POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is seeking candidates to fill the position of Conservation Senior Horticulturist. Responsible for the daily management and curation of the Garden’s conservation collections located in Midtown Atlanta, this position reports to the Conservation Horticulture Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible for curating the ex situ conservation collections of rare and endangered plants and ensuring the greenhouse and external staging beds’ physical structures and systems operate efficiently and effectively. This position is based full-time in Midtown Atlanta, GA but requires weekly trips to the Conservation Safeguarding Nursery at the Garden’s Gainesville location.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Collections and Facilities Maintenance: Daily maintenance and management of the greenhouse; watering; weeding; pruning; planting and other daily horticultural tasks required to maintain the greenhouse and associated sites. Ability to construct or repair watering and mist systems utilizing hand tools and power tools. Train volunteers and interns to perform daily nursery duties during absences, including developed watering, weeding, and pest control protocols. Support Gainesville Conservation staff during absences and with larger projects.
Collections Management and Plant Curation: Working knowledge of plant collection management including meticulous plant accessioning and labeling practices is needed. This position tracks all plants entering and leaving the greenhouse and associated spaces, and coordinates with the Conservation Horticulture Manager and Conservation Database Manager to maintain a current inventory of all greenhouse plants and accessions. This position works with the Conservation Horticulture Manager to develop and implement a 5-year Conservation Horticulture Curatorial plan.
Budget Management and Planning – Carefully monitor the Conservation Propagation budget and account for any related expenses. Plan a yearly budget and develop a multi-year plan for expected greenhouse expenses.
Independent Project Management- Supports experimental protocol development and implementation.
Working Actively with Partners in Conservation – Participates in workshops and conferences for rare plant conservation including Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance (GPCA) meetings.
Volunteer and Intern Leadership- Supervise conservation-focused projects of undergraduate researchers/interns. Actively seek, train, and schedule volunteers and seasonal interns at the greenhouse.

The above job duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work for employees in this position, but this is not intended as an exclusive or all-inclusive inventory of all duties required of employees in this job.

QUALIFICATIONS:
B.S in Horticulture, Plant Biology, or related field required.
Experience in Botanical Garden plant collections management is highly desirable.
Plant Health – Sound knowledge in the identification and management of plant health issues and corrective measures, including IPM, diseases, and plant nutrition.
Experience with horticultural experimental design and germination protocol development required.
Plant Knowledge – A good working knowledge of rare plants native to the S.E. USA.; ability to utilize dichotomous keys to identify plants.
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, self-motivated and results-driven worker who willingly takes initiative to identify and accomplish daily tasks without supervision.
Must be able to work outside in extreme hot and cold weather conditions.
Must have a valid driver’s license and good driving record.
Must be willing to drive between Atlanta and Gainesville 3-5 times per month.
Horticultural flexibility- Some weekend and holiday work will be required during the growing season to assure the health of plant collections.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Collections Management – Experience in data management including labeling and Brahms or other plant records database.
Ecology – A knowledge/interest in native wetlands and their ecology.
GIS mapping of botanical collections.
Ability to use power tools for basic construction - including building beds and fixing general repairs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to spend long hours working independently in a wide range of weather and temperature extremes. Close attention to plant health, ability to think through and innovatively design resolutions to design and growing challenges. Work independently and often alone, supported as possible by undergraduate interns and community volunteers. Ability to lift 50 lbs and work in strenuous conditions.

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS: Excellent organizational and time management skills. Ability to effectively respond to multiple, changing and often conflicting priorities is essential. Must be able to effectively interact with the general public and co-workers and peer professionals.
In consideration of the safety of our employees and guests, The Atlanta Botanical Garden requires that all new hires be fully vaccinated to accept an offer of employment. Documentation of vaccination will be required. All new hires will be eligible for $50 incentive pay added to the first paycheck for participation in this program.