Duties
A trained Botanicus technician has assigned routes and is responsible for the complete care of plants and clients on their routes. Technicians go directly to their routes in uniform with equipment, and are paid mileage from their first account to their last account. Routes may cover a wide geographic range. At larger accounts, some equipment is stored on site. Most of Botanicus’ accounts are serviced with a replacement warranty.
While caring for plants is a fun job, it’s hard work! During the course of a day, our technicians may carry a hundred gallons of water, and spend all their time on their feet and walking around. It is a very physical job, and you will get dirty.
Training is accomplished on the job with another technician or senior horticulturist, in the warehouse in classes and workshops, through extensive written manuals and other material, and periodic “Plantmaster” meetings. The training process is long and intensive. It takes over one year to understand the seasonal changes of indoor plants. In addition to scheduled in-house training, our staff must make a commitment to learning on their own, including outside reading and studying of resource materials
Hours & Benefits
A plant technician with Botanicus is scheduled based on mutual needs. Most offices are serviced during usual business hours (8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday). Technicians are scheduled from 4 to 8 hours a day, and three to four days per week. A technician typically works 20-35 hours. Horticultural Service Routes are usually serviced the same day every week or every other week. Our technicians are responsible to make arrangements to cover vacations, holidays, sick or personal emergency days.
In the past, we have started technicians with hourly rates above minimum wage, and we may give bonuses based on profitability and other factors. Your performance will be evaluated based on variety of factors, including plant quality, customer service, reliability, productivity and efficiency, as well as communication, cooperation, and team effort.
Benefits currently include sharing the cost of single health insurance, and group life and long-term disability insurance (if eligible), all based on average hours. Botanicus also offers a SIMPLE IRA, (similar to a 401K) with some level of employer matching.
Positions starting at $18.00 / Hour
Requirements
- Excellent communication and organizational skills are needed. You will need to provide your own transportation between accounts.
- No horticulture experience is needed, but an interest in plants is helpful.
- Passing a physical examination; click here to see a list of physical requirements for employment with Botanicus
- Basic background check and drug testing.