Assistant Horticulturist

Title: Assistant Horticulturist

State Role Title: Trades Technician I

Hiring Range: $30,000 - $35,000

Pay Band: 1

Agency: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Location: MAIN MUSEUM

Agency Website: https://www.vmfa.museum/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) invites applications for the role of Assistant Horticulturist.

The mission of the Grounds team within the Buildings and Grounds department is to ensure that the museum presents an inviting appearance and maintains a superior standard of cleanliness and aesthetic in support of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the VMFA’s strategic plan, tourism goals, and educational/cultural enrichment goals. The appearance and cleanliness of the Museum is critical to its success and is a building block to achieving each goal in the FY25-28 Strategic Plan.

This role is responsible for assisting in the general maintenance, care, improvement, and appearance of the Museum’s grounds and Sculpture Garden.


Duties include:
● Enhance the quality, scope, and variety of the Museum’s entire program, on campus, and Statewide.
● Ensure the quality and health of the grounds and landscape displays. Performs daily maintenance (planting, mulching, watering, fertilizing, weeding, etc.) and repair of garden as needed.
● Employs efficient maintenance practices using equipment and techniques common to contemporary landscape industry.
● Implements planting of approved landscape designs under direction of Horticulturist and Horticulture Manager
● Works with, and in the absence of the Horticulturist, leads a Volunteer / Student Intern and part-time staff-based Program to assist with maintenance of plant life. Trains, orients, and mentors participants of program.
● Assist with maintenance and use of grounds keeping and snow removal equipment.
● Maintain, through knowledge of normal practices for the industry, the Museum campus at its current level or better.
● Maintain Sculpture Garden water fountains and water garden.
● To assist with any other Museum department as requested or as directed by supervisor.
● Clean up after inclement weather year-round - including snow removal
● Documentation to include time sheets and accident reports etc. to be forwarded to supervisor in a timely fashion.
● To properly use procurement policies including the use of SWaM and micro SWaM contractors
● Designated / Essential Staff - May be required to perform other duties related to security, safety and health as assigned (i.e. training). May be required to assist the museum or state government during inclement weather or in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor or the Director of the Museum.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of standard practices of ground maintenance industry
Ability to follow written and verbal direction and safety procedures
Ability work without direct supervision
Ability to perform ground maintenance tasks
Ability to use hand and power tools directly associated with Grounds maintenance
Ability to lift or move heavy objects
Experience with water management preferred.
Experience repairing and maintenance of basic landscape equipment.
Valid Virginia driver's license.

Additional Considerations

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies typically obtained through the completion of a high school diploma or equivalent level of practical experience.

Current pesticide applicators license preferred.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VMFA is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Employer.

All applicants must submit an online application. This posting will close at 11:55 p.m. on September 10, 2025.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resource Services

Phone: please email

Email: recruitment@vmfa.museum

 

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will nee