General Info

Employment at the Chicago Botanic Garden

TITLE: Aquatic Plant Maintenance — FILLED

Seasonal Position (May/June through August/September/October)

PURPOSE: Strengthen the Chicago Botanic Garden's aquatic plant and urban lake studies program by maintaining and documenting the Garden's collection of aquatic plants.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Maintain the Garden's recently installed collection of more than a quarter-million aquatic and shoreline plants.

2. Assist the director of restoration ecology and the aquatic plant specialist with duties and responsibilities as assigned to meet the needs of the Garden's aquatic plant and urban lake studies program; its aquatic plant collection; and research programs related to lake water quality, shoreline stabilization, aquatic habitat, and aquatic plant ecology.

3. Staff in this position are provided with an exceptional opportunity to learn native wetland plant identification and gain a better understanding of lake shoreline erosion control strategies and shoreline ecology.

4. New in 2009, the Rainwater Glen garden of diverse rain garden plant taxa will be added as a key landscape and environmental enhancement feature of the Garden’s new state-of-the-art Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. An exceptionally qualified aquatic plant maintenance seasonal hire will be responsible for nurturing and managing this extraordinary garden.

DEPARTMENT: Restoration Ecology

REPORTS TO: Director of Restoration Ecology

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor's degree and/or experience in botany, horticulture, aquatic ecology, or equivalent. Knowledge relating to identification and care of native aquatic and emergent shoreline plants desired. Must have a high comfort level being in and around water, and an ability to swim should the need arise in an emergency. Also, must be comfortable operating row boats and electric trolling motors, and an ability to lift and carry 35 pounds.

Updated January 27, 2009