Horticulturist (9723C), UC Botanical Garden #87447

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride.

Departmental Overview

The University of California Botanical Garden (UCBG) is a living museum that features one of the most diverse plant collections in the United States.

Established in 1890, the Garden's 34 acres contain over 12,000 taxas and more than 20,000 accessions (including many rare and endangered species) from all over the world arranged by region. The Mission Statement for the UCBG is "to develop and maintain a diverse living collection of plants to support teaching and worldwide research in plant biology, further the conservation of plant diversity, and promote public understanding and appreciation of plants and the natural environment."

Position Summary

The Horticulturist's primary responsibility is to maintain the integrity of established garden collections and ecological plantings. The basic duties are to maintain the health and attractiveness of the diverse living collection. Garden plantings and collections are highly diverse and specialized. Each collection, area or grouping of plants is of unique, scientific, educational, and horticultural value and is irreplaceable. The duties of the Horticulturists are complex and require a high level of knowledge, skill and training that goes beyond standard horticultural maintenance. The Botanical Garden's plantings are dynamic and constantly changing. Plants of all kinds from short-lived herbs to mature trees grow, reach maturity, become senescent, and must be removed and replaced. Therefore, these plantings require continual assessment, replanting, and development.

Horticulturists evaluate and develop their assigned collections in consultation with garden management, the Curator, and the Educational Program.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is July 29, 2026. For full consideration, please apply on or before the first review date.

Responsibilities

Horticulture Maintenance

• Watering, fertilizing, mulching, amending the soil, weeding, pruning, raking, planting and other activities involved in cultivating plants.
• Assessing the watering needs of collection through knowledge of drip and/or low volume and conventional irrigation systems; altering systems as needed.
• Recognize insect and plant pathogen problems within the collection and either alleviate the problem and/or mitigate any conditions that contribute to the problem using IPM methodology.
• Maintain the aesthetic or cultural style(s) appropriate for the collection through enhancement, supplementation and routine alterations of plant displays within horticulturists' areas.
• Initiate requests to nursery propagator for re-propagation of existing plant material and new seed acquisitions in order to maintain the integrity of the Garden collections.
• Work with and direct volunteers, students, and interns.
• Perform construction and reconstruction projects which includes path and road work, resurfacing and grading paths with road base; repairing rock work, bed edging, and stairways; keeping paths, roads and streams clear of debris; controlling erosion in planted and traffic areas with berms, water bars, drainage systems, application of jute, etc.
• Use garden equipment, including but not limited to pick-up truck and van (which may be used off-site as assigned), go-cart, chipper/shredder, power weed cutters, rototiller, and caterpillar.
• Horticultural chemical applications as needed.

Curation

• Maintain plant information (records), conservation of plant collection, and collection development.
• Initiate requests (coordinated with the Curatorial office) for taxonomic updates, revisions, and/or determinations for plants and their areas.
• Record keeping duties to include mapping, imaging, initiating record change forms, plant removal forms, and label requests.
• Maintain plant labels in assigned area(s).
• Participate in approved collection travel to scout collection sites, voucher specimens, and collect seeds and other material from worldwide sources.
• Maintain accurate and detailed field notes.
• Research growth habits of plants.
• Decide which conditions (e.g., soil type, light, etc) are needed to cultivate the plants.
• Serve as an expert on the growth habits of the plants from the particular geographic area for which the Museum Scientist is responsible.
• Decide where the collections need to be amended (increased/decreased).
• Correspond with other Gardens and collectors to obtain new wild-collected plants (Plants with Provenance).
• Work with the Curator/Assistant Curator to decide which plants to select and send/exchange with cooperating institutional gardens.

Area Development

• Initiates improvements and development of assigned area(s).
• Routine development is performed with a high degree of independence involving continuing evaluation and reassessment of plantings, revising the planting schemes, replanting, library research, acquisition of plants, and improving displays for enhanced interpretation and/or horticultural success.

Education

• Work with IB 112 students in Horticultural Methods class.
• Participate in training and interpretation of assigned areas for volunteers with both tours and/or written materials.
• Assist and participate in the preparation of interpretive materials and the acquisition of plants to illustrate educational themes.
• Assist with public outreach programs, as needed.
• Write articles for Garden publications and/or botanical or horticultural journals is encouraged.
• Provide expertise/tours to visiting clientele.

Miscellaneous

• Attend professional meetings, seminars, and symposia to promote personal and professional growth at the discretion of Garden management and consistent with Garden scheduling priorities.
• Assist at Plant Sales and other fund raisers.
• Weekend staffing responsibilities.
• Other independent and team duties as assigned.
• Occasional travel for fieldwork, collections development and conservation projects required.

Required Qualifications

• Working knowledge of basic landscape maintenance, including various irrigation systems operations, troubleshooting and repair.
• Ability to work independently, set and meet objectives, and coordinate objectives with other members of the staff.
• Familiarity with the establishment/maintenance of natural community-based gardens.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and to research collection acquisitions and their horticultural requirements through botanical literature.
• Ability to work well with a diverse group of staff, volunteers and the public.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are a must.
• Ability to perform physical labor, including lifting up to 100 lbs on occasion.

Education / Training

• Bachelor's degree in Horticulture or related field, and/or or equivalent experience/training. (Preferred)

Licenses / Certifications

• Valid CA drivers license

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $32.79 (Step 1) - $35.47 (Step 5).

• This is a non-exempt, bi-weekly paid position.
• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Driving Required

Required to hold a valid driver's license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
• This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Research Support Professionals Unit (RX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/rx/index.html

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Misconduct

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.