HORTICULTURIST (Local)
In New Jersey, Horticulturist is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
Qualifying takes a bachelor's degree and 1 year of relevant experience. State payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Agriculture.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Horticulturist appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Agriculture.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | 1 |
Where this title is used
Horticulturist is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $70,328. The agencies employing the most are:
- Agriculture (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction plans, coordinates, and supervises work involved with cultivation, propagation, care, and display of flowers, shrubs, fruits, vegetables, or ornamental trees; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Supervises the growing, cultivation, and care of fruits, vegetables, flowers, shrubs, and ornamental trees and plants in botanical gardens, orchards, greenhouses, parks, arboretum, or similar facility.
- Performs research or other professional scientific work involved with problems associated with the care, production, storage, and handling of fruits, vegetables, flowers, shrubs, and ornamental trees.
- Confers with staff to plan activities most appropriate for maintenance of growing stock and production of plants for display, installation in special exhibits, or sale to the public.
- Devises designs for floral exhibits.
- Determines best methods of planting, spraying, and cultivating flowers, plants, and shrubs.
- Uses scientific discoveries to help combat plant diseases.
- Plans and develops crops best suited for particular areas.
- Conducts experiments to develop new varieties of plants and to improve existing varieties.
- Studies effect of fertilizers, insect sprays, plant care, and their diseases and care.
- Manages the marketing of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other plants.
- Inspects areas for conditions of trees, shrubbery plantations, flower and vegetable gardens, and the like for indications of insect infestations, plant diseases, or other physical disturbances or conditions.
- Attempts to arrive at work programs to alleviate any undesirable situations.
- Attends educational conferences and meetings.
- Gives talks before various groups.
- Is responsible for ordering, obtaining, storing, safeguarding, and distributing materials, tools, and supplies, and maintains inventory of equipment and supplies.
- Prepares clear, sound, accurate, and informative records and files.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Forestry, Botany, Agriculture, Biological Sciences, or Agronomy.
Experience
One (1) year of experience in the cultivation, propagation, care, and handling of flowers, plants, shrubs, ornamental trees, fruits, and vegetables.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of problems, solutions, and work of a horticulturist.
- Knowledge of techniques involved in growing and maintaining a large variety of plants.
- Knowledge of fundamental plant sciences and of scientific principles that underlie horticulture.
- Knowledge of the application of related sciences such as chemistry, plant pathology, plant taxonomy, genetics, plant physiology, entomology, microbiology, agronomy and soils, and horticulture.
- Ability to analyze, comprehend, and interpret horticultural problems encountered in a particular area.
- Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to learn quickly from oral and written explanations and directions.
- Ability to give assignments and instructions to subordinates and to provide them with advice and assistance when difficult, unusual problems arise.
- Ability to ensure that corrective, preventative procedures are followed and that desired objectives are achieved.
- Ability to plan and develop crops best suited for particular areas.
- Ability to design attractive, appropriate floral displays.
- Ability to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports.
- Ability to maintain records and files.
- Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.