Position Title: Horticulturist
Reports To: Horticulture Curator / Horticulture Supervisor
FLSA Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt

Safety Sensitive: This is a safety-sensitive position.  Regardless of whether you are a medical marijuana licensee, you must receive a negative result on a 10-panel, pre-placement drug screening to include THC, prior to beginning work.
Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of “Connecting, Caring, Advocating for Wildlife, People, and Wild Places.” A dynamic group of passionate individuals brings the zoo to life each day, 365 days per year, caring for animals, greeting guests, educating the public and managing the facilities.  Each member of the team is integral to the success of the zoo as a key asset in the City of Tulsa and the Northeast Oklahoma region, delivering recreational opportunities, providing unplugged family time and conserving animal species for future generations.
 
Position Summary:
Under general supervision, this position performs skilled and semi-skilled landscape duties and functions necessary to maintain plant collections, landscapes, and zoo grounds to meet or exceed desired standards in an efficient and independent manner. 
 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Other duties may be assigned in keeping with the mission of Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc. (TZMI)
• Oversees, installs, and sustains turf, landscaping and botanical garden collection and performs related maintenance such as watering, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, pruning and trimming, and landscape construction.
• Plants and maintains trees, shrubs, flowering plants, groundcovers, and plantings.
• Aerates, fertilizes, mows, trims, edges and seeds grounds and turf areas.
• Propagates plant materials by various means (seed, cuttings, divisions, etc.) either in the field or greenhouse/nursery environment.
• Inspects for, identifies, and treats for pests and diseases on exterior and interior plants.
• Operates, adjusts, installs and repairs irrigation systems, both automatic and manual.
• Operates and maintains a variety of light and heavy equipment, including mowing equipment, tractor, back-hoe, front-end loader, skid loader (bobcat), trencher, tiller, and utility vehicles.
• Utilizes a wide array of tools such as shovels, rakes, pruners, clippers, chain saw, gas blower, non-electric and electric handheld tools, etc.
• Performs routine clearing of zoo sidewalks, pathways, parking areas, and service roads of litter, dirt, leaves, trash, snow/ice, etc. per pre-determined schedule.
• Monitors grounds for fallen limbs, trash, and other unwanted articles that are unsightly, hazardous, or potentially lost by patrons.
• Requisitions supplies, materials, and equipment; monitors inventory; loads and unloads supplies.
• Assists Horticulture Curator and Supervisor in maintaining plant inventory and records.
• Trains, assists, and oversees work of volunteers/interns and ensures their safety while performing these duties.
• Recognizes signs of pest infestation in animal areas and combats pests/nuisance wildlife as directed.
• Maintains area compliance with all local, state, federal, and international regulations meeting the standards of USDA, AZA, etc.
• Attends and participates in staff meetings to discuss the needs of the collection and staff, to resolve problems, and to learn of new procedures and policies.
• Participates in visitor education programs, formal and informal presentations and outreach programs, scheduled talks and provide accurate information to the public.
• Maintains necessary certifications as required (SCUBA, AZA Elephant Management, Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) etc.)
• Maintains necessary testing/vaccinations as required (TB, rabies, etc.).

Supervisory Responsibilities:                                        

This position currently has no direct reports.

Values:                                                     
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies as they relate to TZMI core values:

• We are enthusiastically committed to be part of the Tulsa Zoo community.
• We will all work together as one Zoo Team to support the Zoo’s mission.
• We will value and appreciate everyone and create a safe, understanding, and welcoming environment for all.
• We will all be accountable for achieving excellence.
• We will earn the trust of one another, acting honestly and treating each other with respect.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
Education and/or Experience
Associate’s degree in horticulture or related field or equivalent from college or technical school; two years related experience and/or training in landscape maintenance, landscape construction, greenhouse/nursery, irrigation or similar; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
 
Language Skills                                                    
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients and other employees of TZMI.
 
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
 
Computer Skills
Microsoft Word; Microsoft Excel; Microsoft PowerPoint or Prezi; Internet Browser(s)- Explorer, Chrome, Safari, etc.
 
Other Skills, Abilities or Qualifications     
Must possess a valid driver’s license and be insurable on TZMI’s insurance carrier. Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays as required. A broad knowledge of horticulture/botanical terminology, practices, methods, tools, materials, and equipment used in grounds and landscape maintenance.  A good knowledge of different plant species (natives, exotics, annuals, perennials, trees, and grasses) and their culture and propagation. Proficiency in the operation and maintenance of all types of grounds equipment, especially those related to horticulture and arboriculture, such as mowers, skid steer loader, backhoe, tractor, front-end loader, trencher, chainsaws, and bucket truck.
                                        
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
This position involves significant standing; significant walking; moderate sitting; significant reaching with hands and arms; significant climbing or balancing; significant stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling; significant talking or hearing and moderate lifting over 60 pounds.
 
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
This work environment involves substantial work near moving mechanical parts; moderate work in high, precarious places; substantial work with or near toxic or caustic chemicals; substantial work in outdoor weather conditions; significant work with loud noise level.