Employment
Applications are accepted online only via employment@chicagobotanic.org. We are unable to accept any in-person or phone calls related to updates on application status or timelines. Anticipated dates to fill positions are to be determined. We thank you for your patience.
Please check back for information about opportunities in various departments at the Garden. Resumés and applications are only accepted for open positions. Applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered. Please see how to apply for further information.
Click here for internships.
Seasonal
Requisition Number: 893
Overview: The assistant horticulturist seasonals work closely with the horticulturists to maintain a diverse collection of plants in different display gardens with high attention to detail. They will spend most of their time working out in the gardens and assisting with the supervision of other seasonal staff and volunteers. They will be working in different areas with responsibilities such as using... Read more
Requisition Number: 897
Overview: The seasonal assistant horticulturist works closely with the horticulturists to maintain a diverse collection of plants in display gardens with high attention to detail. They will spend most of their time working in the Malott Japanese garden and assisting with the supervision of other seasonal staff and volunteers. This is a seasonal, full-time position anticipated to work for 22 weeks. The... Read more
Requisition Number: 869
Overview: To support with the delivery of three summer, hands-on science internship program for students in grades 7-12. The assistant instructor will collaborate with the lead College First instructor and program manager to develop and evaluate an environmental science curriculum with emphasis on Sustainability and STEM, for the College First program and oversee logistical operations for the summer. The... Read more
Requisition Number: 891
Overview: Assist the lead teacher to deliver a high quality, mission-based, early childhood educational program. Implement developmentally appropriate lessons to children ages 3 to 5 in a nature-based setting. We have two positions available that are for ten months, from the end of August 2021 to an anticipated end date of May 2022. Assistant Preschool Teacher A: Resource, approximately 14.5 hours per... Read more
Requisition Number: 892
Overview: The custodian is responsible for ensuring clean and well-maintained areas within the facilities of the Garden. The custodian will assist in setting up and cleaning up from special events, especially weddings and supporting other departments. This is a seasonal, full-time position, working 40 hours a week—Monday and Thursday through Sunday, 4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The season is anticipated to end... Read more
Requisition Number: 861
Overview: To answer phone calls directed to the Support Center from the Garden's main phone number and provide information to our varied customer base. Process registrations and memberships, and provide public information for Chicago Botanic Garden programs that require registration. This is a seasonal position where you can be part-time working up to 28 hours a week or option to be full-time working... Read more
Requisition Number: 885
Overview: Six seasonal groundskeepers will be hired for general landscaping and grounds maintenance, consisting primarily of manual labor under the direction of full-time horticulture staff; working independently or with a crew. Assist with special projects such as event preparation and support. This is a seasonal, full-time position working Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There may be... Read more
Requisition Number: 871
Overview: To deliver a hands-on, free summer science program for Chicago Public Schools students in grades 7 to 10. The instructor will collaborate with a co-instructor to co-deliver an informal science curriculum with emphasis on ecology and sustainability. The instructor should be available to work/teach for 37.5 hours/week from June 21 to August 6, 2021.
Requisition Number: 884
Overview: The primary responsibility of the seasonal assistant plant health care position is to keep the general grounds free of weeds. This person will spend most of their time working independently out on the general grounds performing manual weed control, spraying herbicides, and performing general landscape maintenance. This person also assists the plant health care specialists with other duties such... Read more
Requisition Number: 820
Overview: The postdoctoral researcher hired for this short-term position will contribute to ongoing efforts to reconstruct phylogenies of Onagraceae at multiple taxonomic levels. Data collection has already been completed, and DNA sequence data (target enrichment for over 300 nuclear genes) is available for over 600 taxa. Phylogenomic analyses are underway; the postdoc hired will assist in implementing... Read more
Requisition Number: 863
Overview: A Security Officer at the Chicago Botanic Garden serves the visitors, members and staff by maintaining the safety and security of the property, personnel and collections of the Chicago Botanic Garden. This is accomplished through a combination of driving patrols, foot patrols, emergency response, standing guard duty, observation, reporting, and working closely with local law enforcement and... Read more
Requisition Number: 864
Overview: A Visitor Support Associate is the first person to greet people as they enter the Garden through the Gatehouse. In addition to welcoming staff, visitors and other personnel to the Garden, the Visitor Support Associate will also accurately record attendance figures, perform cash-handling functions, and direct people to the correct locations. This is a seasonal part-time position with schedule... Read more
Year-Round
Requisition Number: 874
Overview: The custodian is responsible for ensuring clean and well-maintained areas within the facilities of the Garden. This employee will assist in setting up and cleaning up from special events and supporting other departments. This is a year-round part-time position, working Saturdays and Sundays, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Requisition Number: 887
Overview: To develop and maintain an effective Volunteer Program to meet the needs of the Chicago Botanic Garden, its visitors, and volunteers. This is a full-time position working Monday to Friday.
Requisition Number: 895
Overview: Assist the floriculturist, outdoor, in day-to-day greenhouse and nursery operations, with a focus on growing duties. Help with plant deliveries to Garden areas as needed. Position needs to be flexible to work in changing environments and with different divisions within the department. Watering will be a focus of the position and a required skill set. Manage the organization and hardening off... Read more
Requisition Number: 880
Overview: The Negaunee Institute is searching for a postdoctoral research associate to participate in a project led by Greg Mueller, Chief Scientist & Negaunee Vice President of Science, focused on macrofungal diversity and distribution patterns of southern neotropical montane Quercus forests (Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia). Efforts will include DNA sequencing of specimens from past and ongoing... Read more
Requisition Number: 890
Overview: A security officer at the Chicago Botanic Garden serves the visitors, members, and staff by maintaining the safety and security of the property, personnel, and collections of the Garden. This is accomplished through a combination of driving patrols, foot patrols, emergency response, standing guard duty, observation, reporting, and working closely with local law enforcement and emergency response... Read more
Requisition Number: 894
Overview: The social media specialist is responsible for developing engaging content for our online community to drive conversation that contributes to our brand awareness and convert audiences into visitors, members, and brand advocates. The specialist joins our director, social media and public relations, to execute a strategy that enthusiastically communicates directly with our diverse audience as the... Read more
The Chicago Botanic Garden welcomes veterans to our workforce. At the Garden, where we are a leading provider of horticultural therapy services for veterans, we value the dedication of our nation's service members.
We believe that veterans add a unique perspective and bring valuable experience to the workforce. As part of our commitment to veterans, the Garden has joined the state of Illinois and other leading Illinois employers in the Illinois Hires Heroes Consortium (IHHC). Consortium members agree to implement programs to recruit, train, and retain veterans; we will list jobs on sites including Hero2Hired (H2H), a site aimed at helping veterans find jobs. We have completed training to help us understand military skills and how that experience can be applied to our work at the Garden.
We encourage veterans to apply for internships, as well as full- and part-time employment.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns.
EEO is the Law & Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision Poster