Opening Date: 02/18/2026

Closing Date: 03/04/2026

Job Title: Garden Steward

Salary/Wage: 21.60/hr

Tribal Level: 110.1

Location: Siletz, OR.

Classification: Part-Time, Non-Exempt, Seasonal.

Job Posting Number: 3932784

INTRODUCTION:

The Seasonal Garden Steward will be part of the Garden Program team that works in partnership with the Garden Manager, Garden Committee, tribal administration, tribal members, and community members to support the development of the Clinic’s farm property. This position provides plant and landscape stewardship services to the Garden Program by supporting harvest, planting, cultivation, and distribution strategies.

DUTIES:

• Assist in the implementation of comprehensive garden plans including the planting and cultivation of orchards, fresh produce, berries, cultural plants and foods.
• Make regular inspections to ensure that all gardens are being properly maintained, cultivated, and disease-free.
• Maintain plant database and identification signs throughout the property.
• Assist in all seeding, planting, harvesting, pruning, watering, cultivation, processing and other tasks associated with garden plants.
• Properly maintains equipment and hand tools and assures safe and proper storage.
• Operate small equipment including two-wheel tractors, cultivators, and lawnmowers, as well as small equipment tools such as chainsaws, string trimmers, and chippers.
• Assist with all aspects of gardening, habitat restoration, events, and other Garden Program support tasks.
• Perform custodial duties within assigned work areas.
• Continual learning commitment to cultural competency.
• Perform other Garden Program functions as assigned by Garden Manager.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

• This position is supervised by the Garden Manager who assigns projects and priorities.

GUIDELINES:

• Follow verbal and written communication from the Garden Manager.
• Considerable guidance is also received from a Garden Committee consisting of staff leadership in other departments.
• Guidance is also derived from facility manuals, contracting and procurement regulations, catalogs, blueprints, construction standard codes, MSDS sheets and customary practices.
• Guidelines include tribal travel regulations, operations and personnel manuals, technical literature, manufacturer's catalogs and handbooks, and various safety and operations manuals or directives issued by outside agencies.

COMPLEXITY:

• The employee is expected to complete assignments ensuring the safe completion of assigned responsibilities.
• The incumbent must work collaboratively with multiple garden staff, programs, as well as other internal and external partners.

SCOPE AND EFFECT:

• The purpose of this work is to provide a service in the form of usable gardens, safe and secure grounds, healthy access to food, and plant knowledge.
• This work promotes the efficiency, health, and well-being of activities through the stewardship of existing and future gardens, grounds, plant nursery, orchards, and other plant resources.

CONTACTS:

• This employee will routinely have contact with a large number of individuals, including vendors, public and governmental agencies, management staff, department staff, architects, engineers and contractors, and the general public.
• Employee is expected to conduct these personal contacts in a respectful, professional manner at all times.

PURPOSE OF CONTACTS:

• Contacts are to exchange information, coordinate on projects, obtain information about native plants, resolve problems, obtain information of research topics, advise staff on various subjects, purchasing, attendance at meetings, and providing direction to management staff, Tribal Council, or the public, as requested.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Constantly requires the ability to receive detailed information through oral or written communication; constantly requires verbally expressing or exchanging ideas or important instructions.
• Considerable amount of time outdoors gardening, working with plants, cultivating, watering, harvesting, and digging.
• Frequent use of fingers and hands in repetitive motion while using a wide variety of gardening tools, motorized tools, equipment, and a computer.
• Constantly requires walking or hiking long distances over rough/uneven ground while carrying tools, supplies, and equipment.
• Frequently involves lifting, moving, shoving or otherwise moving over 60 pounds.
• Frequent walking, standing, sitting, and moving for sustained periods of time.
• Occasionally requires stooping, which entails the use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Frequent use of eyes to read instructions, safety manuals, seed catalogs, reports, research, and other documents.
• Frequent movement in/out of environmental conditions, including rain, wind, ice and sun.
• Use of driving abilities to maneuver vehicles and equipment.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Selectee will be required to submit to a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use before employment. We are a drug free work environment.
• Selectee will need to provide valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.
• Selectee understands that they must prove that they are authorized to work in the United States.
• Selectee will be subjected to a criminal history background check.
• Selectee authorizes the employing agency to verify the employment and education information provided on employment application.
• Selectee agrees to conform to all the CTSI’s rules and policies.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Administrative work is conducted in a variety of locations, which include office settings, warehouses, and meeting rooms. Physical work is conducted in warehouse environments, workshops, greenhouse, forest, gardens, and outdoors.
• The worker is frequently subject to varying and changing weather conditions including rain, sun, wind, sleet, ice, and occasionally snow.
• Field work in a variety of seasons, weather conditions and landscapes is required.
• Travel is occasionally required in well-maintained vehicles.

REQUIREMENTS:

High school diploma/GED.

Knowledge of:

• Working with indigenous/native communities.
• Basic gardening skills, seed starting, and produce harvesting techniques.
• Irrigation and water systems.
• Safe handling and storage requirements of produce.

Experience in:

• Safely working with machinery, tools, mowers, cultivators, saws, or other farm-related equipment.
• Working outdoors for extended periods of time.
• Planting, harvesting, processing, or cultivating plants.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate strong communication skills—written, verbal, and in one-on-one interactions—and be comfortable working in/with groups.
• Prioritize duties to develop the Garden’s value as a resource to tribal members.
• Be highly organized, able to work independently, and make accurate estimates of timing and growing conditions required of plants to be grown by Garden Program.
• Be able to perform physical work required for greenhouse, field, tool, irrigation, and garden property maintenance.