Join – Volunteer – Give
Santa Fe Botanical Garden is an equal opportunity employer committed to the community and is committed to serve as an educational resource that connects people with nature and fosters respect and enjoyment of plants and conservation. We actively seek to recruit, hire, promote, and retain a diverse workforce that welcomes and engages people from varied backgrounds.
Through exploration of our public garden, fun and innovative programs, volunteerism, and education, we provide opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to be inspired by and learn from nature.
Employment Opportunities
To apply for the current open positions:
Please send your resume and cover letter as attachments via email to [email protected] and include the job title in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed immediately until the positions are filled.
Assistant Director Membership and Annual Giving
The Assistant Director for Membership and Annual Giving reports to the Executive Director of the SFBG and is responsible for the acquisition, stewardship, and retention of SFBG members (individuals and corporate), and for implementing programs that lead to expanding the Garden’s membership base. This position is also responsible for all annual giving programs and expanding the Garden’s annual fund donor base and achieving the annual revenue goals for membership and annual giving. The AD for Membership and Annual Giving will work closely with the SFBG senior leadership team, especially the Assistant Director for Marketing and Communications, to accomplish membership and annual giving goals. The Membership Administrator reports to the AD for Membership and Annual Giving.
The Garden is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. It is our policy to encourage and support equal employment opportunity for all associates and applicants without regard to gender, age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity, spousal affiliation, marital status, military/veteran status, handicap or disability or membership in any other protected group.
Internship Opportunities
Youth Gardener Internships
The Santa Fe Botanical Garden’s agricultural service-learning program for ages 13-18, April through October 2024.
Internship Summary
Be a part of our paid internship for Youth ages 13-18! Youth Gardeners have an opportunity to earn $300 for the summer.
Each year, the Santa Fe Botanical Garden (SFBG) works with middle and high school students to prepare, plant, and maintain the agricultural terraces in Ojos y Manos: Eyes and Hands, our ethnobotanical garden. From late April through late September, interns will gain fun, hands-on experience in the water-wise gardening of beans, corn, tomatoes and other Santa Fe-friendly crops.
Youth Gardener Interns will earn $100 every 21 hours they contribute to Garden work. Total number of hours of internship is approximately 64 hours.
All produce will be donated to local food banks. This is a paid internship, along with a certificate of completion and a special gift which may be provided during an end-of-season celebration. Founded in 1987, SFBG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with facilities located at 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505.
Applicant Eligibility
Youth Gardener internships are open to any middle or high school student (13-18 years old) who lives in Santa Fe or nearby communities. If accepted into the program, the applicant will work in close proximity to other youth, as well as SFBG staff members and adult volunteers who supervise the program. We will ask for a signed photo release to help with marketing and social media. Youth interns must complete a set number of hours in order to earn pay.
Admission Requirements
SFBG seeks responsible, highly motivated students who want to gain hands-on experience in gardening, horticulture, ethnobotany, and/or local ecology. Applicants must submit the following in order to apply for the internship:
- A one-page essay highlighting their specific interest in the opportunity.
- A written reference from two adults who know the applicant (one reference can be a parent or other relative; the second reference should be a teacher or another adult outside the family).
- Deadline to submit the above required documents is Friday April 5, 2024.
Schedule, Supervision, and Gardening Activities
Youth Gardeners will participate in activities from late April to late October.
Starting May 2024, the interns will meet for a two-hour shift once a week through May, working under the supervision of SFBG staff members and adult volunteers. The first session will be introductory focusing on getting to know the Botanical Garden.
Additionally, from June through August, a second shift will be added to each week. This will support the seasonal needs of the gardening operation. Weekly tasks will include, but not be limited to: preparing the soil, planting crops, mulching, weeding, watering, harvesting, and community outreach. Work is hands-on as weather permits.
In September, shifts will return to once per week, culminating with an end-of-season celebration open to family members and invited guests. Interns will be invited to continue through late-October in order to participate in the final harvest.
Certificate of Completion and End-of-Season Celebration
The internship is approximately 64 hours total. Interns who participate in at least 50 hours will receive a certificate of completion and a special gift from SFBG. All interns and their families will be invited to the end-of-season celebration.
To Apply
Applicants should submit the documents described in the section “Admission Requirements” to [email protected] no later than Friday April 5, 2024. Phone or in-person interviews will be conducted shortly thereafter. The internship start date is April 2024. Questions about the Youth Gardener Internship can be sent to [email protected].
