019137 - Formal Gardens Crew Leader

Formal Garden Crew Leader

Do you thrive outdoors, love working with plants, and enjoy leading others? The North Carolina Arboretum is seeking a Formal Garden Crew Leader to help steward our Formal Gardens.

In this highly visible, hands-on role, you'll work side-by-side with the Formal Gardens Curator to maintain and evolve our formal gardens, lead and mentor staff and volunteers, and connect visitors to the art and science of horticulture. If you're passionate about plant health, teamwork, and creating unforgettable garden experiences, this is your opportunity to grow your career!

The Garden Crew Leader supports the Formal
Gardens Curator in the maintenance and development of the core gardens. The key
responsibilities for this position are:

1. general maintenance of the garden
   areas, including both plants and hardscape, to include all tasks involved in
   preserving the beauty, health and safety of the core gardens;
2. supervision,
   training and development of permanent, temporary and seasonal staff and
   volunteers;
3. assisting in garden development by serving on various Arboretum
   design and planning teams as well as assisting the Formal Gardens Curator in
   design implementations;
4. representing the Exhibit Assets through educational
   interpretation of the Arboretum gardens.

The Formal Gardens Curator also
assists in the maintenance of plant records, in administrative duties such as
management of materials, supplies and equipment, and in any other tasks
required to fulfill the garden responsibilities of the Formal Gardens Curator
in that staff member's absence. This requires considerable knowledge of all garden and horticultural practices
required for successful garden development and maintenance. This hands-on
position requires the ability to perform vigorous work under outdoor conditions
during all seasons. This position is highly visible and is expected to
facilitate visitor, staff and volunteer appreciation of the Arboretum and of
horticulture through public interaction in the gardens and during special
programs.

The Formal Gardens Crew Leader oversees the following areas:

Plant Health Care

The
North Carolina Arboretum gardens are home to one of the most valuable and
educational plant collections in the state. Expertise in a wide range of
horticultural techniques is required to ensure the health and vigor of this
outstanding collection. Oversight and proper installation of all new herbaceous
and woody plant material is essential to the survival of species in the
collection. Several tasks follow planting to ensure the survival of specimens added to the collection. These tasks are as follows: choosing the correct
mulch and applying it in the proper fashion, irrigating the collection and
monitoring soil moisture, pruning both woody and herbaceous plants to ensure
optimum health, growth and safety and applying fertilizer at the appropriate
rate to promote optimum performance. An extensive knowledge of a wide range of
plants is required to address the needs of each distinct species. The control
of invasive weeds and vines is also essential to the health of the collection.
This position also addresses soil issues related to plant health care as
follows: tilling, incorporating amendments, both organic and non-organic,
adding nutrients, increasing drainage and stabilizing top soil.

General Maintenance

Performing tasks on a set schedule to maintain the beauty and safety of the Arboretum. A daily
cleaning routine must be performed to remove unsightly debris and litter, trash
cans and ash trays must be changed and kept tidy. All walkways must be kept clear of debris and
in good order, including sand paths that are raked regularly. The gardens will be checked on a daily basis
to ensure the safety of our guests. All
hardscape must be kept in good order including seating, containers, benches,
trellises, gates, fences, arbors, stone work and sculpture. Snow removal, leaf
removal, and storm damage clean up are also within the realm of garden
maintenance.

The hiring salary is $45,731.

Physical Environment and Abilities:
The incumbent must be able to move a workload of 50 pounds occasionally. Typical activities include moving plants, shrubs and trees, lifting bags of soil, moving large quantities of mulch or additives, mixing fertilizers, using ladders to place decorations, pulling water hoses, digging and planting with at least 70 percent of total work time involving some kind of physical activity. The Gardener will be exposed often to direct sunlight, heat and humidity, cold temperatures, machinery can make it a noisy environment, and this role spends a significant amount of time standing on hard and/or uneven surfaces. Lifting, climbing ladders, squatting, twisting, using sprayers, walking on a variety of surfaces, digging, planting and exposure to the elements is commonplace. This role requires highly physical, finite visual attention skills, a high level of mental concentration and manipulation.

The Garden Crew Leader is part of the Horticulture branch of The North Carolina Arboretum. By promoting the stewardship and enjoyment of the wealth of plant life within the South Appalachians through world-renowned gardens demonstrating cultivated and natural landscapes. Horticulture support activities include installation, maintenance and care of all gardens, landscape, turf, grounds and trails, the production within the greenhouse and nursery areas, and all other horticulture aspects relating to the use of the property. The specific program areas that are responsible for executing these activities are: Production, Plant Records, Bonsai Curation and Grounds and Gardens.
This position falls within the Grounds and Gardens program area. The staff in this area is responsible for the installation and maintenance of outdoor exhibits and areas of circulation throughout the nearly 100 acres of improved and cultivated area in both woodland and intensive garden setting.

Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills
This position requires graduation from high school and three years progressive experience in grounds upkeep work. Two years' experience in supervision of all aspects of grounds maintenance is also required. Graduation from a four-year collect horticultural program emphasizing grounds maintenance may be considered as substitute for the minimum experience requirements.
A valid NC Driver's License or CDL. Incumbent must be able to study and receive NC Pesticide License.

• Classification: Horticulture Specialist
• Position Competency Level: Journey
• Position Number: 019137- Formal Gardens Crew Leader
• Employment Type: SHRA
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Recruitment Salary Range: 45,731.00
• Salary Grade Equivalent:
• Location: 100 Fredrick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806 USA
• Posting Open Date: 1/20/2026
• Posting Close Date: 2/2/2026

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To claim veteran's preference, all eligible persons must indicate their eligibility as requested on the application. A DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, may be required later in the selection process.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Human Resources Contact Information
Applicants needing assistance with the application process are asked to contact: recruiter@northcarolina.edu.