What are the responsibilities and job description for the Butterfly Exhibit Assistant Manager position at The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning...?
Description
Montgomery Parks is currently seeking Butterfly Exhibit Assistant Managers for a live butterfly exhibit at Brookside Gardens. Staff care for plants, butterflies, and provide customer service to visitors inside the Conservatory at Brookside Gardens, a public horticulture display garden located in Wheaton, Maryland. This is an eight-month part-time position with a 30-hours/week schedule, including all weekends and holidays and two weekdays per week. The ideal candidate is energetic, enthusiastic about plants and insects and enjoys interacting with a wide variety of people.
About the HFEE Division and Brookside Gardens
The Horticulture, Forestry, and Environmental Education (HFEE) Division contributes to the preservation and maintenance of our parks’ natural and cultural resources. Brookside Gardens is one of Park’s public gardens, displaying horticultural exhibits that are designed, installed, and maintained using ecological landscape practices as a model and inspiration to more than a million visitors per year. Our public gardens offer a wide variety of educational programs for children and adults are planned to excite curiosity and encourage lifelong learning, with the vision of mobilizing residents of Montgomery County as dedicated stewards of the natural world.
- Learn More About Brookside Gardens: https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/
Montgomery Parks is an award-winning park system and part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Supported by more than 1,000 dedicated employees, we care for 416 parks, including trails, and natural spaces across Montgomery County, with team members working in a wide range of roles including park operations, public programs, park planning, public safety, and administration. Our work is visible in everyday moments, from safe, well-maintained trails to welcoming parks and community programs. Careers with Montgomery Parks offer purpose, stability, and the opportunity to make a visible, lasting impact where people live, work, and connect.
- Learn More About Montgomery Parks: https://www.montgomeryparks.org/
For more information about the Seasonal Hiring process and application status for Montgomery County, please contact mcp-parkscareers@montgomeryparks.org.
Examples of Important Duties
What You’ll Do
Butterfly Exhibit Operations & Care
- Open and close the butterfly exhibit and maintain clean, safe walkways
- Perform daily plant care (watering, grooming, weeding) to support butterfly habitat health
- Receive, handle, and release live butterflies in accordance with USDA permit requirements
- Monitor butterfly nutrition sources and assist with proper sanitization and disposal of materials
- Assist visitors with ticketing, check-in, and questions
- Provide accurate, engaging information about butterflies and the exhibit
- Respond to requests in a helpful, positive manner and communicate rules clearly
- Train and work with volunteer docents to support a strong butterfly exhibit experience
- Guide volunteers assisting with butterfly care, plant maintenance, and exhibit support
- Balance hands-on butterfly exhibit work with visitor interaction and team coordination
- Follows detailed instructions accurately and maintains strong attention to detail, including recordkeeping
- Reliable and punctual
- Strong communication, leadership, and customer service skills, including confidently addressing groups
- Able to work in hot, humid conditions and safely operate tools and equipment
- Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, plant care, pest/disease identification, and greenhouse systems
- Works well independently and as part of a team
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- High School diploma or GED.
- One year of customer service experience
- Applicants must be at least 18 years or older
- Previous horticulture experience in a greenhouse or conservatory.
- Previous experience of handling insects or other live animals.
- Previous experience with interpretation, teaching, or public speaking/engagement.
Supplemental Information
May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.
Working Conditions
Primarily works inside a glass Conservatory with exposure to temperature extremes such as high heat, humidity, and cold damp conditions.
Must be able to perform strenuous work, including the ability to: stoop, bend, stretch, pull, and lift up to 50 pounds.
Works independently and as part of a team.
Works all weekends and holidays and two weekdays per week.
Additional Information
This position is not eligible for benefits.
A fingerprinting and background investigation will be completed prior to hire.
Additional duties and full list of Job Description available upon request.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.
Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.