Gardener I/II

Lāwaʻi, Kauaʻi

General duties and responsibilities

• General plant maintenance: water, fertilize, weed, mulch, prune, mulch and stake plants.
• Willing and able to apply organic and chemical fertilizers.
• Safely operate a variety of garden power tools including lawn mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, hedge trimmers and others.
• Practice good planting practices (site prep, staking, mulching, fertilizing, watering, pests).
• Perform lawn maintenance by mowing and/or weed eating.
• Help monitor collection for disease and pests (insect, slug/snail, weeds, etc.).
• Control weeds in landscaped and other designated areas through physical, mechanical and chemical (herbicide) methods without damaging living collections.
• Keep all areas of the garden looking neat, well-kept and debris free.
• Maintain all garden tools and vehicles responsibly, and in a safe manner. Must keep tools and vehicles clean and in good working order.
• Safety: perform all tasks safely following JHAs/labels/manuals. Use proper PPE for each task and maintain PPE in good working order. Adhere to NTBG’s safety policies.
• Professionalism: conduct self in a professional manner and follow “Standards of Conduct” as outlined in the employee handbook.
• Assist visitors, researchers and other garden guests as needed.
• Communication: communicate issues seen in a timely manner to the foreman and/or horticulture manager (safety, plant disease, pests, water stress, broken tools, etc.).
• Carry out other tasks as assigned by garden management.

Education and/or Experience

High School diploma or equivalent preferred.  Landscaping and/or horticulture experience preferred.

Language Skills

Must be able to communicate clearly with all staff; primarily verbally.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in oral and sometimes written form. Ability to use good judgment regarding safety.

Physical Demands

Must be able to work outdoors all day in variable weather conditions at tasks demanding walking, kneeling, stooping; machinery operation, and lifting heavy objects to 50 pounds or more.

Work Environment

Extensive exposure to outdoor elements including sun, heat, wind and rain. Noise level may be high due to hand tools and heavy machinery in the area. Exposure to hazardous chemicals is frequent.

Other Skills and Additional Information

Ability to identify and treat for plant insect and diseases preferred.  Ability to identify native Hawaiian plant species is preferred.

Pay Range: $19.50-$21.25 per hour

This position is open until filled.

NTBG is an equal opportunity, equal access employer. A copy of NTBG’s Drug Free Workplace Policy can be found here.

Employment applications are accepted by email, mail, fax, or in person at the Garden’s national headquarters, unless otherwise indicated, at:

NTBG
Attn: Human Resources
3530 Papalina Road
Kalaheo, HI 96741
Fax (808) 332-9765
(808) 332-7324, Ext. 229

Applications may be submitted via email to careers@ntbg.org in PDF format. All jobs are posted or removed on a timely basis.