Intern, Horticulture

Summary:

Missouri Botanical Garden Horticulture Division is seeking to fill two rotational summer internships. These paid, full-time internships provide a hands-on learning experience for students or early-career professionals interested in exploring career opportunities within public horticulture by rotation through each Horticulture sub-department including Greenhouse and Nursery operations, Conservatories, and outdoor gardens. Interns will work directly with staff to assist with the design, installation, and maintenance of landscapes and individual plants while learning the highest standards of care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs a wide range of landscape maintenance tasks important to the cultivation, preservation, protection and transplanting of existing plants, including but not limited to soil preparation, planting, staking, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilization, pruning, training, and IPM
• Collaborates with horticulture staff to record changes in inventory in Living Collections Management System
• Ensures that all tool storage areas and work areas are kept clean and tidy
• Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately to supervisor
• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed and adapts or modifies work methods to reduce hazards
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and respect within our division and throughout the Garden with all employees, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and others
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Experience:

• Demonstrated interest in public gardens and public horticulture career opportunities.
• Basic knowledge of plant material and landscape maintenance techniques
• Basic knowledge of safe operating procedures of various landscaping tools and equipment
• Ability to work as part of a team to complete general projects
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must enjoy and feel comfortable interacting, answering questions and working in close proximity to general public
• Scheduling flexibility that allows working weekends and holidays for annual watering schedule
• Interest in living collections, curation and plant recording
• Knowledge of and adherence to all health and safety guidelines
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required

Education:

• Completion of or current enrollment towards degree in Horticulture, Biology, Botany or related field
• An equivalent combination of skills, education and experience may be considered

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Word, Excel and Outlook Email)
• Ability to enter data into spreadsheets and databases
• Solid internet research skills required

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Ability to possess and maintain valid driver's licenses.
• Must have the ability to pass a background screening and motor vehicle report (MVR) to meet minimum insurance underwriting criteria.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. (i.e., load, unload and move gardening supplies, medium to heavy weight tools and equipment)
• Must be able to work in bright sunshine with probable high UV levels and must be able to work outdoors year-round
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights (i.e., climb ladders, lift operation, etc.).
• Requires standing, walking, bending, stooping and reaching for extended periods of time-- 80% or more of the workday is standing on feet
• Ability to wear Garden issued Personal Protective Equipment
• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing)

Work Environment:

• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100F as well as temperatures below 0F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed)
• Actively works hands-on to complete landscape maintenance tasks.
• Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions