The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
Job Description Summary The Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania inspires an understanding of the relationship between plants, people and place through education, research and horticultural display. Located in the Northwest section of the city, the Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a destination for plant lovers from Philadelphia and beyond. The home to a collection of more than 13,000 woody plants and host to special and educational events. Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a hub for botany, horticulture and urban forestry and a special part of Penn.
Job Description
The Education Department at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens engages visitors with Arboretum grounds in unique ways, curating educational opportunities that inspire inquiry and ignite curiosity and creativity on themes surrounding the relationships between plants, people, and place.
The Adult Education Apprentice is an integral part of the team that develops and delivers educational programming for professionals, adults, families, and children. The apprentice works with staff to plan and deliver over 150 fee-based classes annually with over 3,000 registrants of all ages (view our current course catalog here). The apprentice provides program support for the Education Department, assisting in the planning and execution of continuing education classes, annual conferences, lectures, interpretive signage throughout the Arboretum's grounds, and more. This position is supported by the McLean Contributionship Education Apprenticeship Endowment.
Duties & Responsibilities
Work with staff to plan and implement a robust adult and family course curriculum.
Help plan and organize professional seminars, annual conferences, and public lectures.
Work with instructors on scheduling their classes, writing course descriptions, and working out class logistics.
Greet instructors and make sure they have handouts, and any other supplies needed to run their classes.
Host virtual classes.
Communicate with students.
Work with Morris Arboretum & Gardens Department of Marketing on advertisement and publicity of courses. This may include writing articles for local news outlets and generating content for social media and/or the Arboretum's website.
Participate in apprentice learning sessions and field trips to area gardens and natural areas.
Help monitor the system for online evaluation of classes.
Perform additional duties as requested.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
Must have good communication skills, both written and oral.
Must be familiar with or able to learn software systems, including database systems, to register students for classes.
Good interpersonal skills are required.
Must be adaptable and flexible.
Flexibility with a weekly schedule to accommodate evening and weekend programming. Saturday morning hours are required from March through June and September through October.
The ideal candidate will work well in a collaborative atmosphere and have a demonstrated interest in lifelong learning, environmental education, and/or public gardens.
Work Environment
The Adult Education Apprentice has their own workstation in a shared office. Most days are spent indoors, though the apprentice should be comfortable in outdoor settings. The Adult Education Apprentice has an excellent opportunity to meet others in the field of public gardens, and to learn about and work with other Departments at the Arboretum.
Job Location - City, State Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School Morris Arboretum
Pay Range $7.25 - $16.00 Hourly Rate Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.
Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
Special Requirements Background check may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
Penn has a long and proud tradition of intellectual rigor and pursuit of innovative knowledge, begun by Benjamin Franklin in 1740. That tradition lives today through the creativity, entrepreneurship, and engagement of our faculty, students, and staff. Academic life at Penn is unparalleled, with an undergraduate student body of 10,000 from every U.S. state and around the world. The entering class of 2015 is the most talented and diverse in Penn's history. Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the country, Penn welcomes an additional 10,000 students to our top-ranked graduate and professional schools.