Botanical Intern, Experiential and Teaching Gardens

About Us

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.

The Huntington

Founded in 1919, The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.

The Culture

Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond.  Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. We are better together.  We believe an explicit commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion directly impacts and improves staff and audience engagement and experience. 

Job Description

About the Role

Essential Duties

The intern will immerse themselves in the following areas:

• Gardening Assistant in the Teaching Greenhouse, cataloging plants and helping to start edible plants by seed for the kitchen garden.

• General maintenance of vegetable beds and fruit trees in the Kitchen Garden.

• Watering, planting, grooming, and weeding under direct supervision of the gardening staff.

• Mulching, composting, and maintaining soil health.

• Assisting partner organizations with on-site garden projects, data collection, and maintenance as assigned by Huntington Staff.

• Must adhere to written safety policy, following all precautions and directions in use of equipment and chemicals.

• Other duties as assigned.

Candidate Requirements and Experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Must be currently enrolled college undergraduates in Los Angeles County, who have completed at least one semester of college by the time of application.

• Have some educational and/or practical experience in horticulture, botany, and/or landscape design/maintenance.

• Candidates should enjoy working outdoors in a dynamic gardening atmosphere.

• Should be able to operate light-powered equipment.

• Should be able to stoop, bend, move between long distances in the gardens, and lift moderate and, occasionally, heavy loads.

• Familiarity with the safe and proper use of hand tools and garden equipment.

• Must be able to work independently without constant supervision or be able to work in teams.

Preferred:

• Strong interest in horticulture and/or urban agriculture

Working Conditions  

• Routinely perform physical work in the gardens which may include bending, pulling, stooping, squatting, lifting, digging and/or hauling garden waste

• Use of basic garden power/hand tools expected.

• Pay Rate: $16.50/hr.

• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants 

• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions 

• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds