Cleveland Botanical Gardens

Full-Time

Opportunity:

Holden Forests & Gardens is seeking a full-time, regular horticulturalist for our outdoor gardens. The Horticulturist – Outdoor Gardens is responsible for the care, seasonal transitions, and presentation of three beloved and distinctive outdoor garden areas at Cleveland Botanical Garden:

Hershey Children’s Garden (HCG) – One of our most cherished and high-traffic spaces, filled with energy, families, and frequent noise. The horticulturist will collaborate closely with our education staff to align plantings and displays with programming goals.
Japanese Garden (JG) – A 50-year-old cultural landscape requiring thoughtful care. Ideal candidates will have some familiarity or experience with Japanese garden design principles, including pruning techniques, plant palettes, and spatial harmony.
Restorative Garden – An award-winning space designed with accessibility and experiential horticulture at its core. It offers sensory-rich, inclusive experiences that emphasize beauty, calm, and connection.

This role also partners with a dedicated group of garden volunteers in both HCG and JG. Working as part of the broader horticulture team, this role ensures plant health, garden aesthetics, and engaging visitor experiences across these three unique spaces.

Position Details:

Non-exempt, hourly role
40 hours per week, guaranteed
Hours: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday

Key Responsibilities: 

Key responsibilities of Horticulturalist include, but are not limited to: 

Perform full horticultural care (planting, pruning, watering, fertilizing, weeding, mulching, staking, deadheading, and IPM/pest management) in the Hershey Children’s Garden, Japanese Garden, and Restorative Garden.
Design and execute seasonal and thematic displays tailored to the purpose and audience of each space—from playful and educational in HCG, to meditative and restrained in JG, to sensory and accessible in the Restorative Garden
Collaborate closely with the Education team to align plantings and display elements with interpretive and programming needs in HCG.
Supervise and mentor dedicated volunteers assigned to HCG and JG.
Monitor plant health and site conditions, applying sustainable horticultural practices and IPM strategies.
Partner with the Exhibits team and horticulture colleagues to support seasonal installations and institutional events.
Engage with visitors in a welcoming and knowledgeable manner; interpret the gardens and their stories effectively.
Maintain accurate documentation of plant care, seasonal plans, and garden updates.
Follow all Holden Forests & Gardens safety and operational protocols.
Participate in broader garden operations, including weekend/holiday staffing rotations and snow removal as needed.
Schedule plant orders, coordinate delivery and transport logistics, and maintain material inventories for production.
Operate and maintain tools, equipment, and irrigation systems appropriately and safely.
Assist with organization-wide events and seasonal programming as required. Supervise and coordinate seasonal labor, interns, and volunteers during exhibit installation periods and daily maintenance.
Represent horticulture in public-facing opportunities including tours, media features, and social media content creation
Shares horticulture and gardening expertise with other professionals and laypersons through classes, workshops, public tours, educational displays, printed publications, participation in conferences and relevant organizational meetings.

Qualifications and Skills:

Degree in horticulture, plant production, botany, ecologically informed horticulture, or a related field; significant hands-on experience in a public garden of merit with strong plant knowledge may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Minimum of 5 years of horticultural experience, including plant care in both outdoor and greenhouse settings, with preference for candidates with public garden experience.
Demonstrated proficiency in plant identification, cultivation techniques, and greenhouse or nursery operations.
Knowledge of plant taxonomy and the ability to use a dichotomous key for plant identification.
ISA certification or at least 3 years of experience with woody plant installation, care, and pruning.
Comfortable working outdoors year-round in all weather conditions and performing physically demanding tasks.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Strong oral and written communication skills; proficient with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook).
Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record of less than 3 points.
Must have, or be willing to obtain within 3 months of employment:
- Ohio Department of Agriculture Pesticide Trained Serviceperson status and/or Commercial Pesticide Applicator License
- OSHA Operator Safety Certification for ATV/UTV, mini excavator, and front-end loader (training provided in-house)

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to perform with or without reasonable accommodation:

Willing and able to operate small power equipment and perform strenuous, hands-on work year-round, in all types of weather conditions.
Working outdoors or indoors where the ambient temperature spans 0-100 degrees Fahrenheit
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel and crouch; use hand or finger, handle or feel objects, tools, and controls, reach with hands and arms, and have the ability to talk and hear.
The employee must have the ability to exert 50 pounds of force regularly and be able to transport oneself by foot over a variety of terrain that may be wet, slippery, uneven, rocky.

Some of the reasons Holden Forests & Gardens (HF&G) is a great place to work!

We offer Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits | Paid Time Off | 8 Paid Holidays a year | 403(b) | Employee sponsored life insurance, long term disability and short-term disability | Work in a beautiful environment within Greater Cleveland | Discounts in our stores & cafes | Free parking at both campuses anytime we are open | Free admission to many Northeast Ohio Museums | Free Employee Assistance Program | And Much More!

Apply:

Qualified applicants should submit résumé, cover letter explaining why they want to work at Holden Forests & Gardens & highlighting your experience in public horticulture, gardens, or landscaping, and 3 professional references.

Holden Forests & Gardens is an equal opportunity employer and values an authentic sense of belonging at all levels of the organization, including staff, volunteers, Board of Directors, and visitors. HF&G believes that working toward an equitable culture that values all perspectives enriches the work environment, helping achieve our goal to build a greener and healthier Northeast Ohio. We are working to create and sustain a supportive environment and sense of belonging for people of all backgrounds. HF&G promotes an equitable approach in its hiring, retention, and promotion; in Board recruitment efforts; and in community partnerships and programming.

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