Summer Intern: Horticulture

Primary Function: Interns work with experts in their fields, gain valuable job experience, and engage in meaningful work. 

Job Qualifications: Eligible interns are either an undergraduate or graduate student or a recent college graduate.

Clearances: Criminal Background-National

Physical Activities to Perform Essential Functions: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily.   Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Moving:

• Requires frequent and prolonged standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and pulling.
• Ability to be active throughout a full day of work, including standing for prolonged periods and walking on various terrains.
• Ability and willingness to lift 25 lbs. with proper tools and equipment. 
• Ability to move to access files, equipment or supplies.

Vision Requirements:

• Position requires limited time on computer.

Communication Requirements:   

• Clearly communicate in person, by phone, and by video conference.  
• Communicate with others in conversational and written English. 

Working Conditions:

• Position operates in the foundation’s buildings and on the foundation’s grounds at the Philadelphia campus.
• Must be willing and able to work in inclement weather conditions, especially heat and humidity.

Job Responsibilities: The Horticulture Intern will work alongside horticulture staff to gain practical, hands-on work experience in public horticulture by learning all aspects of maintaining a perennial garden designed by Piet Oudolf. Daily tasks may include weeding, planting, cutting back perennials, watering, pruning, and general cleanup while learning the highest standards of garden care. Demonstrated interest in public gardens, garden maintenance, and/or plants is preferred.

Interns may: 

• Actively learn horticultural practices through hands-on experience.
• Maintain the appearance of the garden by removing weeds.
• Assist in planting new perennials in the garden, cutting back perennials, and help with watering and pruning.
• Safely operate hand tools needed for garden maintenance. 
• Use power equipment to keep pathways clean and tidy, such as a backpack blower and electric blower. 
• Learn to identify plants.  
• Work with volunteers to maintain the gardens.
• Perform manual labor in various weather conditions, including heat, humidity and rain.
• Walk, stand, bend, and kneel for extended periods. 

Organization-Wide Competencies:

1. Accountability: 

a. Prepares for work assignments and meetings, 

b. Conducts thorough fact-finding, decision-making and/or follow through, 

c. Admits mistakes and errors and informs others when one is not able to meet a commitment.

2. Job Quality: 

a. Dependably demonstrates job knowledge necessary for the position,

b. Produces timely, accurate, high quality work output, 

c. Prioritizes work responsibilities effectively and produces work quantity expected for the role.

3. Service: 

a. Identifies problems and collaborate with others to devise and create effective solutions. 

b. Interacts and communicates with fellow employees in a manner that promotes a harmonious and cooperative working environment in accordance with our Core Values. 

c. Facilitates open communication and keeps an open mind about new ideas.

4. Leadership: 

a. Sets a good example for others, 

b. Demonstrates ethical decision-making and communication, 

c. Makes decisions. Uses a solution-oriented, collaborative approach.

5. Collaboration: 

a. Seeks win-win outcomes in decision-making, 

b. Shows a proactive, inclusive, helpful, and respectful attitude to colleagues, guests and others, 

c. Takes initiative to contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives.