Botanical Curator & Designer Calgary, Ab

Take the next step in your career by joining the team at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo and grow your experience at one of the most unique sites in Calgary! The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is seeking a full-time permanent Botanical Curator & Designer who is a horticultural specialist as well as plant curator for the zoo plant collection.
The Botanical Curator & Designer is responsible for the design and planning of the zoo gardens, the temperate zones, the tropical zones, and the thematic landscape zones. The position is also responsible for the supervision of horticultural staff and volunteers relating to the cultivation and maintenance requirements and acts as the community liaison for related public inquiries. This position is also our contributing author for horticultural publications.
Our Mission | Take and inspire action to sustain wildlife and wild places
Our Values | Effective collaboration and communication, honesty and integrity, customer focus, safety, and conservation
What You Will Do

• Promotes the botanical gardens and horticulture initiatives through support of education and marketing efforts
• Contributes information, knowledge of gardens to various print and televised media as requested including speaking opportunities and presentations and website updates. Responds to public inquiries as required
• Maintains City of Calgary tree inventory database on an annual basis.
• Horticultural advisor to capital projects
• Leads/collaborates in design of zoo wide seasonal displays for the ENMAX Conservatory and other spaces and leads implementation activities
• Responsible for maintenance of plant collection records: plant inventory, mapping and image files
• Responsible for acquisition of plant materials and horticultural supplies as needed for Horticultural team while maintaining budgetary constraints
• Responsible for all plant labeling and contributes content for botanical signage
• Responsible for internal technical horticultural training of staff
• Responsible for landscape designs for the Dorothy Harvie Gardens and other ornamental landscapes at the zoo
• Provides direction and supervision to the horticultural staff regarding care of plant collections in the Dorothy Harvie Gardens and other ornamental plant displays at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
• Promotes the mission of the zoo through horticulture and botanical collections
• Plans and facilitates chrysalis shipments and maintains related budget
• Provides horticultural expertise/design for zoo events as required

Additional training that may be required and provided by the Zoo includes, WHIMIS, zoonotic disease awareness, vehicle operator training, respiratory protection, pest control, lock out/tag out, hazard assessment & control, fire extinguisher use, Bobcat Training, Code Adam, First Aid, ISA Certification, Pesticide Applicators Licensing, boom lift and Fall Protection.
What You Will Bring

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Operations – Landscaping Architect Facilities
• Proven experience working in a supervisory role and/or customer service environment
• Familiar with Microsoft Office Suite
• Proven ability to work in a team environment
• Bachelors in Horticulture is an asset
• Minimum 5 years experience as a horticulturist
• Strong organizational and planning skills including demonstrated ability to effectively multi-task, set priorities, manage time dynamic schedules
• College Diploma in Horticulture or related post secondary education required.
• Class 5 Driver’s License
• Drafting in AutoCAD or CAD based landscape programs
• Proven ability to troubleshoot structural systems
• Proven ability to maintain a safe work environment
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Knowledge of plant taxonomy, plant identification and botanical nomenclature
• Experience in landscape project management

Working Conditions:

• Frequent on-grounds mobility required with extended periods of walking and some lifting
• Periods of sedentary administrative duties including work on computer for long periods of time in an office setting
• The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is an outdoor facility and all staff working at the zoo must be comfortable working in a large variety of outdoor conditions. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo follows the advice of Environment Canada when responding to temperature and air quality issues.

What the Zoo Offers:

• Employer matching RRSP program
• Competitive compensation, vacation and flex days entitlement
• Discounts on food, beverage, and merchandise
• Participation in the Staff Pass Benefit plan
• A fun, rewarding work environment and the opportunity to work in a park full of wild animals.
• Flexible benefits plan, including a health spending account

Are you ready to join one of Canada’s leaders in wildlife conservation? If this position suits your skills, experience and personal attributes, we want to talk to you.
Apply By Doing The Following

• Submit your resume with a cover letter via our online application system.
• Watch this video about the conservation work being done at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DVBNXBhlCE)

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
If this position is a fit for you, we encourage you to apply with a resume and cover letter. The job posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. We encourage you to apply early!
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo strives to cultivate a workplace in which everyone feels welcome and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. As a conservation organization, we respect and value the diversity of all life and come together as individuals and teammates to achieve the organization’s mission and vision. We recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and work to advance our culture to ensure diverse viewpoints are heard and everyone has an equitable chance to succeed and thrive.
All candidates are thanked for their applications and advised that only those selected for interviews will be contacted.