Description
Position Purpose
Support daily operations of the Smith Butterfly Nursery, including caring for live animals and working closely with volunteers supporting the facility.
Essential Duties
• Maintain compliance with USDA APHIS regulations related to animal security, proper disposal of all materials, and maintenance of facility per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• Support care and progress of all live animals in the exhibit; monitor for potential health issues, move animals from host plant display to the nursery
• Support data collection for live animal components; track emergence trends and weekly receipt of live animals; produce seasonal report
• Distribute schedules and weekly task updates to the Caterpillar Nannies; recruit, train and identify additional support as needed
• Manage quarantine cycle and disposal of materials to ensure cleanliness and USDA compliance of the Butterfly Nursery space
• Coordinate with Horticulture staff to request and maintain host plant inventory
• Share enthusiasm for butterflies and the natural world with guests, this includes the butterfly lifecycle, host plants, and general Garden information
• Monitor performance of staff and volunteers working in the exhibit; assign or reassign duties as necessary; report deficiencies or problems to Exhibits Coordinator
• Seek consultation from Program Director, Pollinator Conservation and Research for issues with live animals care, health issues, and/or behavioral concerns
• Ensure visitors have a positive, informative, and safe experience in the butterfly exhibit; support operations of the butterfly exhibit visitor experience
• Facilitate special attendance sessions, as needed
This is a seasonal position for the period of approximately 09/26/2026 through 11/22/2026
Requirements
Competencies
• Associate’s degree or equivalent degree or work experience required
• Ability to effectively work with volunteers
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to work outdoors and stand for long periods
• Ability to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Fluency in Spanish language preferred
Equipment Used
Typical office equipment and materials used to care for live animals in the butterfly pavilion to keep the space safe and clean for visitors.
Internal Communication
Frequent communication with Exhibits and Facilities staff, volunteers, and visitors.
External Communication
Limited
Working Conditions
The butterfly pavilion is an outdoor structure. 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 10 pounds required. This role requires occasional work in extreme heat.
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.
Skills Required
- Associate's degree or equivalent degree or work experience
- Ability to effectively work with volunteers
- Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and troubleshooting skills
- Ability to work outdoors and stand for long periods
- Ability to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Fluency in Spanish
- Ability to walk, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, bend, see, hear, speak, read, and type
- Manual dexterity and ability to lift up to 10 pounds
- Ability to work occasionally in extreme heat
What We Do
The Desert Botanical Garden is a renowned botanical garden in Phoenix, Arizona, showcasing a diverse collection of desert plants from around the world. It is dedicated to the exhibition, research, and conservation of desert plants, with an emphasis on the Sonoran Desert.
