Director of Horticulture and Facilities

Hiring Organization: FERNWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN
Employment type: Full-Time
Job Location: Niles, Michigan
Application Due Date: February 28, 2023

DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE AND FACILITIES–FERNWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN

The Director of Horticulture and Facilities is a key leadership position at Fernwood and oversees the development and maintenance of cultivated gardens, natural areas, and general infrastructure. The position oversees day-to-day garden and preserve operations, coordinates functions among the team–full-time, seasonals, summer interns, and volunteers, and assists the Executive Director in long-range planning. The Director of Horticulture and Facilities reports directly to Fernwood’s Executive Director.

This is a unique opportunity for the right candidate. Fernwood is at an inflection point. Fernwood’s current Director of Horticulture and Facilities is retiring from the garden in late February 2023 after 23 years of esteemed service in that position. A new garden will break ground in 2023 as part of Fernwood’s garden master plan. The Director of Horticulture and Facilities will work with the executive director and Fernwood development team as it prepares for a 60th anniversary capital campaign in 2024.

Degree in Horticulture, Plant Science, Landscape Architecture, Public Horticulture Management, or Natural Resources Management required. Five years experience in public gardens and strong plant knowledge desired. Ability to engage professionally with visitors, Fernwood members, fellow staff, and volunteers is imperative.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Set and maintain overall horticultural maintenance standards, policies, and documentation
Oversee routine garden work and provide horticultural leadership for all garden projects
Supervise the maintenance and improvement of Fernwood’s natural areas, including the planning and coordination of prescribed prairie burns
Serve as a key member of the Structures and Grounds committee
Participate in long-range planning and other work to address future garden growth and development
Work with Executive Director and others to identify and prioritize landscape and plant collections development, education/outreach programs, and staff professional development
Work closely with the Director of Education and other key members of the leadership team in creating and/or instructing public programs
Submit relevant monthly departmental announcements to Director of Marketing
Deliver lectures, seminars, and workshops for internal programs and external groups including garden clubs and horticultural professionals
Serve as content expert for media inquiries and interviews
Write and contribute to grant proposals related to garden projects, capital projects, exhibits, and other
Set up and monitor daily task agendas and project schedules for gardens and facilities
Lead and delegate tasks to team–full time, seasonals, summer interns, and volunteers
Physically participate in daily tasks and projects
Attend bimonthly staff meetings
Oversee daily opening and closing procedures
Submit annual budget for collections, grounds, and facilities
Work with out-sourced professional services such as construction contractors, garden designers, and service technicians
Monitor team payroll approval of hours, personal leave, and sick leave
Other duties as assigned

ABOUT FERNWOOD

Fernwood is a 105-acre public garden founded in 1964 and located in southwest Michigan just 20 minutes from the University of Notre Dame, 20 minutes from the shore of Lake Michigan, and 90 minutes from Chicago. This unique property descends 125 feet to the banks of the St. Joseph River and features cultivated gardens, an arboretum, restored tallgrass prairie, and woodland preserves. The Visitors Center features a small conservatory, gallery space, gift and plant shops, and a café. The Sims Education Center, designed by noted architects, Stanley Tigerman and Margaret McCurry, opened in 2018. The unique architecture sports a green roof and serves as a host site for nature viewing, programming for youth and adults, public and private rental and meeting and event spaces, and library collections covering the areas of horticulture, botany, nature, architecture, art, and a special children’s area. The construction of this architecturally unique building was a major part of phase one of Fernwood’s master plan completed in 2015.

Interested parties may send a resume and cover letter to Carol Line, Executive Director, at cline@fernwoodbotanical.org or call 269.695.6491 ext 210.

Apply