Irrigation and Turfgrass Technician

Description

About Denver Botanic Gardens: Green inside and out, Denver Botanic Gardens was founded in 1951 and is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The Gardens has a robust living plant collection, natural history collection and art collection along with temporary art exhibitions. The Gardens is a dynamic, 24-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class exhibitions, education, and plant conservation research programs. 

For more information, visit us online at www.botanicgardens.org.

Along with the mission of bringing plants to people, our Core Values are a fundamental driver of the Gardens culture. They are:

Sustainability. We are devoted to an institutional, environmental and human sustainability.

Diversity. We champion inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility for all we encounter, and also support programmatic, ecological and plant diversity.

Relevance. We make connections with all people using a lens of inclusion, equity and responsiveness.

Transformation. We believe ever-evolving public gardens change the world and lead to positive transformation of human spirit and knowledge. 

Denver Botanic Gardens is currently seeking a Full Time Irrigation and Turfgrass Technician in our Operations Department! Read below to see if the requirements might be a good fit for you:

Applications will be accepted through September 3, 2026 or until a candidate is found

Position Summary

This position oversees the irrigation and turfgrass areas at Chatfield Farms by applying the appropriate best practices. This position is responsible for the installation, maintenance and scheduling of the irrigation system by coordinating with the horticulture and farm staff on site. This position maintains turfgrass areas to the highest horticulture standards.

Must have the ability to handle multiple and changing priorities, maintaining confidentiality, and communication between staff.

Requirements

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains turfgrass in cultivated areas at acceptable aesthetic levels to include fertilization, pest control and weed control.
• Coordinates with the horticulture and farms teams to schedule irrigation program efficiently.
• Performs weekly diagnostic evaluations of irrigation equipment, responds to emergency calls, troubleshoots problems and takes actions to ensure plant/system integrity.
• Performs tasks such as excavating trenches and ditches, laying pipe, installation, including cleaning and maintenance of water features and pumps.
• Collaborates with the Associate Director of Horticulture Chatfield Farms to develop and plan irrigation and turfgrass budgets.
• Manages design, planning and evaluation of existing irrigation and works with contractors for new systems.
• Participates in projects as assigned, including but not limited to snow removal, garden installations and construction projects.
• Oversees contractors performing irrigation repair and new installation.
• Creates and defines tasks and processes for volunteers, interns and seasonal gardeners.
• Maintains a positive, helpful and solution-oriented demeanor when responding to or serving members and visitors.
• Always uses appropriate safety procedures.
• Participates in Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms special events, which include but are not limited to concerts, Pumpkin Festival, Lavender Festival, Corn Maze, and Trail of Lights assisting in planning, set-up, and tear down.
• Coordinates with Public Events and Private Events to schedule irrigation according to event schedules on a weekly basis.
• Regular attendance at the worksite may be required. As with all positions at Denver Botanic Gardens, the incumbent must be in good performance standing to be eligible for remote work. Remote work is at the discretion of management at all times.
• All Gardens employees must be committed to the mission of connecting people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone.

Position Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to read, analyze and interpret horticultural periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or government regulations.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume.
• Ability to write reports, professional correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Experience working with irrigation software such as, Rainbird Site Control or similar systems.
• Experience building irrigation systems with multiple irrigation zones on properties over multiple acres in size.
• Must have proven excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills in dealing with the public.
• Ability to maintain stability under pressure and able to deal well with stressful situations.
• Ability to be flexible and willing to modify plans, when necessary, throughout the day.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite products, specifically Word, Excel and Outlook and Teams.  
• Ability to work overtime as necessary.
• Must be a positive representative of the Gardens both internally and externally at all times.
• Must work with respect and cooperation at all times with fellow employees and the public.
• Must be committed to working safely at all times.

Experience/Education:

• High school diploma / GED and 5 years of managing irrigation systems and/or combination of education and equivalent experience is required.
• A recognized certification as a Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) is preferred. If uncertified, the ability to achieve CIT within six months of hire date is required. Higher certifications are encouraged (CLIA, QWEL).
• Position requires a valid driver’s license.

Travel:

Up to 10% travel required. Requires the ability to travel to remote locations (or other Garden locations) where environment may vary significantly.  

Denver Botanic Gardens has an incredible benefits package for eligible employees!

Our major benefits include a choice of Medical Plans, a Dental and Vision Plan and Life Insurance Plan. We have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA).

The Gardens offers a generous Retirement Savings Plan with Company contribution of 6% after one year of service for eligible participants.

The Gardens also offers paid holidays, vacation, sick time, and access to personal lines of insurance. Additional benefits include short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an RTD ECO pass.

For eligible employees, The Gardens employment also includes a complimentary Denver Botanic Gardens Membership, access to Gardens education classes and summer concert tickets.  

Come work for a place that offers you SO much more than just a paycheck!