CSSA Intern

About the role

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. The Huntington Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences. The Culture Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do - from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity. Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture. Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community. Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community. Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection. Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles. Job Description S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible approach. The Cactus & Succulent Society of America (CSSA) offers a structured and comprehensive horticultural internship within the renowned Desert Garden at The Huntington. This eight‑week appointment provides practical, supervised training in the cultivation, management, and preservation of an internationally significant collection of cacti and succulents. Interns will work alongside professional horticultural staff and will contribute directly to the care and long‑term stewardship of the Desert Garden's living collections. Essential Duties Conduct manual weeding and general grounds maintenance. Apply mulch and assist with soil conditioning and preparation. Perform pruning, grooming, and routine care of cacti, succulents, and associated desert flora. Assist with planting, transplanting, and establishment of desert plant species. Harvest, clean, label, and properly store seeds in accordance with horticultural protocols. Assist with hand watering, irrigation tasks, and monitoring of soil moisture conditions. Participate in special horticultural or conservation projects as assigned. Carry out physically demanding tasks including bending, lifting, kneeling, and transporting materials while adhering to safety guidelines. May perform other related duties as assigned. Candidate Requirements and Experience Knowledge, skills, and abilities: Foundational knowledge or formal training in horticulture, botany, plant science, or related discipline. Ability and willingness to perform sustained outdoor physical work in varied weather conditions. Demonstrated interest in cacti, succulents, arid‑land flora, or botanical garden management. Ability to follow established horticultural and safety procedures, particularly when working with spiny or hazardous plant material. Practical experience in professional horticultural maintenance and operational best practices. Identification, cultivation, and specialized care of desert-adapted plant species. Seed collection, processing, labeling, and documentation techniques. Principles of sustainable landscape management in arid environments. Experience working within a public botanical institution and collaborating with garden staff. Preferred: Current enrollment in a horticulture, botany, or related college or university program. Affiliation with a cactus and succulent club, botanical society, or similar organization. Spanish language proficiency to support collaboration with staff and volunteers. Prior experience in public gardens, nurseries, or plant collection management.

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