Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Scott Arboretum and Gardens is a unique garden of ideas and suggestions, encouraging horticulture in its broadest sense through displays on the 400-plus acre campus of Swarthmore College. The Arboretum is a living memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott, Swarthmore, Class of 1895, and was established in 1929. We strive to offer some of the region’s most intimate, authentic, and accessible horticultural experiences.

The Scott Arboretum and Gardens’ mission is to delight, educate, and inspire visitors to enjoy the many benefits of horticulture, regardless of their resources or expertise. Our “garden of ideas” features plant varieties that thrive in this region, encouraging wise stewardship as well as the cultivation of plants to sustain the body, enchant the eye, and sooth the spirit.

The Arboretum has been accredited as a Level III Arboretum by ArbNet. The collection houses over 4,000 types of ornamental plants across 14 plant collections, over 20 formal garden spaces, and a 200-acre maintained woodland. Three of the collections, Ilex (hollies), Quercus (oaks), and Magnolia are nationally accredited and the Arboretum is recognized as an American Conifer Society Reference Garden.

Garden spaces are maintained by a staff of 18 full-time horticultural professionals with the assistance of volunteers. For more information, visit scottarboretum.org.

The opportunity:

The Scott Arboretum Public Horticulture Internship offers a unique opportunity for individuals pursuing a career in public horticulture. The intern will have opportunities to meet and work with a variety of professionals in the Philadelphia region, an area rich in public gardens. Activities include working with gardening staff and volunteers (three mornings/week); special project development and area garden work; participates in summer intern field trips and educational programming at the Scott Arboretum. Travel and professional development support of $6,000 for conferences, travel, and programs based on proposal approvals.

The Public Horticulture Internship is a one-year, limited-term appointment typically starting in May.

Essential Responsibilities

• Work with a small staff within a liberal arts College environment and ArbNet accredited Arboretum.
• Responsible for and included in vital aspects of the operation with meaningful accountability to gain experience for a career in public horticulture.
• A broad experience with exposure through work assignments entailing horticultural maintenance, curatorial practices of a living collection, horticultural educational programming, event planning, marketing, membership and fundraising, volunteer management, natural area management, exposure to sustainability approaches in gardening such as green roofs and organic lawns, and exposure to Swarthmore College students, staff and faculty.
• Assignment of a distinct portion of the Arboretum/collections to maintain through the year working with Garden Supervisors.
• Creating written and video content for Arboretum publications.
• Travel and professional development support of up to $6,000 for related conferences, travel and programs based on staff approving travel proposal.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist other staff members with general needs (e.g., barricade set-up for meetings, decorating for special events, serving food, clean up) in order to support thank-you parties, special members events, or other events hosted by the Arboretum.
• Attend departmental staff meetings to share and receive information.
• Help with newsletter editing and article writing (4 times/yr).
• Assist with photography of events for publications and PowerPoint presentations.
• Support requests from the College community (faculty/staff/students) who are utilizing the Arboretum for a program or class.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises and works with volunteers and student workers on programs and projects.

Who you are:

• Strong interest in the field of public horticulture.
• Interest and ability to work outdoors with a variety of plants and garden spaces.
• Able to work with a variety of people including volunteers of different generations, staff across the Arboretum and College, and students.
• Detail oriented and self-motivated, ability to work independently and in small groups.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in education, horticulture, or a related discipline.
• Working knowledge of ornamental horticulture.
• Attention to detail and an interest in working with staff, volunteers, and the public.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Ability to express written ideas in English and perform research for publications and tours.

Physical Demands

• Physical mobility to conduct walking tours, lift up to 50 pounds, and to work outside maintaining garden areas. Other physical requirements include: shoveling/raking/pruning motions and kneeling/bending/squatting motions for extended time.
• Ability to travel locally; international travel may be offered as part of the internship.
• Must be able to operate a vehicle while performing essential responsibilities.
• Must be able to read and understand labels, manuals, and new information related to Arboretum practices.
• Ability to maintain written and computerized records.

Working Conditions

• Must be available to work in variable outdoor conditions.
• Must be available to assist with events and assignments after hours and on weekends.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 400-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. You will be joining a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff. You will receive a well-rounded working-knowledge of public horticulture, with the opportunity to partake in horticultural, educational, and programmatic elements of the field.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with pay expectations, including a resume and cover letter, by January 31, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled.

PA Criminal Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

MVR Required by Position

Due to operating a College owned motor vehicle while performing essential job responsibilities for this position, a motor vehicle report (MVR) clearance is required prior to the start of employment.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.