Nursery Assistant

10 Months Seasonal Position

Full-Time: Monday – Friday, Occasional Evening & Weekends

 

Reports to: Nursery Manager

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Job Overview:

The Nursery Assistant provides operational support for Howard EcoWorks Seeds of Change native plant nursery located at the Howard County Department of Corrections. Seeds of Change is an environmental and workforce development initiative that provides opportunities to in-mates and many types of volunteers. Our goal is to provide education, and to help develop skills that can be applied in the field upon completion of the program.

Climate Corps Fellow
The Maryland Climate Corps provides recent Maryland high school graduates, GED
recipients or those who have earned a high school completion certificate the
opportunity to spend one year with partnering organizations (Howard EcoWorks) that support their growth and development. In turn, the opportunities provided strengthen
Maryland’s green workforce and prepare participants for growing workforce needs.

 

Responsibilities:

  • Maintains existing infrastructure
  • Grows plants
  • Provides support for maintenance of the plant inventory
  • Helps to ensure that the required plants are available for upcoming rain garden/conservation landscape installations and maintenance projects.
  • Supports public plant sales and tree/plant giveaways to the public from the nursery and in the community

 

Qualifications & Requirements:​

  • Gardening, natural resources or related education and experience.
  • Knowledge of and experience with local native and invasive plants.
  • Plant seeding and propagation techniques.
  • Willingness to work outside in all weather conditions.
  • Ability to work independently and on a team.
  • Self-starter, motivated and professional.
  • Ability to lift 40 pounds.

 

Preferred Qualifications:​

  • Adaptable and flexible with changes in day-to-day tasks
  • Self-motivated
  • Passion for the environment and restoration work
  • Own transportation, when needed, with mileage reimbursement at the 2023 federal rate.

Climate Corps Fellowship Qualifications:

  • Must be 18 years of age by September 11, 2024.
  • Must be a Maryland Resident
  • Earned a high school diploma, certificate of completion, or GED in Maryland during 2021, 2022, or 2023

 

Wages: $15/hr

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Benefits:​

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  • Access to Company healthcare plan
  • Paid sick leave – 1 hour of Sick and Safe Leave accumulated for every 30 hours worked, accumulating up to 40 hours per year. Accrual starts on the first day of employment and one is eligible to use sick and safe leave after the completion of 30 days of employment
  • Seasonal full-time employees are given one personal day eligible after 30 days of continuous employment
  • Seasonal full-time employees are granted the following paid holidays, to the extent a listed holiday falls within the timeframe of the seasonal contract:
    • New Year’s Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Independence Day
    • Labor Day
    • Thanksgiving Day
    • Christmas Day

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Job Timeline:​

  • Start Date: April 22- 26, 2024
  • End Date: Late February or Early March, 2025

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Application Process: