Employment at McCrory Gardens

Accepting Applications: Jan. 21-March 31, 2025

Number of Positions: 10

Season: Full time (40 hours per week) – May 12-Aug. 22
Opportunities for part-time hours during spring and fall semesters for student employees.

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4 pm. Monday-Friday (some weekend and evening hours may be required)  

Pay: According to experience and qualifications — starting at $11.50/hour

2025 Seasonal Gardener Description 

2025 Application

Job Description: 

The seasonal gardener will be an employee of McCrory Gardens and South Dakota State University, under the general supervision of the crew leader and director of horticulture and grounds. The seasonal gardener will play an important role in maintaining McCrory Gardens and its diverse plantings during the growing season. Together with a team of gardeners, volunteers and maintenance technicians, as well as the McCrory Gardens administration team, the seasonal gardener’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Primary Tasks:

• Planting of 30,000-plus annuals, perennials, vines, bulbs, grasses, shrubs and trees.
• Care for diverse plantings located throughout McCrory Gardens.
• Hand-water and monitor irrigation of plantings, especially during time of establishment and drought.
• Perform seasonal landscape work including pruning, cleanup, bulb planting, dividing and transplanting.
• Stage equipment, supplies and materials for daily operations.
• Operate a variety of hand tools, power tools and vehicles needed for daily operations.
• Participate in trash removal procedures, as needed.
• Maintain highest standards for cleanliness and order throughout McCrory Gardens.
• Interact in a friendly and respectful manner with visitors and answer general questions from the public.
• Maintain equipment and tools needed to perform daily tasks.
• Assist with the Garden Glow setup and take down for any early-season and late-season staff.

Advantages: 

Employees will be trained on: 

• Garden maintenance strategies
• Use of horticultural tools, equipment and vehicles
• Plant identification
• Weed identification and management
• Mulch types and application methods
• Understanding seasonal impacts on horticulture.
• Irrigation, fertilization and other plant care techniques
• Factors that affect plant placement

Requirements:

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Willing to work in all types of weather, under strenuous conditions
• Team player, creative and organized
• Self-motivated with the ability to work alone and in groups
• Enthusiastic, work to high standards and ability to take direction
• Strong work ethic
• Background check required

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Obtained or currently pursuing a degree in a related field (horticulture, landscape architecture, etc.)
• Commercial pesticide applicators license (certification obtained once hired at no personal cost)
• Knowledgeable about hand tools and small machinery a plus
• Driver’s license preferred
• Basic carpentry and irrigation/plumbing skills a plus
• Scout for pests and disease and correctly manage via pesticides or cultural practices
• Strong gardening skills
• Demonstrated ability of hardy plant care appropriate to the region

Please call us at 605-688-6707 or email Chris Schlenker or Hannah Stolt for any questions or more information.

Season: Up to 30 hours per week — starting date and ending date depend on events needs and schedules.

Hours: Variable — weekend, evening and night hours are required, some holidays may be required as well. 

Pay: According to experience and qualifications for year-round regular part-time. Paid positions are $12/hour. 

2025 Guest and Venue Services Position Description 

GVS Application

Job Description: The person in this role will be an employee of McCrory Gardens and South Dakota State University under the general supervision of the venue sales and services coordinator and the director of McCrory Gardens and will play an important part in assisting with scheduled events, primarily during the spring, summer and fall seasons, with potential to extend employment possible through the holiday season. Together with a team of garden staff, volunteers and other SDSU entities, as well as the McCrory Gardens administrative team, the guest and venue services staff position responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Primary Tasks:

• Assisting with events – taking reservation request/inquiry, coordinating room layout, catering communications, greeting customer, AV equipment setup, flexibility in rearranging to customer’s needs, and take down/clean up after event.
• Setup and take-down of event equipment (chairs, tables, etc.) inside and outside.
• General and thorough cleaning and trash removal during and at conclusion of events, to include cleanup of the unexpected.
• Safe and efficient operation of garden vehicles for the hauling of materials as well as the transport of guests.
• Staff the welcome desk as needed greeting customers, processing admission, sales and inventory in the gift shop and operating the payment systems.
• Keeping the Education and Visitor Center and Straw Bale House clean and tidy for visitors and events. 

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Strong work ethic.
• Flexible, dependable, punctual.
• Able to work nonstandard hours such as early morning or late into the night for banquets and weddings (sometimes after midnight), weekends and holidays (allowed to miss up to two wedding weekends during busy wedding season May-December).
• Able to assist with event organize from start to finish.
• Excellent communication skills, appropriately knowledgeable and assertive with clients/guests/visitors.
• Team player, creative, detail oriented and organized.
• Willing to work in all types of weather, under strenuous conditions.
• Bending and lifting up to 50 pounds, able to move and set up tables and chairs for indoor and outdoor events.
• Willing to learn to become certified and drive equipment (gators with a trailer, golf cart).
• Self-motivated with the ability to work alone and in groups, also organizing volunteers.
• Using initiative in anticipating and knowing what needs to be done.
• Enthusiastic, work to high standards and ability to take direction.
• Professional communication and work attire is required. Proper footwear for setting up indoor and outdoor events. McCrory staff and volunteers represent McCrory Gardens and SDSU. 

Requirements:

• Background check required.

Contact Information: Lori Puetz, McCrory Gardens venue sales and services coordinator, 631 22nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57007, 605-688-6707, Lori Puetz.