The Horticulture Team Lead will perform duties such as the installation of exciting and underutilized plants, watering, weeding, removal of invasive plants, pruning, fertilization, grading and other tasks needed for general care and maintenance of planted areas. The team is responsible for the beautification efforts for the Houston Zoo, including a large collection of bamboo, palm trees, exotic plants, and more. In addition, the Horticulture Team Lead will also assist in the field supervision of the Horticulture Technicians when necessary. May occasionally be required to work weekends, holidays and beyond scheduled work hours and provide crowd control, if necessary, during peak times.
Our Mission:
- Houston Zoo connects communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.
Our Vision:
- Houston Zoo will be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Must have a positive attitude, good communication skills and be a team player
- Portray a helpful attitude when interacting with our Guests
- Assists the Supervisors when the team is split in to smaller groups and helps monitor individual Technician’s management of assigned areas of the Zoo
- Ensures the team remains productive in the absence of the Supervisors
- Mentors and guides the other team members
- Assists with the supervision of Volunteers ensuring that safety guidelines and Zoo protocols are followed
- Responds to radio calls when the Supervisors are unavailable
- Helps to create a positive attitude within the team and keep motivation levels high
- Inspects and corrects where and when necessary, the work performed by the team
- Reports on the progress of individual team members
- Assists in the training of team members in order to establish best practices and procedures
- Completes assigned Work Orders and ensures their data entry
- May be required to assist in the design of and then oversees the installation or renovation of Zoo landscaping
- Maintains appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with chemicals and machinery and ensures the team does the same
- Ensure compliance with OSHA standards and regulations, as well as state, local and federal ordinances. Observes safety regulations and ensures that field teams do the same
- Works with appropriate Zoo staff to co-coordinate projects and ensures that the team is prepared when projects are on-going in their area
- Responsible for communicating the progress of ongoing projects to the Horticulture Supervisors
- Responsible for the inventory and maintenance of departmental tools and equipment
- Responsible for maintaining fertilization and herbicide application records
- Ensures that the daily harvesting of browse for the Zoo’s animal collection is in line with our best practices
- Cleans and maintains zoo plantings both inside and outside of exhibits providing a pleasing and lush horticulture environment around the zoo
- Provides regular intensive maintenance of plant material, such as watering, fertilizing, pruning, weeding and performing other projects as required
- Contributes to saving animals in the wild through: reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions
- Performs other duties as assigned
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Science (e.g. Horticulture, Agriculture etc.) or equivalent work experience preferred
- One year or more of supervisory experience
- Must have a valid Texas Driver’s License and comply with policy on driving
- Two years of experience in a horticultural field such as landscape installation, grounds maintenance, plant production or tree work are required.
- A sound background in the identification and culture of plants, as well as working knowledge of horticultural best practices.
- Specialist technical skills highly desirable for example, backhoe, skid-steer, chipper, chainsaw etc.
About Houston Zoo
- Houston Zoo is made up of many moving parts with over 6,000 permanent residents (our animals) for whom we provide housing, meals, medical care and, yes, even education!
- There are over 2 million guests each year who come to experience our incredible variety of animals and ecosystems, as well as attend special private and public events and entertainment.
- Our dedicated staff works around the clock to ensure that the Zoo is always running smoothly for the safety and well-being of our residents and guests.
- We strive to ensure the protection of all the counterparts of the animals we have at the Zoo and in the wild.
- Join the Houston Zoo and become a part of an organization that is focused on the preservation of wildlife and their habitats by combining conservation with education and promotion of sustainable livelihoods in the local communities.
- Houston Zoo is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
