Horticulturalist

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.

To learn more and to apply, click here.  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.