Intern - Plant Production Greenhouse and Nursery

Intern - Plant Production Greenhouse and Nursery

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Horticulture Operations Administration

Reports to: Plant Production Manager

Seasonal Full-time (three months) anticipated to start in May 2026

Seasonal Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• Holidays, Holiday Thank you pay
• Garden membership - free to employees at Household Plus level
• Discounts to Garden Shop, Cafe, Garden-sponsored educational classes
• Employee events such as Orchid show, Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns, Lightscape employee & friends preview night

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview for Plant Production and Greenhouse Nursery interns:

Learn about plant production by rotating through and working with the growers in the five divisions of the Plant Production Department. These divisions include the nursery, indoor floriculture, outdoor floriculture, orchids, and plant propagation. Attend staff meetings, field trips, and weekly intern meetings with guest speakers during the summer to learn about general botanic garden operations.

Work schedule typically 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m during the week day and Saturday.

Responsibilities:

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Work with the nursery supervisor to produce a broad range of plants including trees, shrubs, perennials, native plants, and aquatics through potting, transplanting, fertilizing, weeding, spacing pots, setting up irrigation, watering, and pruning.
• Work with the indoor floriculturist to produce crops for interior displays, education programs, and special events through potting, pruning, fertilizing, watering, grooming, and training.
• Work with the outdoor floriculturist to produce crops for spring, summer, and fall annual displays through potting, watering, pinching, fertilizing, and spacing.
• Work with the orchid floriculturist in the care and maintenance of the orchid collection and other tropical collection plants.
• Work with the plant propagator to propagate plants through sowing seeds, taking cuttings, making divisions, stratifying and scarifying seeds, grafting, and budding.
• Assist with delivery of plants.
• Prepare and lead a 15 to 20-minute tour around your assigned areas highlighting your experiences throughout the season for other horticulture staff.