Thank you for your interest!
Linda Milbourn College Internship Program
Internship Summary
Linda Milbourn was the executive director of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden from 2003 to 2014. She passed away in 2019 after a fierce battle with pancreatic cancer. The dream of our botanical garden was realized not only because of Linda’s determination, but also her admirable collaborative spirit, integrity, kindness, and humor. The Linda Milbourn College Internship honors her love of gardens and lifelong learning through on-site education of a future generation of environmental leaders. The internship was made possible by an anonymous donor in the hope that it will attract additional funding for many years to come. This eight-week hands-on experience will occur in and around the Santa Fe Botanical Garden (SFBG), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with facilities located at 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505.
Applicant Eligibility
The Linda Milbourn College Internship is open both locally, regionally and nationally to students presently or recently enrolled in an accredited college, university, or technical school. Applicants interested in horticulture, garden design and management, environmental studies, science education, or community outreach will be preferred. Spanish language proficiency is also be desirable.
Admission Requirements
Applicants will be considered for the internship based on the following:
- A one-page resume listing their grade point average, relevant academic activities, and recent employment.
- A one-page essay highlighting their specific interest in the internship, their idea for a special project during the experience, and how this opportunity will serve their career aspirations.
- A written reference from two of the applicant’s professors, supervisors, and/or employers.
Length of Internship
Eight (8) weeks, beginning in June 2024.
Intern Activities and Supervision
Depending on the priorities for their experience, which will be jointly determined during the selection process, the intern will work with numerous staff members, volunteers, and others in the SFBG community. Through mentorship, interns will be exposed to the horticultural operation, visitor services, education and volunteer programs, events and community outreach, as well as nonprofit administration.
Internship Stipend and Program Benefits
The intern will earn $5,000 for eight (8) weeks of employment (paid per bi-monthly by direct deposit). Additionally, work-related travel expenses (e.g., trips to other botanical gardens or environmental education sites) will be covered. The intern must have their own vehicle with proof of insurance, a driver’s license, as well as housing.
Requirements for Completion of Internship
The intern must complete at least 320 hours of work, with guidance and support from staff supervisors. Their work must incorporate researching, developing, and implementing a special project covering a topic of interest (mutually agreed upon), as well as presenting a synopsis of that project to members of the SFBG community, including the funders of the internship.
Certificate of Completion
Upon completing the requirements outlined above, the intern will receive a certificate of acknowledgement and appreciation from SFBG. Likewise, staff supervisors will write letters of recommendation for the intern’s portfolio.
To Apply
Applicants should submit the documents described in the section “Admission Requirements” to [email protected] no later than May 15, 2024. Online and/or in-person interviews will be conducted in early May, with an anticipated start date of June 1 or June 16. Questions about the internship can be sent to [email protected].
Thank you for your interest!
Other Resources
American Public Gardens Association
Available positions at gardens all over North America are posted and updated. Begin your search.
APGA’s Career Development Center is the most comprehensive resource of its kind for the public horticulture industry—providing position openings in botanic gardens, arboreta, zoos, horticultural societies, and even museums, along with a number of other career-oriented resources for experienced and new public horticulture professionals, as well as those just beginning to explore the industry.
American Horticultural Society Internships
AHS offers a variety of internships throughout the year at River Farm in Alexandria, VA.
Communication/Editorial internships with the American Horticultural Society are open to any college-level student of journalism, English, horticulture or related fields, and to adults with relevant experience who are making a career change or seeking additional training.
Horticultural internships with the American Horticultural Society are open to anyone interested in a career in horticulture, with preference given to those pursuing a degree or who have completed a degree in horticulture, or a related field. Member Programs internships with the American Horticultural Society are open to individuals interested in nonprofit and program management.
The Garden Club of America Scholarships
The Garden Club of America offers a wide range of excellent scholarships and fellowships. Check their website at www.gcamerica.org for a complete updated list, detailed information, applications, and deadlines.
Areas of study include:
- Landscape Architecture
- Horticulture
- Medicinal Botany
- Ecological Restoration
- Coastal Wetlands
- Garden History and Design
- Tropical Botany
- Endangered Bird Habitat
- Field Botany
- Urban Forestry
- Desert Studies
- Environmental Science
- National Parks
