Seasonal Horticulturalist

Position Summary

This is a seasonal position: Summer Season will start around April and run through November 2026. Employees in seasonal positions may not work more than 1200 hours during the fiscal year.

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

Are you a person that likes working outdoors and working with your hands to create beautiful spaces for guests and animals to enjoy? The Oregon Zoo is hiring for Seasonal Horticulturist. You will directly help create and maintain landscaping for one of Oregon's most popular visitor attractions while supporting our ground breaking wildlife research and conservation efforts.

• Assist and collaborate with animal keepers and other staff to evaluate and plan landscape and horticulture needs. This includes specialty zone area plant selections, landscape and gardening practices to ensure animal care, conservation and restoration.

• Maintain many different types of flowers, shrubs, trees, turf and other plants. This will include inspecting for pests, disease and other deteriorating agents; as part of an IPM program; repairs damages, trimming of shrubs, turf and flowers.
• Assist in planting bulbs, trees, shrubs, turf, flowers; pot plants and transplant plants; maintain trees, flowers and shrubs by pruning, thinning, spraying, staking and arranging; pull weeds, rake leaves, clean plant beds, waters; collect, browse, and replenish bark dust covering.
• Assist the public with general zoo questions or provide directions to ensure a positive and unique experience, and be an ambassador for the Zoo.
• Troubleshoots problems such as pathway obstructions, irrigation breaks, plant disease concerns, visitor safety or exhibit substrate issues.
• Tools available will be gas-powered & battery-powered gardening equipment and a variety of other hand tools. This role will help keep all equipment clean and in proper working condition through preventative maintenance and by making minor repairs.
• Operate motorized vehicles, pickup trucks, front-end loaders, tractors, backhoes, forklifts, bobcats, lifts, dump trucks and other equipment necessary for performance of essential duties.
• Assists the public, public officials and other employees in a professional and courteous manner.

• Develops safe work habits and contributes to the safety of self and co-workers. Contributes to a positive team atmosphere and has regular and punctual attendance.

• Standard practices, materials, methods, tools and equipment used in planting, transplanting, cultivating and caring for native and landscape plant material, tropical/indoor plantscapes, trees, plants, flowers, shrubs and lawns.

• Proper relationship between soils and plants. Irrigation and watering systems. Plant identification. Fertilizers and their use. Pest and weed control.
• Plant diseases and symptoms.

• Safely use hand and power tools and equipment.

• Communicate effectively with the public and colleagues and management.

• Follow and issue oral and written instructions and offer clear communication with staff.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and to work independently or as a team member.

• Work outdoors under severe storms and adverse climate conditions.

• Physically perform all of the essential duties of the position including climbing, kneeling, stooping, walking, bending, twisting and lifting 50pounds.

• Provide excellent customer service by meeting the needs and interacting with employees, volunteers, vendors, the public and others encountered during the course of work in a courteous and professional manner.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

• Three (3) years progressively responsible professional horticulture and gardening experience and

• Associate's degree or post-secondary equivalent or

• Any combination of experience and education that provides the necessary skills, knowledge and ability to perform assigned tasks

• A valid driver's license

Driving Record Check: The candidate selected for the position will need to pass a Driving Record check prior to being hired. Speeding tickets do not necessarily preclude employment and will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Tentative Schedule
Position 1: May - November, Monday - Friday
Position 2: April - October, Tuesday - Saturday

Employees in seasonal positions may not work more than 1200 hours during the fiscal year.

Working environment : Will be outdoors in heat, cold and other inclement weather

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Experience in customer service and interacting with the public
• Maintenance of public gardens or zoos.

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application
• Complete responses to the supplemental questions

The Selection Process:

We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications

• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates

• Consideration of top candidates/interviews

• Reference Check

• Driving records check for finalist candidate

REPRESENTATION
This position is non-exempt and represented by LiUNA 483 union and is classified as a Horticulturalist.

Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions

Additional Information

The Oregon Zoo and Metro
The Oregon Zoo inspires visitors to learn about protecting endangered species and restoring native habitats and is the state's most popular paid attraction. The zoo’s roughly 320 employees welcome more than 1.5 million visitors each year.

As part of the Metro family, you play a vital role in serving the people of the greater Portland region.

This is a variable hour position with no guarantee of hours. The position is eligible for these benefits:

• Paid sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Full contribution to Oregon PERS retirement if eligible and qualified.
• No-cost TriMet Hop Pass
• Employee Assistance Program

Metro also offers a variety of perks for all employees, including free admission to the Oregon Zoo (including ZooLights!), Oxbow and Blue Lake Regional Parks, membership discount at Lloyd Athletic Club, credit union eligibility and more. Employees also receive access to financial wellness and legal consultation services, as well as first-time home buying and ownership counseling.

Learn more about employee benefits.

Some variable hour positions are represented by a union and have additional benefits.
View union contracts here.