ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Conservation Collections Maintenance and Management– Daily maintenance and grounds management of the nursery; watering; weeding; pruning; planting and other daily horticultural tasks required to maintain the 6+ acre site. Ability to construct or repair irrigation systems utilizing hand tools and power tools. Support and perform daily nursery duties during absences of supervisor. Following established watering, weeding, and pest control protocol. Assists with Greenhouse production and operation, including weed and pest management, watering, and organizing plants. Support ABG Midtown Conservation staff during absences and with larger projects.
Collections Management and Plant Curation– Knowledge of plant collection management including plant accessioning and labeling is desired. This position supports the tracking of all plants entering and leaving the nursery, and coordinates with the CSN Manager and Conservation Database Coordinator to maintain a current inventory of all nursery plants and accessions. Aids the CSN Manager in working with the Conservation Horticulture Manager to develop and implement a 5-year Conservation Safeguarding Nursery Curatorial plan.
Collection Development and Fieldwork – Work closely with the Conservation and Research team. Occasional field work ~1 day a month during the field season; work may include bog workdays, invasive species management, seed collection trips, plant population mapping, brush clearing and the reintroduction of plants back into the wild habitat. Field work may occasionally require periods away from home and is often physically demanding.
Volunteer and Intern Leadership- Support the supervision of conservation-focused projects of undergraduate researchers/interns. Provide assistance to the CSN Manager in training and scheduling volunteers and seasonal interns at the nursery, and in offering opportunities for off-site volunteer activities with the Conservation and Research department.

QUALIFICATIONS:
B.S in Horticulture, Plant Biology, or related field required and/or 1-3+ years experience in Botanical Garden plant collections management is highly desirable.
Collections Management – Experience in data management including labeling and GIS mapping.
Plant Health – Sound knowledge in the identification and management of plant health issues including IPM, diseases and plant nutrition.
Plant Knowledge – A good working knowledge of rare plants native to the S.E. USA.; ability to utilize dichotomous keys to identify plants in the field.
Ecology – A knowledge/interest in native wetlands and their ecology.
Independent worker who is able to self-motivate and complete daily tasks without supervision.
Must be able to work outside in extreme hot and cold weather conditions.
Must have a valid Georgia driver’s license and good driving record.
Must be willing to drive between Atlanta and Gainesville 1-3 times per month.
Ability to use power tools for basic construction or willingness to learn- including building beds and general repairs.
Horticultural flexibility- weekend and holiday work may be required during the growing season to assure the health of plant collections.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to spend long hours working outside year-around 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 alone for many hours, supported by part time technicians, undergraduate interns, and community volunteers. Ability to lift 50lbs 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.