Garden Stewards Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION: Garden Stewards Assistant

Department

Volunteer Programs

Supervisor

Volunteer Programs Manager

FLSA Status

Part-time/non-exempt (10-15 hours/week)

Location

Seattle, WA

Salary

$24-$27 per hour DOE

Revised

January 2025

The Arboretum Foundation's mission is to create and strengthen an engaged community of donors, volunteers, and advocates who will promote, protect, and enhance the Washington Park Arboretum for current and future generations.

The Garden Stewards Assistant provides coordination and support for regular volunteer work parties in the Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, bringing a small group of volunteers to the Arboretum to work on weeding and landscaping projects along Azalea Way, Woodland Pond, the Pacific Connections Gardens, New Zealand Garden, and other locations as directed.

The schedule of the Garden Stewards Assistant is approximately 5-6 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:45 am to 1:00 pm, depending on the day, and another additional 5-6 hours on a varied schedule to complete administrative work and help with corporate volunteer groups. The season begins with a Garden Steward welcome lunch to allow volunteers to reconnect and re-engage; the official work season begins the following week. The Garden Stewards Assistant is asked to work extra hours for special weekend events, including but not limited to the Spring Plant sale (April), Earth Day (April), and the Fall Plant Sale (September), and other additional hours as mutually agreed on in advance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Volunteer Support

• Responsible for orientation, scheduling, and ongoing management of volunteers for the Garden Stewards program through email and Bloomerang, our volunteer management system.
• Liaise with University of Washington Botanic Gardens staff and City of Seattle Parks and Recreation staff to coordinate the worksites, meeting locations and confirm a lead staff member for each work party. Maintain consistent communication with them during projects to address any problems and concerns that might arise.
• Communicate with the Garden Stewards via email and our volunteer calendaring system, letting them know about volunteer sessions, schedules, events, and other pertinent information.
• Administrative duties include but are not limited to maintaining updated volunteer job descriptions and training materials, tracking and entering volunteer hours, and reading and responding to emails promptly.
• Develop and maintain rapport with individual Garden Stewards.
• Work alongside the Garden Stewards during Tuesday and Thursday Garden Steward hours (9:00 am-12 pm) and help provide a safe working environment.
• Work with the Volunteer Programs Manager to ensure all volunteer collateral and communications have consistent messaging and align to achieve the organization's broader goals.
• Assist the Volunteer Programs Manager in publicizing the program and recruiting new volunteers.
• Participate in organization-wide events such as plant sales, Earth Day events, holiday sales, and other Arboretum events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Key Responsibilities

• Take photos and support the Communications team’s efforts to promote the Garden Stewards via social media, quarterly newsletter, and e-blasts.
• Supervise and control the use and care of the Arboretum Foundation tool supply.
• Other duties as assigned.

Desired Skills

• Ability to use computers, specifically MS Office products and Outlook email.
• Experience using relevant websites for volunteer recruitment (i.e., Idealist, Volunteer Match, etc.) and CRM software such as Bloomerang (formally Init Live).
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport and work effectively and professionally with volunteers, staff, Board and committee members, and the public.
• Able to adapt to changing priorities and take initiative while staying aligned with program goals and team needs Excellent written, verbal, and public speaking communication skills.
• The ability to prioritize and organize multiple projects, make informed decisions in the moment, meet deadlines, problem-solve, and multi-task.

Desired Experience

• A combination of hands-on experience, formal training, or self-directed learning in horticulture, environmental work, or volunteer engagement.
• One year of work experience preferred.
• Horticultural experience and /or invasive removal experience.

Physical requirements

• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to drive an electric cart.
• Ability to navigate stairs. The office is located on three levels without an elevator.

Arboretum Foundation Description

The Washington Park Arboretum is a welcome oasis on the shores of Lake Washington. Jointly managed with the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the City of Seattle, its 230 acres contain a dynamic assortment of plants, some found nowhere else in the Northwest. The Arboretum has been a particularly treasured resource for the community during the pandemic, drawing visitors from across the region.

The Arboretum Foundation, a nonprofit membership organization, has provided stewardship for the Arboretum since 1935. The Foundation manages the Park's membership and volunteer programs, raises necessary funds, and advocates for the Arboretum within the community.

Essential Arboretum operations and activities funded include arboriculture, garden maintenance, volunteer management, and environmental education programs, focusing on expanding community access.

In 2016, the Foundation expanded its role to include programming for the Seattle Japanese Garden, another recognized community gem.

As a well-known environmental education and stewardship leader, our current priorities are based on the Arboretum's Earth Day 2020 platform: modeling sustainability, building climate resilience, and cultivating a new generation of environmental stewards.

Benefits:

• Paid Sick Time and holidays, based on hours worked
• Free Parking
• Opportunities to deepen your horticultural knowledge and skills through hands-on experience and collaboration with experienced staff and volunteers
• Office located in the heart of a beautiful park!

To Apply

Please electronically send application materials, including resume and cover letter that answers the prompt below, to the Arboretum Foundation: jobs@arboretumfoundation.org. This role requires consistent and clear communication with volunteers, UW Botanic Gardens staff, and the Volunteer Programs Manager, often across multiple platforms. How would you ensure effective communication with these different stakeholders, keeping them informed and engaged?

Please, no calls or in-person visits without an appointment.

Disclaimer:

This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position. All Arboretum Foundation employees may be required to perform duties outside of their typical responsibilities from time to time, as needed, to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

Arboretum Foundation's EEO Statement:

The Arboretum Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at the Arboretum Foundation are based on one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, age, HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis C status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity; honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability or, any other characteristic protected by law.

This Equal Employment Opportunity policy governs all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, selection, job assignment, promotions, transfers, compensation, discipline, termination, layoff, access to benefits and training, and all other conditions and privileges of employment.