Kris S. Jarantoski internship-6 months

Hiring Organization: Chicago Botanic Garden
Employment type: Internship
Job Location: Glencoe, IL
Application Due Date: February 28, 2024

Title: Intern, Horticulture - Kris S. Jarantoski

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Horticulture Operations Administration

Reports to: Senior Director, Horticulture

Seasonal Full-time, anticipated to start May 2024 for approximately six months

Position Overview

To gain broad based experience with a focus on horticulture in public garden operations to develop skills required to become a future botanic garden leader. Specific duties will change throughout the internship as the intern rotates through different Garden departments. Assigned areas may include nursery and greenhouse plant production, plant health care, horticulture maintenance and operations, plant collections documentation and mapping, visitor programs and events, administration, fund raising, adult and children’s education and volunteer services. Attend regular staff meetings, intern field trips and weekly intern meetings with guest speakers to learn about general Garden operations.

This six-month internship position is anticipated to begin in May 2024 and scheduled to work 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m during the week day and Saturday.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

Assist horticulturists and plant health care staff with routine garden maintenance including weeding, watering, pruning, mowing, planting, deadheading, grooming perennials, spraying, mulching, labeling, fertilizing, and removing debris.
Assist plant production staff with transplanting, watering, weeding, sowing seeds, taking cuttings, spacing pots, pinching, fertilizing, potting, delivering plants, pruning, and staking.
Attend design reviews of display gardens and grounds and reviews of proposed annual displays for displays when possible.
Duties as assigned by other departments.
Prepare and present a 15 to 20-minute lecture on your internship experience or lead a tour through an assigned area for the horticulture staff.

Qualifications:

Our ideal candidate will have:

Ability to work six months beginning in May.
Be enrolled in a college horticulture program or related field with an interest in garden maintenance. Candidates within a year of their graduation will also be considered.
Ability to work in a fast-paced work environment.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Physical Demands:
Some requirements for lifting, pushing, pulling items up to 50 lbs. Work outside in all types of weather. Some work on stepladders.

Why Apply? Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.