Plant Health Care Assistant - Seasonal

Seasonal Full-time employees with a six or more month assignment and scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

2026 A Guide to Your Benefits Seasonal FTBE JP.pdf

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

The assistant plant health care seasonal primary responsibility is to keep the general grounds weed free. This position will spend most of their time working independently out on the general grounds performing manual weed control, spraying herbicides, and performing general landscape maintenance. This position also assists the plant health care specialists with other duties such as fertilization, pruning, equipment maintenance, making spray treatments, aerating turf and other projects. As needed, this position will assist with general landscape maintenance tasks such as planting, transplanting, pruning trees and shrubs, watering, mulching, mowing, maintaining tools and equipment, chipping brush, weeding, removing refuse, deadheading, edging, and greenhouse work under the direction of the grounds crew. The seasonal position is anticipated to start in April 2026 for six months working 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the week day. There may be occasional evening, weekend and holiday hours requested.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In this role, you will be responsible for the following:

• Remove weeds using manual techniques and herbicide sprays under the direction of the PHC Supervisor.
• Maintain an accurate daily log of herbicide applied.
• Safely operate small equipment such as golf carts, weed whips, leaf blowers, chain saws, and sprayers.
• Inform the plant health care supervisor of disease, insect, weed and animal problems as well as tool and equipment problems.
• Keep tools, supplies, vehicles, and work areas clean and organized.
• Assist with Plant Health Care Department activities such as equipment maintenance, fertilization, making spray treatments, and aerating turf under the direction of the Plant Health Care Specialists.
• As needed, perform the following tasks consisting primarily of manual labor under the direction of full-time grounds crew staff: mulching, planting, transplanting, pruning trees and shrubs, watering, maintaining tools and equipment, chipping brush, removing debris, deadheading, edging, and greenhouse work.
• Work safely without injury to self, others, property or plants.
• Respond to visitors and staff questions for general information. Interact daily with staff, volunteers and the public in a friendly and respectful manner.
• Assist the Horticulture Division with support for special events and other projects as needed.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Completed a horticulture-training program or taken classes in gardening with experience in landscape maintenance.
• Must be able to identify weeds.
• Must obtain a pesticide Operator's License through the Illinois Department of Agriculture within first month of employment.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• A valid driver's license and insurable by the Chicago Horticultural Society is preferred but not required.

Physical Demands:
Must be able to lift, push, pull and carry items up to 50 pounds. Must be able and willing to work outdoors when the weather is hot, humid, or cold. Be comfortable working on slopes and step ladders.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.