Great Milkweed Grow Out Intern

Description

Position Purpose

Assist with activities of the Great Milkweed Grow Out, including native plant propagation, community outreach, and research. Develop skills in the field of habitat conservation and plant propagation while working with Garden professionals.

About Great Milkweed Grow Out:

Great Milkweed Grow Out, the Garden’s monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation initiative, works to grow native milkweeds and nectar plants for monarch butterflies and pollinators, engage the community in monarch and pollinator conservation, and conduct research into the best native milkweeds for monarchs and pollinators. At the Garden, we propagate thousands of milkweeds and other nectar plants native to Arizona every year, including some species that are not otherwise in cultivation. We are developing protocols to grow these little-understood species so they can be used later for habitat restoration and research.

Position Information

Job Type: Temporary Part-Time Internship

Pay: $20.00/hr

Schedule: 10-15 hours/week 

Essential Duties

· Assist with repotting milkweed seedlings into larger pots

· Plant milkweed and pollinator plant seeds into cones and pots

· Collect data on seed germination rates

· Help with development of growing protocols for native milkweeds and pollinator plants

· Maintain soil mixes for repotting and seeding

· Work closely with Garden volunteers

Assist as needed with seed and plant distribution and community outreach 

Requirements

Competencies

· Desire to learn more about native plant propagation and habitat restoration, or interest in a related career

· Excellent communication skills

· Ability to work outdoors in a variety of terrains and conditions.

· Valid driver’s license is required

· Ability  to work off-hours with occasional evenings, weekends, and/or holidays

·  High school diploma required.

Equipment Used

Typical office equipment; this role will also use lab and field equipment specific to the needs of research areas of inquiry, including horticultural tools and rearing of invertebrate animals.

Internal Communication

Regular communication with Garden employees and volunteers.

External Communication

Limited. 

Working Conditions

Physical demands include both those associated with a normal office environment, and outdoor work, which could be in the Garden, or in the field (local, regional, national, international). Field work may include camping, hiking, and backpacking. Travel for professional development and scientific presentations also may be required.

Must be able to walk, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, bend, see, hear, speak, read, and type. Manual dexterity and the ability to lift up to 25 pounds required. Much of this role will be outdoors and subject to extreme weather.

Reasonable accommodations may be made, when necessary and feasible, to allow a qualified individual to perform essential job functions.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Desert Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law.

The Garden fosters and supports workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion to honor the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions of all, to celebrate successes, and to cultivate individual and institutional excellence.

All employees will help add to the Garden’s diversity and fully embrace it. 

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and deliverables of the role. This is not a contract and should not be viewed as such. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor and/or his/her/their designee.