, such as vehicles, large sized excavator and tractors, chippers, sprayers; grades sites and roads, builds rock walls and rock gardens, mows large acreage of grassland, use weed eaters, construction grade roller-compactor, chain saws, power tools (table saw, chop saw, jack hammer, angle grinder, etc.).

5% - Other Duties as Assigned

Assist with special events; maintain tool inventories, replenish appropriate materials as necessary; maintain personal protective gear; attend ongoing education on horticulture and botany. Performs other related tasks as assigned.
The Native Plant Horticulturist conducts their work as a mentor and teacher of UCSC students in the Arboretum Interactive Ecology Internship and through other academic efforts.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related area and / or combination of equivalent experience / training.
Experience in general gardening work involving the care of shrubs, native plants, and flowers.
Experience in professional level gardening with native plants; native plant collecting and propagation experience.
Experience in design and installation of ecologically themed native plant gardens.
Excellent plant taxonomic identification skills.
Knowledge of plant biogeography of California.
Excellent botanical skills and vegetation ecology knowledge, sufficient to collect rare species, conduct vegetation and rare plant surveys.
Working knowledge of gardening methods and practices, plant diseases and pests, tools and materials.
Ability to operate and maintain a variety of tools and equipment including and not limited to: excavator, tractor, mower, weed-eaters, chain saws, extension pruners.
Effective verbal communication skills with the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
Good written communication skills with the ability to produce articles, presentations, and reports using accurate grammar, style and punctuation.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to work under pressure of deadlines, pay strict attention to detail, and manage multiple responsibilities.
Demonstrated organizational skills.
Ability to work with widely diverse populations, with professionalism and sensitivity, foster positive and cooperative interactions and maintain effective working relationships.

Special Conditions

Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
Ability to work occasional overtime and weekends during field season, March through September.
Ability to move materials weighing up to 60 lbs. with or without accommodation.
Must have a valid license to drive in the state of California.
Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

Safety Statement
All UCSC employees must know and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

How to Apply
Attach your resume and cover letter when applying to this job opening. Do not attach any documents to 'My Activities'. Select How to Apply for more instructions and information.

EEO/AA
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE UCSC ON-LINE PROCESS
View full job description and access on-line application:
https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucsc/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=11&JobOpeningId=15271&PostingSeq=1

To ensure review of application materials by the hiring unit, they must be submitted on or before the initial review date (IRD) via the Staff Employment Opportunities web site; https://jobs.ucsc.edu. A computer is available at the UC Santa Cruz Staff Human Resources Office located at Scotts Valley Center. The Scotts Valley Center is located at 100 Enterprise Way, Suite E100, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. To learn more or to request disability accommodations, call 831-459-2009. Hearing impaired are encouraged to use the California Relay Service at 800-735-2922. UC Santa Cruz is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

Internal Number: 2147633

About University of California Santa Cruz

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the intimacy of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university.

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