Horticulturalist

Overview

Job Title:

Horticulturalist

Location:

Sarasota, FL
Regular/Temporary:
Regular
Full/Part Time:
Full-Time
Job
Department:
The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art is located in Sarasota, Florida, and is a department of Florida State University. Learn more about The Ringling /about-ringling/careers/.

• Under the direction of the Associate Director of Facilities and Grounds, perform hands-on garden work, manage, maintain, and develop The Ringling's gardens.
• Provide expert advice on the care, maintenance, and propagation of the museum s gardens. Manage, maintain, and enhance the health and aesthetics of The Ringling s living collections and garden spaces. Perform planting, weeding, pruning, trimming, and other activities to ensure gardens are attractive and well-kept. Utilize management reports to schedule, evaluate, and improve plant health and appearance. Generate and respond to emails and work orders via online systems.
  
  Update work orders in Facilities Dude regarding progress or completion. Assist in reviewing project costing, monitoring supplies inventory and maintenance, and make recommendations for long-range planning of grounds and gardens preventative maintenance.
• Serve as point of contact for gardens  volunteers, community service workers, and interns. Collaborate with the Grounds Supervisor for Groundskeeper support in the maintenance of garden spaces. Organize, monitor, and inspect special garden projects to evaluate progress and ensure project quality. Supervise work performed by staff and volunteers in the gardens and provide assistance in the proper care of trees, shrubs, ground covers, and plants.
• Oversee gardens  spray program and pest management including the application of integrated pest management practices. Monitor for pests and take appropriate measures to treat issues as they arise.
• Safely operate company vehicles, mowers, and power tools and grounds keeping equipment. Ensure maintenance equipment is operating safely and returned clean to shop at end of each work day. Perform routing and preventative maintenance and cleaning of all tools.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on the campus grounds and gardens. Collaborate interdepartmentally to develop programming and promote gardens and grounds. Provide gardens and grounds based programming and educational workshops. Participate in community outreach initiatives to cultivate relations, increase awareness of the gardens, and increase volunteer support from outside groups such as local garden clubs, universities, and horticulture facilities. Answer visitor questions regarding the gardens.
  
  Develop signage for the gardens.
• Assist as needed with grounds projects and grounds maintenance. May cover areas of responsibility for other grounds staff. Respond to and assist with emergency grounds needs. Perform other duties as assigned that support the Facilities department and operations of the museum.

• Bachelor s degree in agronomy, arboriculture, horticulture, landscaping, landscape design, or landscape technology or a high school degree and four years of appropriate experience.
• Ability to meet physical requirements as determined by position. Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs., walk long distances, and work in extreme weather conditions.
• Valid driver s license or the ability to obtain prior to hire.

• Ability to:
  Perform groundskeeping work to include the transplanting, cultivation, pruning, and trimming of plants, shrubs, and trees.
• Effectively train and direct the work of others.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Prioritize, organize and perform multiple work assignments simultaneously.
• Perform assigned responsibilities with minimal to moderate supervision.

• Applicable computer applications and basic computer functions such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook), along with the ability to use the Tree Keeper software suite and maintain computerized records.
• Identify safety hazards and necessary safety precautions to establish a safe work environment.
• Safely operate machinery, tools, equipment and materials used in area of work.

Skill in public speaking.

For more information, technical assistance, or should you require accommodations for the application or interview processes, please contact Ringling Human Resources at  or employment .

One of the nation s elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity.

At FSU, there s the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community,…