Title: Lead, Horticulture
Employee Classification: 52 Wks Unit
***Internal Classified Unit Employees who apply in the first 5 working days from publish date will be given due consideration. External applicants will only be considered, after all qualified internal candidates have been deemed unsuccessful.***
Department: Horticulture
Salary Range: 43,750
Who we are:
We are not-for-profit: St. Louis Community college (STLCC) is a non-profit institution dedicated to empowering students, expanding minds, and changing lives. Employees are committed to strengthening the St. Louis community with inclusive and transformative education.
We are a respected employer: For 60 years, STLCC has served the St. Louis community, expanding to 4 main campuses, 2 education centers, 2 workforce training centers, and 5 centers of excellence. More than one-half of the households in St. Louis have at least one member who has taken classes at STLCC.
We make an impact in the community: Through credit courses, continuing education, and workforce development programs, STLCC annually serves nearly 69,000 students. More than 80% of career and technical graduates employed in their fields or continue their education at four-year institutions within six months of graduation. STLCC sends more transfer students to Missouri’s four-year colleges/universities than anyone else.
We value Diversity, equity & inclusion: STLCC is committed to fostering an atmosphere of appreciation for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or class.
What you get:
Benefits package [for full-time employees]: STLCC offers one of the best benefit packages in the St. Louis area. As a STLCC employee you will have access to a 100% match on your contribution to retirement, two health insurance plans options that are no cost to the employee - including an HSA option, low-cost life insurance with a 3x salary benefit, and other low-cost benefits including dental, vision, AD&D, ST LT disability insurance.
Opportunity to grow: Over half of our employees have served the college for more than 12 years, exploring different career paths and advancing to higher level positions.
Education & training opportunities: STLCC offers tuition waivers for employees [full-time and part-time] + their dependents. Full-time employees can take advantage of tuition reimbursement for other institutions after just 6 months of service, and an annual professional development allotment.
Work/life balance: Full-time STLCC employees have access to a generous time off package, including holidays, vacation, personal days, medical leave, and other leave options. Our holiday schedule even includes a paid winter holiday at the end of the calendar year.
Commitment to wellness: STLCC HR boasts a dedicated health and wellness specialist who is enthusiastic about creating a culture of wellness throughout the College. With access to college wellness vendors, employees are educated, motivated, and rewarded for healthy behaviors. STLCC employees and anyone living in their household also have access to an employee assistance program (EAP) that can help them with virtually any life need.
The basics of this position:
The Horticulture Lead leads the horticultural team in creating and actively managing the exterior gardens and labs for student use, working directly with students to accomplish short-term and long-term educational goals.
What you'll do:
- Establishes and maintains high horticultural standards and practices, providing direction for the horticultural staff, students, and volunteers
- Oversees crews to ensure quality work is being performed in a safe and efficient manner, monitoring and giving feedback daily
- Trains all staff on equipment use, maintenance practices, and safety procedures
- Manages and supports overall plant health and soil nutrition strategies for all gardens, including sustainable gardening practices and integrated pest management
- Maintains a systematic plant record database and plant inventory collection
- Monitors that all operational facilities, systems, and equipment are kept organized, clean, and operating properly
- Plans, applies, and documents all chemical usage in the outdoor and indoor gardens
- Collaborates with the Greenhouse Lead, College grounds and facilities departments, or outside contractors as necessary
- Implements and monitors the operational department budget, strategic planning, and horticultural capital projects
- Collaborates and participates with department team in public engagement and off-campus activities to promote the program
- Additional duties as assigned
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Constantly required to stand, walk, and move around for extended periods of time
- Constantly required to bend, kneel, and reach to access plants and equipment
- Constantly required to use manual dexterity to handle plants, tools, and equipment with precision
- Constantly required to operate and maintain horticultural equipment and machinery
- Regularly required to lift, carry, and move objects weighing up to 50 pounds or more
- Regularly required to perform repetitive tasks that involve manual labor and physical exertion
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Work requires the daily use of gloves, safety goggles, ear plugs, and/or other personal protection equipment depending on daily tasks
- Regularly work outdoors in various weather conditions including very hot and very cold temperatures
Education, experience, and other requirements:
• Associate degree in Horticulture, Biology, Agriculture, or a related field with 1 - 3 years of experience
• Must have, or acquire within 60 days, a state of Missouri certified applicators license
• Must have a valid Class F driver’s license
• ISA Certified Arborist certification required
Preferred Qualifications:
N/A
