JOB POSTING / INTERNSHIP

Position : Junior Horticulture Assistant I (Intern)
Organization: University of Guelph Arboretum
Location: The Arboretum, Guelph, Ontario

Position Description

This Junior Horticulture Assistant I internship will provide experiential learning and training for a recent graduate in one of The Arboretum’s core areas of strength: plant science, botany, arboriculture, landscape architecture, or horticulture. The intern will have opportunities to apply skills and knowledge gained in their undergraduate program while further developing these skills and acquiring new ones, while being mentored by the Arboretum’s Manager of Horticulture and other senior staff. This internship will be focused on the care and propagation of woody plants in or intended for our botanical collections, helping us to fulfill our mandate of supporting teaching, research and outreach at the university and for the broader community. Specific areas of training will range from working with plants on the grounds (planting, pruning, etc.), to propagating and caring for plants in the greenhouse, to working specifically with rare and at-risk plant species, to tasks related to plant record-keeping (inventories, labelling, database work, etc.), to providing support for Arboretum workshop instructors.

The broad range of activities in which the intern will receive training and mentorship will represent in-depth, hands-on learning about what is involved in maintaining and developing formal plant collections at a facility like the Arboretum. Combined with the intern’s undergraduate program, this internship will provide an excellent foundation for a career in horticulture, botany, landscape architecture, and/or plant conservation biology at botanic gardens, public parks, conservation authorities, plant nurseries, etc.

Learning outcomes: after successful completion of this internship, the intern will have gained proficiency in the planning and execution of tasks related to plant propagation and care on the grounds, in the Arboretum’s living collections, and in greenhouse and nursery settings. The intern will have also gained an understanding of the importance of accurate plant record-keeping in a botanical garden setting and will have developed the ability to perform plant inventories, update the database and create plant labels. His/her depth of knowledge about horticultural techniques, plant biology, woody plant species identification, and database management will be greatly increased on completion of this internship. He/she will gain practice coordinating the tasks of others. On completion of the internship, the intern will have honed other workplace skills as well, including time management, prioritization of tasks, and problem-solving skills.

The internship will be open to a recent graduate (i.e. within one year), with a strong academic record. Any one intern may hold the Junior Horticulture Assistant I position for a minimum duration of 8 months, and a maximum duration of 1 year. In exceptional circumstances, a new role for a second year at an increased level of responsibility may be offered.

Assist in the propagation, planting and care of woody plants in The Arboretum. (70%)

Hands-on training opportunities will include learning and applying best practices in planting, pruning, watering, and weeding in the living collections on the Arboretum landscape. The intern will also learn and apply techniques related to growing trees from seed and grafting in the greenhouse. With all of these activities there are learning opportunities not just with the techniques themselves, but with regard to how different practices should be modified and adapted as they are applied to different species and varieties of woody plants. These and other assignments will require the intern to apply knowledge from his/her academic background, as well as skills acquired through mentoring in the position. Once the intern has had some training and experience in the position, he/she will be given some experience assisting with the coordination of day-to-day activities of the Arboretum’s summer student grounds workers, and other student employees such as work-study students, etc., as appropriate.

Assist in the updating and maintenance of the Arboretum’s database, tracking and labelling of woody plant specimens. (10%)

This position will provide opportunities for developing effective skills in plant collection inventory and the management of plant records. Good record-keeping is essential to high-quality botanical collections and ensures that they can be used in a meaningful way for teaching, research and conservation. The intern will also learn technical skills related to the design and creation of specimen accession tags and labels (e.g. label maker and laser engraver). Computer skills such as those required to work with specialized software (IrisBG database software, etc.) will be developed and applied by the intern. The intern will draw from his/her academic background (including the ability to find and interpret appropriate scientific information) when updating descriptions and taxonomic information about plant species.

Other activities as related to the operation of the Arboretum. (20%)

These may include communication with stakeholders, providing support for Arboretum workshop instructors and volunteers, and assisting with grounds management and essential grounds and facility care tasks. The installation of Arboretum features such as landscape/garden infrastructure, signage, social media and newsletter engagement, etc. The intern will also occasionally assist with providing information to visitors and volunteers, and as such will communicate scientific knowledge to various audiences.

Interns who show special interest and skills in areas of focus for the arboretum are offered additional opportunities. These projects could include aspects of landscape design, signage, wayfinding, community outreach, arboriculture, environmental restoration and greenhouse propagation and maintenance.

Employee Type: Temporary

Classification: Grant/ Trust fund position GTAT - Band A - $19.29/hour GTAT (Grant & Trust Administrative and Technical) Salary Grid

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 10/04/2024
Close Date: extended until filled – if this posting is up we will accept the application.

Please send all applications to:

Alison Morrison – Arboretum Manager
amorri37@uoguelph.ca

Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.