Employment

1. SITE SERVICES ASSOCIATE: Non-exempt, Part-Time, weekends only. Must be available Saturday or Sunday each week. Reporting to the Director of Site Services.

POSITION SUMMARY

Tyler Arboretum is seeking an energetic, organized individual with great customer service skills to join our Site Services team. This person will be primarily responsible for working at least one weekend day and ensuring great service throughout the arboretum on that day. We project a positive & professional image of Tyler Arboretum to the public, while enhancing visitor experience through a sincere customer-driven approach.

Availability:

• Hours are part-time and flexible; shifts typically run between 5-8 hours.
• This position is capped at 20 hours per weekly pay period, and is not eligible for benefits.
• Weekend availability is essential; some evening work throughout the year.
• Position will require at least one full (8 hour) Saturday or Sunday per week.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Maintain clean Restrooms throughout the arboretum property.
• Trash removal
• Interact daily with the public, including children, volunteers and staff from all levels of the organization
• Security checks of buildings and closure of Edible Garden gates
• Assist with the operation of rentals and weddings including preparation of rental spaces, and directing guests to/from rentals, events and weddings.
• Serve as back-up to the Visitor Center Staff, including processing admissions fees, memberships and merchandise sales.
• Maintain merchandise displays and inventory.
• Provide excellent customer service by phone, email and in person.
• Develop a working knowledge of Tyler’s trail system, plant collections and our rich history in order to be the best ambassador to our guests as possible.

Qualifications:

• Ability to move tables and chairs on a regular basis.
• Ability to navigate stairs on a regular basis.
• Valid driver’s license to operate Tyler vehicles.
• Custodial work will be required.
• Strong customer service experience.
• Retail and cash handling experience; emphasis on merchandising is a plus.
• Solid computer and database skills (main software: Altru and Microsoft Office).
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to work independently.
• Passion for the natural world is desirable.
• Strong spirit of cooperation and teamwork.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.

Work Environment:

• Tyler Arboretum provides a welcoming team-based work environment.
• General office environment; often fast paced during our busy seasons.
• Requires frequent, repetitive and prolonged lifting, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, pulling, twisting and climbing.
• Must be able to regularly lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.

About Tyler:

Tyler Arboretum, a public garden in the Philadelphia suburbs, covers 650-acres of renowned plant collections, champion trees, historic buildings, with 17 miles of hiking trails through woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. The Arboretum offers workshops, classes, and tours for adults and children throughout the year.

Application: Please send a cover letter, with a minimum of three references, and résumé to:

Brian Prato, Director of Site Services bprato@tylerarboretum.org

Tyler Arboretum is an Equal Opportunity Employer

____________________________________________________________________________

2. Community Engagement Intern: Seasonal, Non-Exempt position, Summer 2023, no benefits, reports to Pollinator Preserve Coordinator and Lucille’s Garden Curator.

Summary:

The Community Engagement seasonal intern is a temporary position starting in Summer 2023. The position receives no benefits, $15/hour, and reports to the Pollinator Preserve Coordinator and to Lucille’s Garden Curator. Summer hours could be extended into early fall, depending on grant funding.

Responsibilities:

Pollinator Preserve 60%

• Responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and programming needs of the Pollinator Preserve. Complete garden maintenance after consulting with the Pollinator Preserve Coordinator. Lead volunteers in the completion of tasks.
• Work with, and be a resource to the volunteers. Provide input for weekly team updates.
• Actively participate in guiding visitors and touring the gardens, especially when volunteers are not on duty.

Lucille’s Garden 20%

• Provide support for harvest days during the height of the season.
• Provide training for volunteers as needed.
• Write blogs if time permits.

General 20%

• Research, create and train guides in the delivering of weekend content as part of our PECO Education Station Program.
• Promote growth and education of volunteers and visitors at both the Pollinator Preserve and Lucille’s garden.
• Meet regularly with Pollinator Preserve Coordinator and Curator of Lucille’s Garden to review needs, goals and assess progress of program strategies.

Qualifications:

• Training in botany, horticulture or conservation, and a basic knowledge of flowering perennial plants and host plants is required
• Knowledge of Lepidoptera and other garden insects common to this area will be required and can be learned during the initial weeks on the job. Must be comfortable around insects, including caterpillars, wasps and bees.
• Good gardening skills and plant identification knowledge is highly desirable.
• Strong people skills are required
• Strong communication skills are required.
• Able to lead by example.
• Experience in public speaking or leading tours is ideal.
• Requires frequent and prolonged standing, walking, bending, kneeling, pulling, twisting and climbing.
• Able to regularly work on weekends during June, July and August required. Schedules are planned out ahead.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to work outdoors in heat and humidity

To Apply:

Please send cover letter and resume to Nancy Heinbaugh, nheinbaugh@tylerarboretum.org. This should outline your qualifications and career goal(s). Please also identify how this internship can support your career goal(s).

