SUMMARY
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is a unique and high profile tourist attraction. We provide customer-service-focused education that promotes the appreciation of butterflies and other invertebrates and highlights the important role these animals play in our ecosystem. We value our positive work culture, prioritize a work-life balance, and encourage collaboration among our strong team of passionate experts.
This role helps to maintain and improve our plant collections. Ensuring that our plants and grounds are healthy and properly cared for is vital as our gardens and greenhouse play an important role in not only guest visits but also in feeding our animals and acting as a habitat catered to bees, butterflies and other native wildlife. The Horticulture Assistant will work closely with the Horticulture & Lead Greenhouse Technician and will assist with a diverse assortment of Horticulture duties that reflect the immediate needs of the organization. Typical daily responsibilities of the Horticulture Assistant include caring for the Conservatory’s plant collection and maintaining the greenhouse.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Working closely with the Horticulturist and Landscape Technician, will be tasked with the care for and maintain plants in the butterfly conservatory, outdoor native pollinator gardens and lawns
- Plant husbandry for our vast plant collection, including planting, watering, weeding, fertilising, mulching, and pruning, both inside the tropical Conservatory and outdoors
- Maintain the outdoor walking and wheelchair paths
- Maintain plant ID signs and update plant catalogue as necessary
- Propagate and maintain the plants in the vegetable garden/greenhouse used to feed the live animal and insect collection
- Maintain the monarch butterfly milkweed teaching gardens, the wild lupine garden habitat for the extirpated Karner Blue Butterfly, the New Jersey Tea plot used for captive rearing the endangered Mottled Duskywing butterfly
- Lawn maintenance including mowing and line trimming
- Assist with pest removal and application of bio-controls in the tropical Conservatory
- Maintaining clean a tidy tool shed and work areas
- Garbage removal of parking lot and grounds
- Dividing and cultivating conservatory plants
- Oversee regular cleaning & re-filling of bird feeders including nectar and oriole feeders
- Follow all PPC-D containment protocol while working in the containment zone
Additional Duties
- Other duties to support daily operations and customer service as assigned
- Assist other departments as needed
- Adhere to all Company policies, rules, systems and procedures which are outlined in the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory Employee Handbook, as well as all Health and Safety policies and procedures and safe work practices
QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIREMENTS, & SKILLS
Education
- An interest in or pursuing post-secondary education in horticulture, landscaping, plant biology, or a related field an asset
Skills & Abilities
- Adapt with changing job requirements and goals based on business needs
- Coordinate in a team environment and work with others to achieve shared goals
- Identify issues and apply solutions to fix problems across the facility and grounds
- Stay organized and manage time, priorities, & deadlines
- Exchange thoughts and information with colleagues and customers through a variety of forms
- Use digital technology through computer, tablet and other device’s software, systems, and applications
Certifications
- Police Background Check (Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check)
Knowledge
- Interest in insects, invertebrates, and plants an asset
UNIFORM
Staff are required to wear the appropriate uniform, footwear and safety equipment at all times
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
This is a fixed-term, full-time position starting in early May until early September. The shifts are typically from 6 am to 2 pm on both weekdays and weekends. The rate of pay is expected to be $18.50/hour.
All staff receive discounts for tickets, Gift Store merchandise, and food from the Chrysalis Café. CBC also offers an Employee Assistance Program to all employees.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and strive to create an accessible experience. We will accommodate in accordance with the Human Rights Code in all stages of the recruitment and selection process.
PROCESS
This posting is for an upcoming vacancy.
Don't meet every qualification? If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
We thank all applicants in advance; however, we will be corresponding only with selected candidates.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract, Seasonal
Contract length: 4 months
Pay: $18.50 per hour
Expected hours: 37.5 per week
Benefits:
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Store discount
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Cambridge, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
