Therapeutic Horticulture Program Facilitator

Title: Therapeutic Horticulture Program Facilitator

Exemption Status: Non-exempt

Department: Windy City Harvest

Reports to: Coordinator, Buehler Enabling Garden

Resource, scheduled as needed approximately 10 hours per week for 35 weeks

Supervises: Volunteers

Resource employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• Wellness initiative benefit, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Retirement plan
• 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.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

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 (unless it is a flat rate as indicated). 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:

Facilitate plant-based Therapeutic Horticulture (TH) programs with an emphasis on the therapeutic qualities of nature. Assist with greeting participants, delivering therapeutic horticulture programs, prepping and cleaning up program materials. Programs occur in person and are conducted both indoors and outdoors depending on the season. This resource position has varied hours depending on the time of year.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:

• Facilitate programs focused on memory and cognitive-related illnesses for participants on-site at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
• Foster an environment that is calm, hospitable, safe, and supportive.
• Assist with developing curriculum for a series of memory cafes and memory care TH workshops.
• Set up and clean up program spaces.
• Assist with preparation and maintenance of program materials and supplies.
• Work closely with Enabling Garden coordinator and volunteers to deliver programs.
• Assist with planning and evaluation of current and future memory cafes and memory care TH workshops.
• Other duties as assigned, including the possibility to assist with other therapeutic horticulture programs.

Qualifications

Our ideal candidate will have the following:

• Experience working with individuals with disabilities from diverse backgrounds preferred
• Minimum of one year of experience in horticulture, horticulture therapy, and/or a related helping profession in a formal or informal setting
• Possess an understanding of basic therapeutic horticulture principles and applications
• Flexible and able to work in a fast-paced team environment using good communication and interpersonal and customer-service skills

Physical Demands: Must be comfortable working indoors or outdoors for a minimum of two hours in various temperatures and weather conditions and kinds of terrain (paved, gravel, lawn, and other garden surfaces); ability to stand and walk for up to four hours at a time; able to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 30 pounds.

Why Apply?
Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call (847) 835-8264 to contact our Title IX Coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.