Horticulturist in Woodside, California at Filoli Center

• Horticulturist: Minimum 2 years of practical gardening experience.
• Provisional Horticulturist: Less than 1 year of experience (a structured program to build your skill set under Filoli leadership).

The Details

Location: Gorgeous Filoli Historic House & Garden

Position Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt, Hourly, Benefit Eligible

Schedule: Typically Tuesday through Saturday (5 consecutive days per week) from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, with evening and weekend flexibility needed for occasional events

Hourly Range: $36.00 to $39.00 per hour

• Formal Garden Care & Preservation: Execute precision pruning, hedging, topiary care, soil amendment, turf maintenance, and seasonal display plantings. Program and repair irrigation systems according to local climate data (CIMIS).
• Greenhouse & Production Ops: Propagate plants from seeds and cuttings, manage greenhouse mist and temperature systems, execute Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and maintain plant collection database records.
• Mentorship & Safety Leadership: Schedule routine work, lead group projects, and train Horticultural Trainees, Interns, and Service Learning volunteers. Lead safety workshops on equipment use, pesticide application, and ergonomics.
• Guest & Community Engagement: Share horticultural stories daily with estate visitors, lead private tours for donors and colleagues, and occasionally represent Filoli at garden clubs, public lectures, or learning classes.
• Special Events & Property Support: Partner across departments to support estate operations, seasonal lighting setups, and event logistics.

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture (or related field) preferred, paired with at least 2 years of practical garden care (or under 1 year for our Provisional track).
• Certifications: Valid Driver's License required. A California Qualified Applicator Certificate/License (QAC/QAL) is required within 6 months of hire (Filoli supports ongoing certifications like ISA, QWEL, or ReScape).
• Technical & Mechanical Aptitude: Proficient in operating power equipment, tractors, and hand tools safely. Comfortable with basic software (Google Workspace, MS Office, and plant database tools).
• Cultural Alignment: Committed to integrating an equity lens into daily work, fostering psychological safety, and contributing to Filoli’s DEAI goals.