Horticulturist

We're looking for a Horticulturist to help create and maintain the beautiful gardens and landscapes that make the Oklahoma City Zoo bloom!

🌱 Design and care for gardens
🌼 Keep plants healthy and thriving
🐞 Manage plant diseases and pests
🌳 Help create an unforgettable experience for our guests

If you're ready to grow your career in a one-of-a-kind environment, we'd love to have you on our team!

Employment Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status : Non-Exempt

Pay Rate : $19.27/hr - $24.09/hr

Department: Horticulture

Reports to : Manager of Horticulture

Supervisory Responsibility : Direct (0); Indirect (0)

Primary Work Location : Zoo setting both indoors and outdoors.

Job Summary

The horticulturist applies scientific knowledge and practical horticultural techniques to plan, design, plant, fertilize, and maintain gardens and landscapes. This role is also responsible for identifying and managing plant diseases and pests, along with a wide range of other activities that help ensure the health and vitality of our plants and gardens.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience : Two (2) years of progressively responsible professional horticulture experience in formal landscape and gardens maintenance or an equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential duties will be considered.

Education : A bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Plant Science, Botany or in a relevant field. Or an equivalent combination of relevant education.

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire; as well as, obtain an Oklahoma Service Technician Identification Card by passing the state Service Technician Examination to legally apply chemicals under a licensed manager’s credentials, within 3 months of employment.

Knowledge

- Principles and practices of horticulture, landscape establishment, and long-term landscape management

- Soil and weather conditions in the Oklahoma City area

- Plant taxonomy, identification, selection, and cultural requirements, with specific knowledge of native and adapted Oklahoma plant species

- Weed identification

- Operation and repair of landscaping equipment

- Natural and chemical pest control methods and application practices

- Oklahoma pesticide laws and application regulations

- Oklahoma City Zoological Park programs, activities, exhibits, and events

- Plant health and disease management

- Proper pruning techniques

- Small equipment use and repair (chainsaws, pole saws, electric pruners, etc.)

- Large equipment operations (Tractors, skid steers, forklifts, etc.)

- Current horticulture industry standards, research-based practices, and emerging trends

- Landscape design principles and working knowledge of drafting, site plans, and planting plans

- Greenhouse and nursery production principles, propagation methods, and environmental controls

- Arboricultural principles, tree risk awareness, and proper tree-care practices

- Sustainable landscape management, water conservation, biodiversity, and conservation-focused horticulture

- Irrigation design concepts, scheduling, troubleshooting, water-use efficiency, and system maintenance

Skills

- Reading, interpreting, and contributing to site plans, blueprints, specifications, and landscape design drawings

- Interpreting rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines

- Providing technical direction, training, and work coordination for employees, volunteers, contractors, and seasonal staff

- Interpersonal communication

- Proficiency in plant identification

- Proficiency in pest management practices

- Proficiency in irrigation systems, repair and programing

- Analyzing soil conditions, plant nutrition needs, and laboratory or field data to develop appropriate recommendations

- Ability to operate small and large machinery safely

Abilities

- Apply safe work practices and use appropriate safety equipment

- Ability to perform sustained physical work outdoors for extended periods while following established safety practices and using appropriate equipment.

- Ability to select plant material for a suitable climate, soil conditions, plant pairings, right placement, etc.

- Prepare professional records, technical reports, project documentation, recommendations, and correspondence

- Maintain detailed records of plant health, growth conditions, and experimental results to support research and planning

- Maintain working relationships with staff, contractors, vendors, and the public

- Plan projects, prioritize competing needs, coordinate resources, and delegate work within assigned projects

- Work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency situations

- Evaluate plant health and site conditions, diagnose concerns, and develop integrated treatment or management recommendations

Physical Demands

- Required to walk, sit and stand for periods of time.

- May be required to work 8+ hours a day, doing semi strenuous labor multiple days in a row.

