Horticulturist Jobs Riverside CA 2026 

The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is looking for a Horticulturist at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus in Riverside, California, part of the agency’s Pacific West Area field organisation. This is a developmental federal position for someone who wants to build technical expertise in citrus and date horticulture while supporting the scientists who lead the work. As Horticulturist, you’ll assist with propagation, care, and management of plant collections in greenhouse, screenhouse, field, and laboratory settings; collect samples and scientific data; help with experiments and research projects; support micro-propagation and conventional propagation; carry out tasks such as trimming trees and micro-grafting; help prepare and analyse research data; and provide technical assistance across all aspects of citrus and date horticulture. The work supports research aimed at practical solutions for farmers, ranchers, and food producers, and it touches on the agency’s contribution to the National Farm Security Action Plan. Positions are offered at GS-09 and GS-11 grade levels, with qualifications and experience set out for each.

About USDA-ARS — Science from Field to Table

Organisation: USDA Agricultural Research Service, the department’s chief in-house scientific research agency

Unit: National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus, Riverside, California

Area: Field Organisation, Pacific West Area

Focus: Practical solutions to agricultural problems affecting Americans every day

Sensitivity: Handles private, controlled unclassified, or proprietary information with a moderate impact degree

Horticulturist Role — Citrus & Date Germplasm Support

Department: National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus

Primary Focus: Plant propagation, collection care, data collection, research support

Scope: Repository greenhouses, screenhouses, field plantings, laboratories, and remote field stations

Mission: Supporting research that keeps citrus and date genetic resources healthy and useful

Horticulturist Position Overview

The Horticulturist role at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus is a hands-on position in one of the country’s key collections of citrus and date plant material. The repository conserves plant germplasm that scientists rely on for breeding, research, and disease work, so the care of each plant matters. Your work is spread across the repository’s greenhouses, screenhouses, field plantings, and laboratory, with some duties at remote field stations. Propagation is central. You’ll take part in micro-propagation in aseptic conditions and in conventional propagation in the greenhouse, and you’ll help with tasks such as trimming trees and micro-grafting, which call for steady hands and close attention to detail. Care of the living collection follows, including the day-to-day management that keeps plants healthy from one season to the next. Samples are collected from greenhouse, screenhouse, and field for analysis and distribution, and you’ll record the information carefully so that researchers can trust what they receive. Research support is part of every week. You’ll assist scientists with experiments and research projects, collect and prepare scientific data, and help interpret results as the programme requires. Because the position is developmental, you’ll also build technical expertise in citrus and date horticulture as you go, learning from the scientists in the unit and taking on more responsibility over time. Safety is taken seriously. Work involves heat, dust, mud, insects, and occasional exposure to irritant chemicals or mechanical equipment, so personal protective equipment is required and you’ll follow precautions closely. Local travel and occasional overnight travel may be needed.

As Horticulturist, you’ll grow your knowledge of plant propagation, greenhouse management, plant pathogen detection, and the scientific handling of plant material, while developing the analytical and documentation habits that federal research demands. The posting sets out education and experience at each grade level. At GS-09, the basic requirement is a degree in horticulture, or in a related plant science with at least 30 semester hours of basic plant science, including at least 16 semester hours in horticultural subjects such as breeding, care, management, production, and post-harvest handling. Specialised experience at that level includes assisting with experiments and research projects, caring for plants in a greenhouse, and collecting and preparing scientific data. At GS-11, specialised experience extends to performing experiments in plant propagation or pathogen detection, managing greenhouse plant care, interpreting and analysing data, and training others in a research programme. Qualifying graduate education, including a master’s degree or doctorate in a related field, can substitute for experience, and paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, counts. Applicants must meet all qualifications by the closing date, including time-in-grade requirements. For horticulture graduates and plant scientists in southern California who want a federal research career with real hands-on work, this developmental role offers a strong foundation in citrus and date science.

Why This Role Matters: As Horticulturist at the USDA citrus and date repository in Riverside, you help conserve plant material that researchers depend on, support work that turns science into solutions for growers and food producers, gain hands-on experience in propagation and greenhouse care, build expertise in citrus and date horticulture, and begin or advance a federal research career with the Agricultural Research Service.

