Garden Labourer III

Staff - Union

Job Category CUPE 116 Job Profile CUPE 116 Hourly - Labourer 3 Job Title Garden Labourer III Department Horticulturists | Botanical Garden and Centre for Horticulture Compensation Range $28.29 - $30.84 CAD Hourly Posting End Date March 8, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date Oct 31, 2025

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff, and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Assists with the installation and maintenance of special landscape projects at the Botanical Garden. Works alongside a team of Horticulturists to ensure the botanical standards are maintained within the Botanical Garden.

This position is a seasonal hourly position working at UBC Botanical Garden, Nitobe Memorial Garden, and the Botanical Garden Nursery. May be required to work weekends and stat holidays.

Organizational Status

This position is supervised by UBC Botanical Garden Supervisor. Works within general Garden areas, interacting with staff, students, volunteers, UBC researchers, and guests of the Garden.

UBC Botanical Garden's Labourer II position actively participates in and ensures the Garden's Vision and Mission are fully supported. UBC Botanical Garden's Mission and Vision are as follows:

Vision Statement

Plants are understood, valued, celebrated, and secure in a healthy, biodiverse world.

Mission

The mission of UBC Botanical Garden is to assemble, curate, and maintain a documented living collection of temperate plants for the purposes of education, research, conservation, community outreach, and public display.

Work Performed

1. Mows lawn areas
2. Removes refuse from garden
3. Assists with set-up and breakdown of tables and chairs for events
4. Receives and requests tools, equipment, and other material for the work assigned, including making decisions for the purchase of tools from stores and requisite supplies runs
5. Monitors the quality of work of a group of Labourers within their area of work. Example: While in the Food Garden, may be supervising the work of temporary Labourers, Student Labourers, and/or Garden Volunteers as designated by the Garden Supervisor or designate
6. Operates specialized equipment including: electric mowers, blowers, and ride-on lawnmower, RTV vehicles
7. Assists with set-up of outdoor tents for events
8. Prepares walkways by removing leaf and/or other debris
9. Prepares soil generally by using standard tools and equipment such as rakes, shovels, hoes, pitch and digging forks, rototillers, etc.
10. Places plants, trees, and bushes in designated locations
11. Watering and distributing fertilizers to plants, trees, bushes, lawns, gardens, etc.
12. Moves soil, mulch, plants, unwanted plant material and debris, fertilizers, supplies, tools, equipment, and other materials to storage or various locations
13. Assists with lawn installation by moving and putting down turf and distributing seed
14. Cuts and bucks plants, small tree branches using pruners, line/brush trimmers and operating brush chipper for mulching
15. Moves rocks, gravel, and mulch to install and repair pathways and other related garden structures
16. Digs, moves, assembles, and performs minor repairs of irrigation pipes and equipment
17. Performs other related duties as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
Although the duties are straightforward, the position determines the most efficient and effective way to perform the skilled tasks and proper operation of equipment. All work will be under the supervision of the Botanical Garden Supervisor. Failure to follow directions would result in loss of plants, inefficiencies in the distribution of labour, and delayed timelines for projects. Errors in judgment could result in injuries.

Supervision Received
Supervised directly by the Botanical Garden Supervisor through oral and written instructions, including all training on the safety and operation of equipment. There is minimal decision-making involved as the duties are straightforward and the position will be under the supervision of the Botanical Garden Supervisor.

Supervision Given
Monitors the work of a group of labourers in an assigned area or as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Secondary school education and/or completion of high school, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Valid BC driver’s license
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience in an outdoor Garden and/or Landscaping setting.