Backcountry Ranger

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is the nation’s first botanic garden dedicated to the display of native plants. Since 1926, the Garden has been a leader in native plant horticulture and conservation, working in the Garden and in the field to understand, protect, and recover healthy native plant habitats. As an accredited museum, the Garden’s unique living collections and historic features are a significant part of its rich story.

In June 2022, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden opens its newest section, the Backcountry. This 4.5 acre garden has been designed to facilitate free-choice play and open-ended exploration in a safe and enriching environment. Backcountry Rangers will work in the Backcountry to care for plants, ensure safety, provide guest services, and support inquiry-based discovery.

Backcountry Ranger duties will blend those of a grounds maintenance and educator, with an emphasis on grounds maintenance, including keeping the public areas tidy, trails and restroom groomed, removal of trash and debris, general gardening including weeding and mulching, poison oak removal, manual watering and operation of irrigation systems, pest management, and tool maintenance/inventory. In addition to maintenance tasks, Backcountry Rangers will provide some visitor engagement, including plant harvesting, cordage making, environmental art projects, and guided activities throughout the Garden. This non-exempt position is part time (32 hours per week) and regularly includes weekend responsibilities. The Backcountry Ranger reports to the Garden’s Youth and Family Programs Manager, with oversight of the Grounds Manager.

Requirements

We know there are many pathways, experiences, and backgrounds that add value and skill to one’s work, and we recognize that studies show that sometimes people don't apply for positions where they don’t meet all of the preferred skills and experience. We encourage applicants to apply, even if their experiences do not match perfectly with those listed below, and to explain in their cover letter how their prior experience is relevant to this position. 

Essential Duties:

• Daily inspection and maintenance of trails, interactive features, restroom, and gardens
• General gardening including weeding, mulching, poison oak removal, irrigation, and pest management
• Supervise gardening volunteers or crews to accomplish maintenance tasks
• Facilitate nature exploration, inquiry, and STEM-based activities with coordinated groups as needed
• Maintain information and updates at the trailhead information kiosk
• Work alone or with volunteers to collect and utilize materials for cordage, basketry, crafts and other plant-based products
• Supervise and facilitate outdoor experiences in the Garden’s Backcountry space such as nature explorations, story time, building with natural objects, harvesting plant materials and more
• Assist Education staff with programming for youth and family events
• Perform evaluation through surveys, timed observations, and guest interviews
• Support Backcountry rental and class programming if needed
• Answer general questions about the Garden, its mission, and programs to the public
• Represent the Garden/Education Department at both onsite and offsite events as needed
• Attend project, departmental, and all staff meetings as needed to execute job

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Ability to use manual and power tools such as; pruners, rake, shovel, and electric leaf blower
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and accuracy
• Able to work 1 weekend shift a week and occasional evening events
• Able to work holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day Weekend
• Able to work independently and as part of a team to further the goals of the organization
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of ecology, botany, and/or natural history of California preferred
• Working understanding of outdoor etiquette and basic Leave No Trace principals
• Spanish fluency preferred
• Excellent time management skills
• Flexibility and ability to respond appropriately to diverse group situations
• Excellent verbal communication skills with both children and adults

Qualifications and Experience:

• A strong desire to become an outdoor educator
• Experience working with K-12 audiences in an outdoor or informal education setting preferred
• Pursuing or holding a degree in relevant science field, horticulture, environmental studies or education preferred
• Writing skills are important; verbal communication skills essential
• Experience in a botanic garden, environmental education, and/or a museum setting preferred
• Background and/or interest in horticulture, botany, ecology, natural history or museum studies a plus

Certificates and Licenses:

• Must have valid California driver license and maintain an acceptable driving record
• First Aid and CPR certification a plus

Physical Functions:

• Must be capable of occasional strenuous physical work including:
• Standing/walking for extended periods of time
• Lifting and carrying 50 lbs., bending, squatting and walking stairs and the SBBG trails
• Tolerance of an outdoor work environment including exposure to outdoor environmental conditions, including extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, small wild animals, and sun exposure

Compensation Range: $19-$22 per hour

How to apply:

To apply, visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden application portal: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Apply/907797