 Key Responsibilities & Research Duties

Propagation & Plant Care

• Assist with micro-propagation in aseptic conditions
• Support conventional propagation in greenhouse settings
• Care for plants in greenhouse and screenhouse collections
• Support management of plant collections across field plantings
• Help with trimming trees and micro-grafting tasks
• Keep plant care records accurate and consistent

Sample Collection & Data

• Collect samples from greenhouse, screenhouse, and field
• Prepare samples for analysis and distribution
• Collect and prepare scientific data for researchers
• Record data carefully and consistently
• Support laboratory analysis of plant material
• Keep sample tracking and chain of custody records

Research Support

• Assist scientists with experiments and research projects
• Support plant propagation and pathogen detection work
• Help interpret and analyse scientific data
• Contribute to technical reporting on research activities
• Support protection of controlled and proprietary information
• Help maintain research programme documentation

Technical Expertise & Development

• Build knowledge of citrus and date horticulture
• Learn from unit scientists through hands-on work
• Develop skills in breeding, care, and post-harvest handling
• Take on greater responsibility as expertise grows
• Provide training support to others at higher grade levels
• Keep up with developments in horticultural research

Safety & Field Operations

• Use personal protective equipment at all times
• Follow safety precautions around machinery and ladders
• Handle tools and bladed instruments with care
• Work safely in heat, dust, mud, and insect conditions
• Lift objects up to 50 pounds during field harvests
• Travel locally and occasionally overnight when required

Qualifications & Requirements

Basic Education

• Degree in horticulture
• Or a related plant science degree with at least 30 semester hours of basic plant science
• Of those, at least 16 semester hours in horticultural subjects
• Or a combination of education and experience equivalent to a horticulture major

GS-09 Requirements

• One year of specialised experience comparable to GS-07
• Experience assisting with plant propagation experiments and research
• Experience caring for plants in a greenhouse
• Experience collecting and preparing scientific data
• Or two years of graduate education leading to a related master’s degree

GS-11 Requirements

• One year of specialised experience comparable to GS-09
• Experience performing plant propagation or pathogen detection research
• Experience managing greenhouse plant care
• Experience interpreting and analysing scientific data
• Experience training others in a research programme
• Or three years of graduate education leading to a related doctorate

• Ability to stand or sit for extended periods
• Manual dexterity and close attention to detail
• Ability to work with repetitive motions, reaching, stooping, and bending
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds during harvest trials
• Ability to use personal protective equipment consistently

Career Development & Growth Opportunities

Professional Advancement

• Developmental pathway through federal grade levels
• Progression from GS-09 to GS-11 with time in grade
• Opportunity to lead research support and technical training
• Route into federal plant science research careers

Learning & Development

• Hands-on citrus and date horticulture expertise
• Experience in micro-propagation and grafting
• Exposure to federal research programmes and standards
• Training from experienced USDA scientists

Federal Employment Notes

• Applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date
• Time-in-grade restrictions apply to higher-grade consideration
• Paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, counts
• Qualifying graduate education may substitute for experience

 About USDA-ARS — Research That Serves the Nation

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Its scientists work across a wide range of agricultural issues, with the aim of finding practical solutions that farmers, ranchers, and food producers can use. The agency’s work is closely tied to food security, plant health, and the wider national interest in a strong agricultural economy.

Career Excellence in Citrus & Date Research: Join a federal research unit in Riverside, support scientists working on citrus and date genetic resources, learn propagation and greenhouse science from experts, and build a career in plant science with the USDA.

 Who Should Apply?

• Horticulture Graduates: Seeking a federal research role
• Plant Science Graduates: With the required horticultural coursework
• Greenhouse and Nursery Professionals: Moving into research support
• Propagation Technicians: Interested in citrus and date germplasm
• Graduate Students in Plant Science: Looking for a federal developmental post
• Southern California Residents: Seeking research careers near Riverside

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