- Push, lift, and carry up to 50 lbs, with assistance.

- Bend, stoop, kneel, and move intermittently throughout the day.

- May be exposed to fumes, odors, dust, moving mechanical parts and vehicles.

- Exposure to extreme weather conditions, such as heat, cold, rain, snow and ice.

- Exposure to potentially dangerous animals.

- Ability to safely perform the hands-on application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers in strict accordance with provided training, supervisory instructions, SOPs and safety protocols

Other: This position is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks and drug testing.

Core Responsibilities and Accountabilities (Essential Functions)

Job Knowledge and Skills

- Installs and maintains seasonal, ornamental, and native plantings, including watering, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, mowing, and turf care

- Inspects plant material for pests and disease and applies treatments in accordance with approved practices and Oklahoma pesticide regulations

- Propagates plant materials through seeds, cuttings, and divisions in greenhouse and nursery settings

- Operates and maintains irrigation systems, landscaping equipment, and hand tools

- Collaborates with Grounds and Exhibits Technicians and animal care staff to maintain exhibit landscapes and surrounding pathways

- Participates in sustainability initiatives and maintains plant database records and horticulture updates

- Implements seasonal, ornamental, native, and exhibit plantings using site analysis, horticultural science, design intent, and the cultural requirements of selected plant material.

- Carries out integrated plant-health strategies by evaluating soils, irrigation, nutrition, pests, diseases, environmental stressors, and long-term maintenance needs.

Accountability and Reliability

- Completes assigned work and maintains assigned areas

- Operates and maintains landscaping equipment and tools

- Drives within the Oklahoma City area in support of assigned duties

- Assumes ownership of assigned gardens, living collections, exhibits, and horticultural projects from planning through implementation, evaluation, and follow-up care.

- Prioritizes work, coordinates labor and materials, monitors project timelines, and adjusts plans to meet operational, seasonal, animal-care, guest, and event needs.

- Identifies resource, equipment, inventory, or contractor needs and provides timely, well-supported recommendations to the Manager of Horticulture.

- Protects the quality, safety, and readiness of assigned landscapes, pathways, and work areas through consistent inspection, maintenance, and follow-through.

Communication and Collaboration

- Performs assigned duties in alignment with the Zoo’s mission of conservation and core values of wildlife and wild places, people, leadership, and conservation.

- Works with team members, contractors, and volunteers on horticulture and grounds activities

- Represents the Zoo in interactions with staff, volunteers, and the public

- Provides service to internal and external customers

- Explains horticultural recommendations, project requirements, risks, and tradeoffs clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.

- Represents the Zoo professionally with staff, guests, vendors, community partners, and professional colleagues while supporting the Zoo’s mission and core values.

Initiative and Problem Solving

- Communicates project status related to horticulture and grounds maintenance activities

- Uses observations, records, technical references, and available data to evaluate outcomes and refine plant-care, water-use, pest-management, and maintenance practices.

- Anticipates project risks and communicates changes in scope, timing, cost, safety, or operational impact before they affect results.

- Contributes professional horticultural judgment to long-range planning, collection development, renovation, and conservation-focused planting initiatives.

- Serve as a technical horticultural resource to technicians and other Zoo staff, providing guidance on plant selection, establishment, plant health, irrigation, pest management, pruning, and other horticultural practices.

Adaptability and Flexibility

• Participates in conservation-related activities aligned with Zoo initiatives

- Balances professional planning and analysis with hands-on horticultural work and shifts priorities in response to weather, plant-health emergencies, animal-care needs, events, staffing, and guest impacts.

- Pursues current knowledge of horticultural research, native and adapted plants, sustainable practices, emerging pests and diseases, and industry standards; applies relevant learning to Zoo operations.

**This position description is a general guideline for work behavior and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all job duties. Therefore, it is also not, nor can it be implied to be, a contract of employment. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks. Must be able to successfully complete an intense background investigation.