About the Role
The Huntington is seeking an Assistant to the Curator – Rose Garden to assist with the operation of the Rose Garden including the development and curation of living and material collections, planting, cultivation, preservation, inventory, labeling, healthcare, and maintenance of the Rose Garden, and assists in coordination and training of staff and volunteers that are also assigned to these areas. As part of those duties, the Assistant to the Curator works with staff across The Huntington to assist in originating and activation of educational activities related to these gardens and collections. S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic situations, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach.
Essential Duties
- Manages the planning, planting, cultivation, quality control, preservation and appreciation of the collection that constitutes the Rose Garden.
- Supervises and monitors the Rose Garden staff, docents and volunteers; oversees daily activity and coordinates projects.
- Communicates continually with the Curator of the Rose Collection concerning planting, projects, construction, propagation, accession records, inventories, labeling and management.
- Works aggressively to better the digital records management and mapping of the Rose Garden.
- Coordinates with other Botanical staff and the Curator of the Rose Collection to expand the collection’s educational and interpretive value, including staff from other Divisions such as Administration, Advancement, Education, and Communications.
- Acts as a forward-facing Ambassador to the public, giving special presentations, programs, lectures, tours, volunteers and docent training, videos, and interviews.
- Supports staff, researchers, and educators in the use of the Rose Garden collection for conservation, scientific study, interpretation, and advancement.
- Reports and responds to the need for maintenance and improvement of support systems, such as paths, irrigation, signage, etc.
- Develops a working knowledge of the history and breadth of the Rose Collection, using it to educate others about the history of the Rose including the many other stories woven into the Collection.
- Ensures the Garden is clean and orderly, that plants are protected and healthy, that the garden is safe and attractive for staff and the public.
- Teaches staff through planting, weeding, watering, edging, grooming, and cleaning.
- Oversees and contributes to the annual editing of the Augmented Inventory, a detailed inventory listing facts about every variety in the Collection.
- Initiates and manages an on-site Rose Propagation Program that would serve to rescue failing varieties in the Rose Collection that are no longer commercially available.
- Ensures staff and volunteers comply with the safety policy, follow all precautions and directions in use of equipment (hand & power tools) and chemicals promoting a culture of safety among staff and volunteers.
Candidate Requirements and Experience
Required:
- AA degree in botany, biology, ecology, or horticulture and/or 3-5 years’ experience in a botanical garden or similar setting
- Experience managing a rose collection
- Experience supervising a gardening staff and/ or volunteers
- Experience creating and leading projects
- Problem solving skills
- Capacity to work outdoors, carrying out garden-based tasks
- Good communication skills
- Must be detail-oriented
- Willingness and ability to train volunteers and make public presentations
- Able to take initiative but in collaboration with supervisor and other coworkers
Preferred:
- 3-5 years of landscape design experience
- Spanish proficiency desirable
Working Conditions
- Works outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs. on a regular basis.
Compensation & Benefits
We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:
- Pay Rate/ Range: $65k- $70k. Negotiable and commensurate on experience.
- Medical, Dental, Vision
- 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
- Hybrid remote work schedule available for applicable positions
- Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays
- Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants
- Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
- Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds
The Application Process
Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment at this link: https://huntington.org/careers
You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application