Mt. Cuba Center is seeking highly qualified instructors to teach classes at our botanical garden in Hockessin, DE. Classes can fall under one or more of the following categories: gardening, horticulture, landscape design, plant conservation, art, or wellness. Instructors with expertise in one of these specific fields and who teach with an ecological perspective are invited to apply online. These are contract positions.

The Seasonal Horticulturists’ Assistant is responsible for a broad range of garden maintenance activities in support of the Horticultural Team for the continued development and refinement of the gardens at Mt. Cuba Center. This position will assist the Horticultural Team in maintaining the health and care of living plant collections by performing a variety of horticultural tasks including, but not limited to: site/soil preparation, planting, transplanting, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilizing, herbicide/pesticide application, and pruning. Additionally, they will assist other divisions with horticultural projects and activities.

The Seasonal Grounds Maintenance Assistant supports the Grounds team in the overall maintenance of Mt. Cuba Center’s landscape, including woody and herbaceous plantings, lawns, woods, garden features, paths and roadways. This position will assist in maintaining the health and look of turf through mowing, fertilizing, watering, weed-eating, aerating, and applying compost and compost tea. Additionally, he/she will maintain roads, pathways, and parking areas through surface maintenance, renovations, and leaf, debris, and snow removal. The position supports horticultural activities such as planting, weeding, pruning, mulching, and other general maintenance activities for the care of plants, shrubs, and small trees. Preferred candidates will hold previous experience in basic landscaping duties such as lawn mowing, mulching, weeding, etc.

Mt. Cuba Center seeks a Plant Records Assistant to support the Plant Recorder in all Plant Records activities. This will include entering and maintaining computer-based plant records, production of accession tags and identification labels, conducting periodic inventories, and assisting staff with Mt. Cuba Center’s living collection information. The Plant Records Assistant operates under the daily supervision of the Plant Recorder.

What you’ll do:

• Assist the Plant Recorder in completing mapping activities and operate mapping equipment
• Conduct periodic inventories of Mt Cuba Center’s living collection
• Assist in the production of accession tags and identification labels
• Enter and maintain computer-based plant records into database system
• Provides assistance to the Collections and Curatorial staff

Qualifications:

• 1 year of experience in plant records, curatorial, or horticulture-related field
• Experience with plant records databases and plant mapping is highly desirable, but not required
• General knowledge of plant identification, plant growth and cultural characteristics
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and current knowledge-sharing technologies
• Must possess a strong interest in native plants, shrubs, and trees, and naturalistic landscaping
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with the staff and the public
• Ability to learn and adapt to various software and technology programs to complete work duties
• Self-motivated, organized, attentive to details, and the ability to manage time and effectively function without close supervision
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, holidays and special events as needed
• Requires moderate physical work; Frequent standing, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, reaching, carrying, lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects up to 30 pounds

Mt. Cuba Center seeks a part-time Public Safety Officer to provide an exceptional visitor experience by maintaining a safe and secure environment for Mt. Cuba Center visitors and employees.  Using excellent customer service skills, the Public Safety Officer circulates throughout the site, responds to visitor and staff concerns as they arise, and assists in the daily operations of the Visitor Experience Department by providing parking and setup/breakdown support.

This position is a part-time position with a flexible schedule. This candidate will be required to regularly work 12-24 hours per week, scheduled mainly between Wednesdays-Sundays during our visitation season (April- early November). The position will also be scheduled periodically for training and department updates outside of the normal schedule. This is a part-time position that will be limited to 1,000 hours maximum for the season.

This position will monitor safety and security of Mt. Cuba Center’s guests by working with staff to respond to emergencies, potential hazards, and other events that could be disruptive to the guest experience. Additionally, guest and event support will be needed such as directing parking, providing guest shuttle services, and answering general guest questions in a friendly and welcoming spirit.

Qualifications:

A qualified candidate will possess a High School Diploma or GED as well as the following desired qualities:

• Ability to plan, organize, and manage independent projects simultaneously with great attention to detail
• Ability to effectively communicate with the staff and the public
• Capable of independently making quick decisions with sound judgment and discretion
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a fast-paced environment with a high level of professionalism
• Self-motivated, organized, attentive to details, and the ability to manage time and effectively function without close supervision
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, holidays and special events as needed
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
• Must be at least 18 years of age

Work Environment: 

This position has moderate physical requirements including standing for extended periods of time, frequent walking on uneven terrain, and lifting up to 40 pounds. Mt. Cuba Center offers part-time staff competitive pay, access to our employee discount program, fun atmosphere, and a balanced work-life environment. We are looking for highly collaborative team members that will help us deliver remarkable experiences to our guests and hold a passionate enthusiasm for their work!

Having trouble applying? Please email careers@mtcubacenter.org for help.