Plant Propagator

Title: Plant Propagator

Exemption Status: Non-exempt
Department: Plant Production
Reports to: Manager, Plant Production
Schedule: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.(weekends and holidays as needed)
Employment Status: Year-Round, Full-Time
Supervises: Growers, Assistant Growers, Seasonal Staff, Interns, and Volunteers

Year-Round, Full-time

Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• 2026 A Guide to Your Benefits 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 Plant Propagator leads propagation activities that support the Garden's living collections, seasonal displays, research initiatives, conservation programs, and plant production operations. The person in this position is responsible for propagating plant material, managing propagation schedules, forecasting production capacity, maintaining accurate records, and overseeing the Garden's stock plant program.

Working collaboratively with production growers, scientists, graduate students, volunteers, and external partners, the Plant Propagator coordinates propagation requests, assesses production capacity, and supports projects that advance the Garden's mission. The person in this position serves as a technical resource for propagation systems, plant databases, and labeling processes and contributes to the department's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program through biological controls and a rotational spray program.

This position works in a world-class greenhouse and nursery facility, completed in 2019, which supports one of the largest plant production operations among public gardens in the United States.

Responsibilities

In this role, you be responsible for the following:

• Propagate plants through seed, cutting, division, grafting, budding, and other propagation methods to support Garden programs and initiatives.
• Grow plant material to transplantable size and coordinate delivery to production growers according to established schedules.
• Schedule and maintain propagation information within the production database to ensure accurate forecasting, inventory management, and production planning.
• Forecast weekly and monthly propagation space capacity and communicate utilization needs, constraints, and recommendations to the Manager, Plant Production.
• Maintain accurate production records and ensure all plant material is properly labeled and tracked.
• Monitor and adjust propagation equipment and environmental settings using the Argus Environmental Control System.
• Manage and maintain the Garden's stock plant collections to support internal plant material requests and long-term production needs.
• Serve as a technical resource for the Plant Production team by supporting the Brahms database, plant records, labeling systems, and related production documentation.
• Coordinate propagation-related requests from Garden science programs, graduate students, advisors, and external partners, including evaluating project requirements, greenhouse space availability, production timelines, and feasibility.
• Support plant production requests associated with conservation and restoration initiatives, including projects with external partners such as forest preserve agencies and other organizations.
• Participate in the department's IPM program, including biological control releases, pest scouting, monitoring, and recordkeeping using digital applications and mobile technology.
• Apply pesticides in accordance with departmental procedures, regulatory requirements, and best horticultural practices.
• Collaborate with the Manager, Plant Production, in supervising staff, including assigning work, training employees, evaluating performance, providing coaching, and supporting hiring and onboarding activities.
• Foster a collaborative and productive work environment by building positive working relationships with staff, students, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• Communicate production schedules, capacity constraints, and propagation challenges in a timely and professional manner to support informed decision-making.
• Maintain regular communication with production growers and departmental stakeholders through meetings, reports, and correspondence.
• Develop and maintain propagation protocols, cultural records, and historical production data to support future propagation efforts and continuous improvement.
• Monitor inventory levels of propagation supplies and maintain organized storage areas.
• Use Microsoft Office applications and departmental databases to support documentation, reporting, communication, and analysis.
• Identify operational challenges, recommend practical solutions, and contribute to process improvements that enhance efficiency, plant quality, and production outcomes.
• Serve as a horticultural resource for the Garden through classes, tours, demonstrations, articles, planning teams, media interviews, and visitor engagement activities.
• Assist with other Plant Production activities and departmental priorities as needed, particularly during peak production periods.
• Follow all safety policies and procedures and actively contribute to maintaining a safe work environment.
• Work assigned weekends and holidays as required.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in horticulture, plant science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five years of professional plant propagation experience.
• Supervisory or lead experience preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of propagation techniques, greenhouse operations, environmental controls, and plant production practices.
• Experience maintaining plant inventories, production records, and collection management databases; experience with Brahms preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Teams, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic production environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise.
• Proficiency in written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze problems, exercise sound judgment, and develop practical solutions.
• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in response to changing operational and project needs.
• Current valid driver's license and insurable by the Chicago Horticultural Society.
• Illinois pesticide applicator license or the ability to obtain one within an established timeframe.
• Ability to successfully complete required Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) respiratory surveillance requirements, including medical evaluation and spirometry testing, as applicable.

Physical Demands

Must be able to lift, push, pull, and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds. Must be able to stand for extended periods and occasionally sit while performing job duties. Must be able to work in greenhouse, nursery, and outdoor environments in varying weather conditions throughout the year.

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, the 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.