Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Horticulture

About This Opportunity

Queens Botanical Garden is seeking an experienced and mission-aligned leader for the newly created position of Director of Horticulture. They will lead all horticultural and sustainable agriculture initiatives and operations, and work with the Executive Director, Supervisor of Gardeners, and other key staff and board members to develop a vision and plan for the Garden’s future as it continues to grow and develop with the highest standards for environmental sustainability. They will also support the integration of horticulture with the work of the rest of the organization, including day-to-day operations and programming of our active public space.

As an innovative institution that adopted environmental sustainability, climate mitigation, and green operations back in 2001 in its Master Plan, QBG is at an exciting and critical juncture. Within the next two – three years, the Garden will be completing construction of its state of the art LEED platinum certified Education Center, outdoor Pavilion, and Kids Culture/Discovery Garden, all of which will feature new gardens and collections. Also planned are a renovation of the Rose Garden, a new Welcome Garden near the North Gate entrance, and an Environmental Sustainability Quad that will serve as space to train the public in organic horticultural practices, composting, and green operations, and host volunteer opportunities. The Director of Hort will work closely with landscape architects who will be designing these respective gardens and also seek to improve our current gardens and collections in order to maximize the potential of every acre of the Garden.

The Director of Hort will also serve to advance the Garden’s work in the media, at conferences and symposia, and networking events, as well as other public facing opportunities. In addition, they will seek to deepen the understanding of the public that QBG is a living museum and participate in research with collaborating institutions. As part of the senior leadership team, they will also help inform policies, strategic planning, and other organizational matters.

Responsibilities

• With key stakeholders, devise and maintain a Horticultural Master Plan that ensures long-term sustainability and comprehensive development and improvement of the Garden’s 39-acres, including collection management, ecological stewardship, access and visitor experience, educational programming, and infrastructure development
• Evaluate existing planted areas and use of Garden acreage 
• Work with the Executive Director and key staff to develop immediate and long-term strategic horticultural and landscape design goals and create a list of key horticultural projects and assign priority status to those projects
• Develop ecologically sound planting and tree succession plans for the Garden
• Work with Supervisor of Gardeners to select appropriate plants for new installations and replacements throughout the Garden
• Work closely with contracted landscape architects and contractors to implement and reinforce the Garden’s design principles and standards
• Manage department staff including full time horticulture staff, part-time gardener, part-time garden assistant, seasonal staff, and interns; oversee evaluation process and payroll approval
• Recruit, hire, and onboard staff in collaboration with Supervisor of Gardeners 
• Directly supervise Supervisor of Gardeners and Farm Manager
• Develop and lead trainings on horticulture and landscape design for field staff
• Oversee and participate in any horticultural related research
• Work with the Director of Development and participate in donor cultivation and stewardship efforts related to horticulture, including identifying new opportunities for donor engagement around horticultural initiatives
• Work with the Executive Director and Director of Programming to develop public engagement and horticultural education programming
• Lead occasional horticultural tours, nature tours, talks and other public engagement regarding our collections and horticulture
• Oversees the development of interpretive horticultural materials and signage with Director of Programs and other staff
• Oversee management of department budget and credit card
• Ensure compliance with QBG’s collective bargaining agreement
• Plan safety training for staff and ensure practices are OSHA-compliant
• Oversee the department’s fleet and equipment including gas- and electric-powered vehicles, machinery and small power tools; responsible for ongoing assessments and maintenance, organization, upgrades and replacements
• Ensure equipment is functional and collections are protected
• Represent Horticulture in interdepartmental projects and events; collaborate with QBG staff around public programming, donor/fundraising events, and educational activities
• Develop and maintain relationships with the Garden’s horticulture vendors; select vendors, manage relationships, and approve invoices for payment
• Support gardening as needed
• May lead snow removal as needed

Qualifications

• 10 years or more progressive experience in public horticulture or another horticultural institution
• A minimum of five years of supervisory experience and managing horticulture teams 
• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture or a related field, or equivalent combination of work and certification; Master’s degree a plus
• Knowledge of and commitment to ecology, biodiversity, and sustainable horticultural and agricultural practices including integrated pest management and organic gardening
• Thorough knowledge of botanical garden collections, supporting science and sustainability practices with demonstrated creative design abilities
• Experience developing strategic plans or master plans a plus
• Commitment to interdepartmental collaboration and building relationships with QBG staff across the institution 
• Demonstrated ability to find creative solutions to problems, analyze situations, and implement actions in a timely manner; excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills 
• Research and program development experience 
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to effectively communicate to staff, QBG senior staff and directors, and other Garden stakeholders 
• Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 50lbs safely, move for long periods of time, and operate standard horticulture machinery 
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings
• OSHA certification, or the ability/willingness to be OSHA certified, highly preferred

Schedule & Salary

This is a full-time exempt position with weekly on-site work. Benefits offered include excellent medical, vision, dental and life insurance, generous PTO, paid holidays, employee discounts, access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions, pension and other retirement savings plans. Schedule is generally Monday through Friday, with occasional required evenings and weekends.

Salary: $110,000 - $120,000

For consideration, please submit your resume, cover letter, and any relevant documents via our Career Center. 

If you encounter difficulties with uploading documents to the portal, please send via email to Human Resources.

Health & Safety: proof of full Covid-19 vaccination strongly recommended  for employment.

Queens Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). The Garden does not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, national origin, disability (physical or mental), age, marital status, veteran/active military service member status, political affiliation, mental illness, socioeconomic status or background, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, genetic information, immigration or citizenship status, status as victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking, arrest or conviction record, pre-employment marijuana testing, sexual and reproductive health decisions, employment/unemployment status, salary history, credit history, marital/partnership stratus, caregiver status, height and weight, or any other legally protected status. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact Human Resources via email or phone 718-886-3800 x 203.

Compensation details: 110000-120000 Yearly Salary

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