Irrigation Specialist / Growing Team Member

Plant Delights Nursery is hiring a full-time Irrigation Specialist / Growing Team Member in Raleigh. Keep perennial crops properly watered while supporting growing, plant health, and seasonal protection at the nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden. What you will do • Check crop watering needs and adjust manual and computerized irrigation. • Inspect systems, clean filters, repair faults, and prepare for winter. • Prune, fertilize, space, and repot plants; maintain inventory records. • Report pests and diseases and provide weekend watering coverage. How the work fits together Tony and Anita Avent's nursery is connected to a private 28-acre botanic garden devoted to plant conservation, exploration, breeding, and propagation. Established in 1986, the mail-order business makes unusual perennials available to gardeners beyond the collections themselves. Trialing plants is an important part of that work, helping the team understand how varieties perform before sharing them with customers. Some plants are exclusive introductions from the nursery's own efforts. A portion of retail sales supports the garden's mission, while catalogs, classes, articles, and other educational work share horticultural knowledge. The growing team helps keep that connection between living collections and saleable plants functioning. Reliable irrigation is especially important where many different varieties have different moisture needs and production schedules. What the employer is looking for • Have horticultural education or equivalent nursery experience and strong plant knowledge. • Work independently, communicate well, and follow detailed instructions. • Regularly lift 50 pounds and handle prolonged standing and outdoor conditions. Schedule, conditions, and compensation Pay starts at $16/hour, based on experience. Usual hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with weekend irrigation, rotating holidays, and eight open-nursery weekends annually. The employer classifies the role as agriculturally exempt from overtime. Benefits include health, dental, vision and life insurance, paid leave, and a matched SIMPLE IRA. How to apply Email a cover letter and resume with detailed work history to jobs@plantdelights.com. Identify the irrigation/growing position. The nursery is at 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh.