Horticulturist (Greenhouse)

Full Job Description

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.

This position is located in the Smithsonian Gardens (SG) within the Smithsonian Institution (SI).

Smithsonian Gardens is a recognized collections unit which manages collections of garden artifacts, living plants and the Archives of American Gardens.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Basic Qualifications: You must submit your unofficial transcripts Basic Requirements: Degree: horticulture; or a related discipline of basic plant science that included at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, of which at least 16 semester hours were in horticultural subjects such as those dealing with the breeding, care, management, production, and post harvest handling of horticultural crops.

OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in horticulture or a related discipline of basic plant science that included course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Education: Courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, and similar courses may be used to meet the 30-semester-hour requirement in basic plant sciences.

The 16-semester-hour requirement in horticulture includes course work in basic horticulture and course work related to any of the recognized subject-matter fields of horticulture, i.e., fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, nursery work, seed production, or course work in related areas of science, such as micro-biology, entomology, plant pathology, plant physiology, or genetics that is directly related to horticultural work.

In addition to the basic qualification requirement above: Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system.

For this position specialized experience is defined as working in a greenhouse facility maintaining or culturing a diverse plant collection (such as perennials, tropical plants, or orchids); performing horticulturist duties such as plant identification, cultural care and record keeping; managing the physical operations of a greenhouse facility; and using specialized powered equipment such as utility vehicles and snow blowers.

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position.

Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience.

Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Or Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree in horticulture; or related discipline of basic plant science may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirements.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S.

accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Major Duties:

The Horticulturist supports the work of a horticultural program for the Smithsonian Gardens Greenhouses maintaining plants for display at the Smithsonian Institution, managing specific museum interiorscapes or handling the cultural care of the orchid collection within established procedures.

In this position, you will: Produce and maintain a diverse and unique palette of plants. Review and recommend supplies and equipment for section activities and initiates procurement orders and actions.

Maintain a written/electronic record on collection plants, inventories and cultural care activities.

Prepare and dispense a variety of chemicals such as, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and growth regulators. Coordinate IPM within area of responsibility and insures proper pesticide applications.