North Carolina Zoo
Description of Work
Do you enjoy working outdoors planting and maintaining large landscapes? The North Carolina Zoo is seeking multiple experienced Horticulturist to work in our horticulture department.
A Zoo Horticulturist at the NC Zoo is responsible for maintaining and enhancing plant collections and landscapes that support animal habitats, visitor experiences, and conservation goals. Their work supports the horticulture mission to advance public awareness of the importance of plants and their role in nature and contributes to the goal of creating living pictures of wild places that respectfully represent animal habitats.
Key Responsibilities
- Daily plant maintenance, including cultivation, sowing, propagating, and transplanting
- Fertilizing, applying chemicals, and watering
- Landscape construction and design
- Equipment operation and record keeping
- Adheres to Environmental Management System (EMS) and SOG/SOP protocols
- Interact with Zoo guests to answer questions and provide information requiring a thorough knowledge of the Zoo’s plant collection
- Use computers for research, data entry and/or record keeping
Recruitment Range: $31,200 – $43,000
To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must provide the information on the application form. Any information omitted from the application form, listed as general statements, listed under the text resume section, or on an attachment will not be considered for qualifying credit.
Candidates meet the minimum qualifications of this position if they meet the minimum education and experience listed on the vacancy announcement. Vacancy specific knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and/or management preferences are not required. Applicants who possess the following are preferred:
- Demonstrated thorough working knowledge of plant maintenance procedures and horticultural practices used in landscape installation and grounds maintenance.
- Demonstrated plant knowledge and experience with observing and identifying plant problems.
- Demonstrated experience with various equipment used for landscaping such as string trimmers, blowers, tractors, front-end loaders, skid-steers and/or other related equipment.
Position/Physical Requirements
- Typical work schedule is Monday – Friday, 7am – 4pm
- Requires working rotating weekend and holiday work for 12 months out of the year, on average once every 2 months.
- Must be able to perform the physical demands of the job for extended and irregular periods, under adverse conditions in all extremes of weather.
- Must meet DNCR Fleet Safety Guidelines and have ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license issued from within the United States or be able to obtain one within 90 days of employment.
- Required to participate in an occupational health program due to contact with animal containment areas.
- Must be able to lift between 30-50 pounds of aggregate material to a height of 18 inches and transport it laterally a distance of 4.5 feet on a frequent basis.
- Considered “Essential/Mandatory Staff” and required to work on adverse weather days, during zoo emergencies, and may be called to work special events.
- Selected candidate will be a team player and maintain effective work relationships.
Minimum Education and Experience
Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.
High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma
AND
two years of progressive experience in horticultural work;
OR
Associate’s degree in agriculture and natural resources, greenhouse and grounds maintenance, horticulture technology, landscape gardening or
closely related field from an appropriately accredited institution;
OR
an equivalent combination of education and experience.
***SIGN-ON BONUS BEING OFFERED***
A sign-on bonus of $1000 is being offered for eligible candidates.
*Payout contingent on funding availability*
This position is located at:
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, NC 27205
About Us
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) takes care of the things that people love about North Carolina. DNCR manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. The Department’s vision is to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational, and economic future of North Carolina. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov. We encourage you to apply to become a part of our team!
TO APPLY:
For FULL job listing, and to Apply, click URL Link in header to apply.
Be sure to complete the application in its entirety. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application.
- Information should be provided in the appropriate areas, to include the following: Education, including high school and all degrees obtained, Work Experience, and Certificates & Licenses. It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive candidate information.
- Answers to Supplemental Questions are not a substitute for providing all relevant information within the body of your application. To receive credit for the supplemental questions, you must provide supporting information within the “Work Experience” section of the application, to support your answers.
- Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. The hiring process may take several weeks.
- Be sure to complete the application in full. Applicants are unable to submit more than one application to an individual posting. Only one application received prior to the closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59:59 PM on the night prior to the closing date.
- End Date: January 12, 2026 (Please note: Job postings close at 11:59:59 p.m. the night before the listed Posting End Date above.)
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