Grounds Crew Aide (Living Collections)

The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned nonprofit dedicated to protecting and growing trees locally and globally. We are seeking a seasonal grounds crew aide to support the Living Collections crew. Grounds Crew Aides at The Morton Arboretum have many diverse responsibilities that span across different work areas in the Collections & Facilities Department. As a member of the Living Collections Crew you will assist the full-time horticulture staff in the maintenance of the woody plant specimens in the Geographic, Taxonomic, and Special Habitat Collections on the grounds. Youll be part of an incredible team working together to make the Arboretum exceptional.

Position Summary: Assist the Collections and Facilities staff with the care of Arboretum grounds and facilities.

Essential Functions:
Duties will be assigned according to current projects in progress. Work will involve some of the following tasks:
planting, dividing, and transplanting trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and herbaceous plants
weeding, mulching, and watering
cultivating and fertilizing
arboricultural work, including removal of dead wood, structural pruning, and the removal of dead or declining plants
hedge trimming
edging beds, brush cutting
removing litter, twigs, leaves, and other material from assigned and adjacent areas
safe and proper use of pesticides and pesticide mixing/storage facility
invasive species surveillance and control
monitoring and controlling threatening insects, diseases, and nuisance animals
Learn, understand, and demonstrate the ability to safely operate and maintain tools and equipment used in daily work.
May assist in preparing and maintaining garden or collection for special events, exhibitions, and other large-scale grounds projects.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Ability to operate small equipment and use hand tools required.

Success Factors: Ability to perform physical labor indoors and outdoors, requiring strength and endurance, in all kinds of weather. Ability to be flexible, self-motivated, neat, and safety-conscious in use of tools. Good communication skills. Ability to embrace and align with the organizations employee core values to be inclusive, take ownership, work together, keep learning and make the Arboretum exceptional.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Physical Demands: Requires significant amount of physical activity: limited lifting and carrying (up to 60 or 100 lbs. assisted), bending, , pushing, pulling, standing, walking, kneeling, and traveling by vehicles. Sense of vision and hearing in the normal range with or without correction. Sense of touch and the ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment required.

Work Environment: Work is primarily performed outdoors in all weather conditions. May have exposure to loud or prolonged noise and/or vibration. Tobacco use is not permitted anywhere on Arboretum grounds.

Equipment: Hand gardening tools including loppers, pruning shears, rake, saw, shovel; power equipment including backpack blower, chain saw, edger, lawn mower, rototiller, weed whip; Cushman cart, pick-up truck, tractor, bicycle, two-way radio.

Starting Wage: $15.00/hour

To apply, visit https://mortonarb.org/join-support/employment/.

All Arboretum employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Morton Arboretum is an equal opportunity employer disability/veteran.