No phone calls please. Application deadline: February 28, 2023

____________________________________________________________________________

3. Lucille’s Garden Assistant: Part Time, Seasonal, Non-Exempt, 24-hours per week (not to exceed 33 weeks), no benefits, must include Saturdays, other days negotiable. Reports to: Senior Gardener of Lucille’s Garden

Summary: Lucille’s Garden, Tyler’s vegetable demonstration garden, is a mission priority for the arboretum providing engaging displays of edible plant material and helping to combat food insecurity in Delaware County by donating its harvest to the Media Food Bank. This position will help the Senior Gardener by engaging the public and volunteers in delivering this aspect of Tyler’s mission.

The PT Garden Assistant supports the day-to-day functions of Lucille’s Garden which includes:

• Planting, weeding, watering, grooming, pest control, harvesting, clearing debris, keeping a tidy atmosphere and post-harvest processing which includes the surrounding areas.
• Coordinating and overseeing volunteer and intern tasks with the Senior Gardener. When the Senior Gardener is absent or working on interpretive tasks, Assistant will supervise, water, and keep general operations running.
• Assisting the Senior Gardener and volunteers with the weekly harvest for the Media Food Bank.
• Providing a welcoming atmosphere in the garden and be willing to give visitor information regarding Lucille’s Garden, Tyler Arboretum and general gardening.
• Providing support for the up keep of the Production Information Data as well as plant labels and instructional signage in the garden.
• Providing support for garden construction, installation, and rotation of plant material. Completes some event set-up duties as assigned.
• Performing storm cleanup: picking up sticks, mud removal, blowing off, raking, moving furniture etc.

Qualifications:

• Experience working outdoors: landscaping, conservation and other, required.
• Experience growing vegetables and know basic principles, desirable.
• Detailed oriented, self-directed, outgoing, flexible, organized and be able to think on one’s feet, required.
• Experience working with volunteers and interns preferred.
• Able to communicate effectively: verbal and written, required.
• Basic Microsoft suite working knowledge, preferred.
• Desire to learn and experience new processes and ideas, required.
• Bachelor or Associates degree in horticulture or any conservation field, desirable.
• Able to lift 50lbs on a regular basis.
• Ability to work all kinds of temperatures and weather, and occasionally in inclement weather, and be able to stand, kneel, bend and walk for long periods of time.

To Apply: please email resume and coverletter as a PDF to kombam@tylerarboretum.org

4. Seasonal Gardener: Non-Exempt, Seasonal (Date of Hire for 10 weeks). 37.5 hrs/wk, no benefits. Reports to the Director of Horticulture.

Position Description:

Reporting to the Director of Horticulture, this Seasonal Gardener will be responsible for the maintenance of the horticulture collections, including perennial borders and groundcover plantings, gardens, trees and historic collections. Additional responsibilities include equipment maintenance and working with volunteers. This is a Seasonal position and is not eligible for benefits.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain turf, woody and herbaceous plant materials, trails and natural areas in excellent horticultural and aesthetic condition.
• Assist in the maintenance of all grounds maintenance equipment and support tools.
• Assist in maintaining all interpretive signage, both temporary and permanent, throughout the arboretum.
• Maintain all structural elements in the landscape, including fence repairs, directional signs, ponds and water courses, road and walk surfaces and snow removal.
• Assist with Special Events at the direction of the Director of Horticulture and Arboretum Manager.
• Supervise volunteers as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• BS or equivalent training in horticulture or a related field a plus, but not required.
• Interest in horticulture, ground maintenance, and turf maintenance required.
• Valid State issued motor vehicle operator’s license and insurability

Work Environment:

• General work on the Arboretum’s grounds
• Requires frequent and prolonged equipment use, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, pulling, twisting and climbing.
• Must be able to frequently lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions

About Tyler

Tyler Arboretum, a public garden in the Philadelphia suburbs, covers 650 acres of renowned plant collections, champion trees, historic buildings, with 17 miles of hiking trails through woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. Tyler offers workshops, classes, and tours for adults and children throughout the year.

To Apply

Please send cover letter and resume to Mike Karkowski, mkarkowski@tylerarboretum.org References will be requested following initial interview.