AMFA is an inclusive cultural space that inspires and builds community through the visual and performing arts. It is a place where wonder, playfulness, and boundless curiosity are always welcome. By actively engaging the diversity within our community, AMFA serves as a cultural hub where everyone is invited to grow and learn. Staff and faculty ensure a safe, accepting, and hospitable space for personal and artistic development, offering inclusive programs with a broad audience reach. By engaging the senses and encouraging doing and making, our audiences deepen their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual engagement with the arts.
As the Horticultural Technician reporting to the Native Landscape and Outdoor Program Manager, you will be a part of a diverse, committed, creative culture in a position focused on the year-round daily landscape maintenance and outdoor program activities at AMFA. Working in an ever-changing environment, the Horticulture Technician will enjoy interacting with people and will collaboratively work to maintain a positive, warm, and welcoming environment for staff and guests alike.
What you will be doing
- Operate hand tools and earth-moving equipment to prepare sites for planting and transplanting of shrubs and small trees; uses shovels, rakes, and other hand tools to maintain areas around plants.
- Operate a backpack blower to clean leaves and debris from sidewalks and parking lots, collect and remove leaves from lawn areas and flower beds.
- Collect and remove trash from Museum parking lots, sidewalks, and grounds.
- Apply mulch to flower beds and around trees.
- Perform basic repairs on irrigation and sprinkler systems.
- Operate power hedge trimmers, loppers, power saws and hand pruners to trim plants; sharpen and repair hand tools.
- Plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and other plant materials; lay sod.
- Operate riding mowers, zero-turn mowers, string trimmers, push mowers and edgers to maintain turf areas.
- Operate power saws to cut and trim trees.
- Mix and apply herbicides, fungicides and other pesticides as needed to control weeds and maintain healthy plant material.
- Notify supervisor of needed supplies and materials.
- Notify supervisor of problems with plant damage and disease and damage to equipment and facilities.
- Provide working supervision to part time AMFA Horticulture Technicians and other AMFA staff assisting with landscape maintenance.
- Assist with setup and takedown for outdoor programming events.
- Conduct tours of AMFA landscape for school groups, AMFA members and other guests.
- Provide supervision to other landscape staff as assigned.
- Provide directions and answer questions from guests in a courteous and helpful manner.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Skills
- Knowledge of the methods and techniques of mowing, planting, pruning, trimming, transplanting, and watering flowers, shrubs, trees, and turf.
- Experience in the proper mixing and application of chemical agents, including fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and other pesticides.
- Familiarity of ornamental landscape plants, especially native species.
- Skill in the operation of hand tools and power tools including power pole pruner, reciprocating saw, string trimmer, backpack blower, hedge trimmer, riding mower, and push mower.
Abilities
- Must be able to tolerate working outdoors year-round in various weather conditions.
- Repeatedly lift 50 lbs.
- Capability to distinguish weeds from desirable ornamental plants.
- Ability to provide working supervision to assigned personnel.
- Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Proficiently use Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Outlook, Excel etc.
- Availability to work evenings and weekends as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications and Additional Requirements
- These knowledge, skills, and abilities are usually, although not always, acquired through completion of high school, two (2) years of experience in a commercial greenhouse, nursery, landscaping, lawn service, or a related area, one (1) year of lead worker experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
- Applicants are required to possess a valid Arkansas driver’s license, and to maintain the license throughout their employment.
- Applicants are subject to a criminal history and sex offender background check.
To apply, please submit a cover letter highlighting your interest and a detailed resume to personnel@arkmfa.org.