SENIOR HORTICULTURIST
Senior Horticulturist sits in the competitive class of New Jersey's state or local civil service, so reaching it runs through testing and an eligible list instead of a straight hire.
It lists a bachelor's degree as the baseline, with an experience-based path open to those who do not hold the degree, and a professional license is required on top of that. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $66,592 to $97,354, and state payroll currently lists 3 people in the title, most of them 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
Senior Horticulturist appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Agriculture.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | 3 |
Where this title is used
Senior Horticulturist is a common title, so it is used in both State and local service. The local side is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, which set their own pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule.
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 3 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $94,062. The agencies employing the most are:
- Agriculture (3)
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 of a supervisory official in the Department of Agriculture, formulates comprehensive programs for the detection, control, and eradication of injurious plant pests and diseases, identifies pest and disease infestations of nursery, greenhouse, and other horticultural materials; conducts skilled, complex inspections and surveys in accord with state and federal pest and disease regulatory, quarantine, and control standards and requirements; may supervise or take the lead over Horticulturists and Horticulturist Trainees; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Plans programs related to the detection, control, and eradication of injurious plant pests and diseases related to nursery, greenhouse, and other plant materials.
- Supervises and conducts regulatory inspections of horticultural and plant products.
- Issues permits for movement of approved products to other states or foreign countries and verifies that plants and plant products which enter New Jersey from other states or foreign countries are in accord with applicable quarantine standards.
- Issues phytosantiary certificates in accord with federal, state, and importing country regulations.
- Supervises the conduct of and performs surveys and inspections of horticultural plants and plant products in assigned areas, collects and analyzes data on insect and disease infestation, and makes recommendations concerning their environmental and economic impact.
- Directs, arranges for, and supervises the destruction, treatment, or deportation of infested plant quarantined products entering New Jersey from other quarantine areas not meeting quarantine provisions.
- Develops integrated plant pest control programs including conduct of surveys, placement of biological control agents, and application of chemical control materials.
- Evaluates and makes recommendations based on effectiveness of various control measures used.
- Supervises producers and vendors in the proper fumigation of soil, plant materials, and products to comply with state and federal requirements for the particular item and as specified by quarantine and approved methods.
- Provides technical assistance and guidance to horticulturists, horticulturist trainees, and seasonal field employees.
- Prepares clear, accurate summaries and reports of all types of horticultural plants and plant products and related plant industry activities in assigned area.
- Serves as principal division representative at various public functions, information meetings, program seminars, and similar events in assigned area.
- 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 or other plant sciences which shall have included or been supplemented by 12 semester hour credits in horticulture.
Experience
Two (2) years of professional experience in horticultural production or inspection.
License
Appointees will be required to qualify for a permit as a Certified Pesticide Applicator in New Jersey.
Appointees may be required, depending on duty assignment, to take training to qualify for state and federal approval to issue phytosanitary certificates.
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 major insect pest and disease infestations common to nursery and greenhouse plant material.
- Knowledge of plants and plant materials of economic importance in New Jersey.
- Knowledge of common varieties of plant materials.
- Knowledge of field survey procedures and methods of survey data analysis.
- Knowledge of principles and application of plant quarantines.
- Knowledge of chemical compounds and gases used in treatment and fumigation of nursery stock.
- Ability to identify a variety of plant materials.
- Ability to identify horticultural products, perform complex inspections, and issue phytosanitary certificates in accord with federal, state, and importing country standards.
- Ability to interpret and enforce requirements of plant quarantines.
- Ability to collect and compile scientifically sound and meaningful data for analysis. Ability to plan, supervise, and make comprehensive, complex inspections of soil, plant materials, and plant products to detect and identify injurious plant pests and diseases.
- Ability to place biological control agents and chemical control materials for the control of plant pests.
- Ability to determine the need to arrange for destruction, treatment, or deportation of infested plant material.
- Ability to participate in training during inservice training programs.
- 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.
Applicants who have successfully completed a major course of study in horticulture or other plant science including or supplemented by 12 semester hour credits in horticulture and who do not possess the Bachelor's degree may substitute additional experience for education on a year-for-year basis.
A Master's degree with specialization in horticulture or plant science may be substituted for one (1) year of indicated experience.