Assistant Horticulturist

About the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City-The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.

Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.

At The Met, every staff member - from security officers to researchers to scientists and beyond - lives by our core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity.

Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always.

Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued.

Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission.

Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertise-and inspire curiosity and creativity.

Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve.

You will work with the Managing Horticulturist to maintain and document the internationally recognized gardens and grounds of The Met Cloisters. You will perform all hands-on gardening tasks, assist with the off-site and onsite greenhouse facilities, and maintain computer records for gardens operations. You will assistance with design, research, and interpretation of the living collections, participation in programs and engagement with the public. You will assist the Managing Horticulturist in supervising volunteers, and interns.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Maintain gardens, and seasonal plant and holiday displays to exacting standards using historically and environmentally appropriate techniques.
• Assist with operation of onsite propagation greenhouse, propagation program, records and maintenance schedules of the greenhouse.
• Contribute to the research, development, and expansion of the historic medieval plant collection. Interest and willingness to learn about medieval art and plant lore essential.
• Interpret the Gardens to a variety of audiences through multiple formats for onsite and virtual Museum programs, including social media accounts. Engage with the public and answer questions while working in the gardens.
• Manage all aspects of garden operations, including design, sourcing materials, preparation, installation, and maintenance. Maintain all garden tools, equipment, workspaces.
• Visit and maintain the off-site facility, which includes greenhouse space and cold frames (weekly or as needed).
• Drive Gardens van to off-site facility and to nurseries; transport plants and supplies. Responsible for van maintenance needs.
• Participate in staff meetings and working groups, as assigned.
• Monitor collection and report on insect infestations and diseases. Follow existing organic plant health care management program, including release of beneficial insects.
• Maintain and update computer records on purchased plants, bulb orders and bloom records.
• Photograph plants and gardens, organize, and maintain files.
• Other related duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• College degree in horticulture or equivalent and practical experience required.
• Experience in all aspects of practical horticulture, including greenhouse care and propagation techniques. Commitment to historic gardens and techniques essential.
• Driver's License required to drive Gardens van.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required. Willingness to speak in public.
• Ability to multitask, work on deadline, be highly organized, and detail oriented.
• Must be adaptable, self-motivated, energetic team player who works effectively with all levels of staff and outside contractors.
• Physical fitness, ability to climb ladders, lift moderately heavy containers, and perform duties in all weather conditions required.
• Proficiency in MS Office, Workday, Photoshop, digital photography, familiarity with databases required. Familiarity with a wide range of ornamental plants and herbs required.
• Knowledge of art history or related field, reading knowledge of relevant foreign language, Spanish-speaker desired/helpful
• Knowledge of botanical nomenclature essential.
• Experience in floral arranging, preferred.
• Prior experience working in museum setting or comparable environment preferred.

COMPENSATION RANGE:

• Pay Range: $75,000.00 - $80,000.00 / Annually
• The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.

Location Requirements

At time of employment, employees are expected to be located within commuting distance of the Museum. "Commuting distance" means that they are located in one of following states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania (the "Tri-state and PA" areas), and be able to commute to and from the Museum in a single day.

Benefits Offerings

The Museum provides competitive compensation, and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits Offering may differ based on Employee Status.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
• Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
• Free financial-planning services
• Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
• 25% discount for staff in Museum shops
• A subsidized staff cafeteria
• Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.

The Met is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Met will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed in this process, please contact benefits@metmuseum.org.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Salary : $75,000 - $80,000