Olbrich Botanical Gardens- Interns

Hiring Organization: Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Employment type: Internship
Job Location: Madison, WI
Application Due Date: February 16, 2024

OLBRICH BOTANICAL SOCIETY (OBS)

JOB TITLE: Horticulture Intern

Department: Horticulture

Reports to: Garden and Conservatory Staff

FLSA Classification: Non-exempt

Location: Olbrich Botanical Gardens, 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI

Employee Status/Hours: 12 – 16 weeks, mid-May/June through mid-late August, 30 – 40 hrs. /week

Compensation: $15.00 /hr.

Benefits: none

Olbrich Botanical Gardens is home to 16 acres of outdoor display gardens and a 10,000 square foot tropical conservatory. The award-winning outdoor gardens include 10 unique specialty gardens. Indoors, the tropical Bolz Conservatory exhibits an extraordinary collection of exotic plants and orchids complemented by colorful birds and koi. Olbrich is committed to a culture of sustainability and education so that everyone - including future generations - can experience and learn about the fascinating world of plants and gardens. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is operated through a public/private partnership between the City of Madison and OBS, the non-profit organization that raises over $2 million each year to support the daily operation of the Gardens. Olbrich Botanical Gardens aspires to be a destination where all visitors, volunteers, and staff are valued and feel they belong. With conscious intent and continuous learning, Olbrich Botanical Gardens' staff, volunteers, and board will address barriers to inclusion through education, operational changes, and partnerships with the community.

Olbrich’s horticulture internship offers enthusiastic students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the gardens and grow professionally alongside the horticulture staff and volunteers. Interns will work directly with horticulture staff in the Bolz conservatory, outdoor gardens, greenhouses and nursery to gain valuable practical work experience in public horticulture. Individuals will learn all aspects of environmentally responsible horticulture through sustainable gardening practices during the course of the gardening season and will be immersed in innovative and artistic garden designs and seasonal displays. Three paid all-day field trips to other gardens and horticultural enterprises are included. Interns will experience Olbrich during peak visitation times, by working approximately one weekend per month along with one of the three summer holidays. Interns will have the opportunity to hone their managerial skills by working with and occasionally supervising garden volunteers.

While in the outdoor gardens, interns work alongside staff in the Dry, Event, Gravel, Herb, Meadow, Perennial, Rain, Tower, Shade, Sunken, Thai and Wildflower gardens. Individuals work extensively with annual bed and container plantings, tropicals, aquatics, perennials, and woody plantings. Interns will also have an opportunity to work on annual displays with the horticulture staff on State Street, one of Madison’s popular restaurant and shopping districts. While working in the Bolz Conservatory and greenhouses, interns will work extensively with aroids, orchids and other plants from over 80 families. Interns will also assist with work in the supporting greenhouses and plan production areas. This work will include propagating plants from seed and cuttings for use in the outdoor gardens, conservatory, floral shows and plant sales.

Candidates interested in working with a creative, fun and hard-working team of professional horticulturists and volunteers are encouraged to apply!

Qualifications:

Coursework and/or practical experience in horticulture, botany, landscape architecture, plant pathology, soils, agronomy, plant production, or related field preferred
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate effectively to work as a team with the horticulture staff and
Ability to follow policies and procedures as outlined by Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Olbrich Botanical Society.
Willingness to submit personal information for a criminal background check, as well as the ability to successfully pass a criminal background
Ability to commit to the work schedule, maintain adequate attendance, working weekend and holiday hours as

Work Environment: The work environment and essential duties listed below are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodations, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Primarily perform work in the outdoor gardens, greenhouses and conservatory
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, work on the ground, climb and work off a 6’ ladder and bend and stand for up to 8 hours per
Ability to work with and around plant protectants, including chemical and biological control

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Ability to understand and follow oral and written
Ability to be tactful and courteous with garden visitors, volunteers and
Ability to work under adverse environmental conditions, including rainy, sunny, hot and humid conditions.
Ability to perform manual and semi-skilled tasks for extended periods of
Ability to multi-task and complete repetitive tasks in a quality
Ability to safely use hand tools and small powered equipment typically used in routine garden maintenance, such as pruners, shovels, tillers, and
Ability to safely operate a golf-style utility
Perform Related Work as Assigned.

The Organization has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Organization reserves the right to change this position description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Organization may deem appropriate.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

How to Apply: To apply, please email the following items to Director of Horticulture, Samantha Peckham speckham2@cityofmadison.com