Horticulturist

Job Title

Horticulturist

Job Description Summary

Haverford College invites applications for our full-time (40 hours per week), non-exempt, benefits-eligible Horticulturist opportunity.

Job Description

Haverford Offers Great Benefits: The College offers a comprehensive benefits program that includes automatic 10% retirement contribution to your retirement account upon eligibility (no match required), a 50% tuition benefit for dependent children upon eligibility, 14 paid holidays (including the week before New Year’s Day off), Health Savings Account contribution of $700 for individuals and$1400 for families (no match required), affordable medical plans, and a beautiful arboretum campus with walking trail and easy public transportation access. Please visit the Benefits page (https://www.haverford.edu/human-resources/benefits) for more information.

About the Arboretum

Haverford College Arboretum is the entire 216 acres of Haverford College and is the oldest planned collegiate arboretum in the country. The Arboretum is known for its big trees, vistas, meadows, pinetum, and duck pond. The Arboretum prides itself on its many pocket gardens, student and volunteer opportunities and extensive Arboretum programming.

About the Position
Horticulturists, under minimal supervision, perform specialized horticultural and landscape operations, garden design, and installation and renovation of indoor and outdoor floral displays and decorative landscape projects.

Primary Responsibilities

• Perform daily landscape care to ensure it is well kept in all phases of work pertaining to horticultural and landscape maintenance, weed control, and pruning, particularly the specialized work pertaining to grounds and landscape design, construction, bed and tree maintenance, and snow removal
• Maintain greenhouse and nursery operation
• Identify and correct problems of plants, ornamental grasses, trees, and shrubs, e.g., diseases, injuries, and pest infestations
• Perform direct and control correct disease and pest control applications as required
• Develop and implement all seasonal flower beds including ornamental shrubbery and trees
• Perform and direct the pruning, fertilization, and removal of shrubbery and trees
• Plan and implement planting displays in the gardens and containers
• Maintain water and fertilize all indoor and outdoor potted plants making seasonal changes as required; water and fertilize all plant material in beds and trees as needed
• Assist in event set-ups, including furniture, decorations for special functions, etc.
• Operate hand tools and light/medium power tools and equipment including hand saws, shears, tractors/attachments backpack blower, and chain saw
• Inspect the equipment to be used each day to ensure that it is safe and in proper working order
• Clean equipment daily or at the end of each use to insure a professional image
• Assist the manager in determining the fiscal requirements for the landscape in preparing budgetary recommendation
• Plan, participate in, and assist with the implementation of all newly proposed landscape projects
• Greet visitors and conduct campus tours on various horticultural topics and staff Arboretum events as needed
• Remove snow and leaves under Grounds Manager supervision
• Work with students on an as-needed basis
• Other related duties as assigned

Line of Report: The Horticulturist reports to the Arboretum Director.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Horticulture or a combination of education, training, and related experience in horticulture and landscape fields to provide the required landscape knowledge

Professional Competencies

• Good organizational, management, and English communications skills
• Effective English communication skills, including the ability to follow oral and written directions in English
• Ability to work with a wide range of people

We are aware that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet qualifications as described in the job advertisement. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career trajectory, and have skills and abilities gained outside a classroom context, or an equivalent skill set. We encourage you to apply and share how you meet the position’s qualifications.

Special Requirements

• Ability to obtain and maintain PA Act 12 background checks
• Motor Vehicle Record Check: Possession of a valid U.S. Drivers’ License and ability to pass a Motor Vehicle Record check
• Have and maintain a Pennsylvania State Pest Applicators License. Candidates without a pesticide applicator’s license will have six months to acquire the needed credentials.
• Must be able to climb ladders, bend, and reach and lift (minimum 30 lbs./maximum 60 lbs.)

To Apply: Interested applicants are invited to submit an application, to include a cover letter and resume. The application deadline is March 23, 2025. Application review will begin after the deadline has passed. Please email recruiting@haverford.edu with questions about submitting your materials. Should the search committee be interested in pursuing your candidacy, you will hear from them directly. Finalists will be asked to provide three professional references.

Haverford College is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and providing equal opportunities and access to all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status. Women, non-binary and transgender individuals, people of color, Indigenous people, and those with other or multiple historically marginalized and/or underrepresented identities are especially encouraged to apply.

We at Haverford College recognize that we live and work on Lenape land and pay respect and honor to the caretakers of this land, from the time of its first human inhabitants until now, and into the future. We seek to maintain and build upon our current and ever-evolving connections with members of Lenape tribes and communities, in recognition of our intertwined histories and with a goal of moving toward right relationship between the Haverford of today and Lenape peoples.