What are the responsibilities and job description for the Gardener Woldenberg Riverfront Park position at Audubon Institute?
Position Title: Gardener
Department: Park Operations
Reports To: Landscape Supervisor
Location: Woldenberg Riverfront Park
Position Type: Full-time
Who We Are
Audubon Nature Institute comprises Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium, Audubon Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and Audubon Wilderness Park
At Audubon Nature Institute, we are more than a collection of parks, museums, and conservation centers—we are a dedicated team with a shared mission to celebrate, protect, and connect people to the wonders of nature. Our work is guided by our culture code, which is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in Activating Impact by integrating tangible, real-world outcomes into all our initiatives, fostering a culture where every action contributes to a positive environmental impact. We are committed to Empowering Optimism, using positivity to inspire others to act and believe in their capacity to create meaningful change. We strive to Create Connection by engaging with people from all walks of life, knowing that the collective strength of a diverse community can address the most pressing challenges facing our natural world. At Audubon, we embody the spirit of Le Bon Temps, infusing the joy and vibrant culture of Louisiana into our everyday work, celebrating our unique heritage while advancing our mission. As Leaders of the Pack, we constantly seek smarter, innovative solutions, challenging conventions to drive the change we want to see in the world.
What You’ll Do
The Gardner position works outdoors in public parks managed by Audubon Nature Institute and supports the overall landscape maintenance within the downtown riverfront parks. Routine job tasks include general landscape maintenance such as planting, weeding, and pruning. Gardeners will monitor irrigation systems and manually water as required. Under qualified direction, the position will treat plant issues, including diseases, pests, and nutrient needs. The Gardener will properly use, maintain, and secure equipment such as leaf blowers, pruners, string trimmers, vehicles, and hand tools such as pruners, shovels, and sprayers.
The position works under the supervision of the Landscape Supervisor and may be assigned work alongside volunteers and Interns. The position will support the greater needs of the Park Operations department and will support the general success of the parks as assigned, including providing customer service to all park guests, supporting engagement and education, ensuring the park is clean and free of trash, and supporting event production and recovery.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- Physically perform general horticultural maintenance, including planting, weeding, watering, mulching, pruning, deadheading, leaf-blowing, and assisting with minor irrigation maintenance
- Remove trash from in and around garden beds, including any hazardous items.
- Treat common plant issues under qualified direction.
- Maintain garden projects on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis with a critical eye on detail.
- Contribute to educational and research projects as needed to aid in community knowledge of plant materials and landscape maintenance practices.
- Adhere to safe and proper use of tools, PPE, equipment, and chemicals.
- Assist in group activities and special projects as needed.
Additional/Overall Skills:
- Maintain a positive attitude and a strong sense of accountability, fostering a collaborative team environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.
- Thrive in a team environment, using your organizational and technical skills to ensure the smooth execution of creative projects that resonate with our audience.
- Celebrate the successes of your team and bring enthusiasm to your work, reflecting the joyful culture that is at the heart of Audubon’s mission.
- Stay adaptable and open to learning new skills, embracing change and innovation as opportunities to lead and grow.
- The above-listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned.
What We’re Looking For
Must Haves:
- Experience working outdoors.
- Ability to use handheld gardening tools, such as shovels, rakes, and brooms.
- Ability to operate equipment such as hedgers, weed eaters, and blowers.
- Strong verbal and interpersonal skills (a people person), ability to read and write
- Ability to operate vehicles such as golf carts and gas-powered utility vehicles
- Ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions
- Ability to engage with a diverse audience
- Affinity for nature and the outdoors
Nice-to-Haves:
- Experience in horticulture or grounds work
- Computer literacy
- First aid/CPR training
Physical Requirements:
- Working 100% outdoors in the elements, including hot, humid summers and cold, wet winters.
- Prolonged standing, walking, and climbing of stairs or ladders.
- Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry objects up to 50 pounds.
- Frequent bending, crouching, twisting, and reaching.
- Manual dexterity to operate machinery or handle tools.
- Frequent use of vision and hearing to assess surroundings and job tasks.