Horticulture Manager
JOB SUMMARY:
This position supervises and provides day-to-day active leadership to horticultural staff, volunteers, seasonal employees, and horticultural interns, and maintains BTG’s plant collection, irrigation, and pond system.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Responsible for the supervision and continual development of assigned staff. Building positive employee relations by coaching, counseling, mentoring, motivating, resolving conflict, praising, etc.; participates in interim and annual performance reviews of assigned staff
• Meets regularly with Director of Horticulture for work assignments to plan and coordinate projects determining necessary personnel or discussion of garden concerns; assigns garden supervisors with specific tasks and should participate in the more difficult and/or complex tasks or projects
• Performs regular inspections throughout the gardens; routine inspections may identify insect/disease problems, weed control needs, etc.; reports major problems or concerns to Director of Horticulture
• Responsible for the staff’s proper use and maintenance of tools, equipment, and materials; performs minor maintenance of power equipment, tools, and irrigation; Responsible for the gardening staff’s safety performance
• Responsible for maintaining required knowledge of established garden plants and understanding the cultural requirements to maintain their growth and cultivation
• Lead horticultural tours as needed, assist with educational programming and special events
• Coordinate and oversees subcontracted projects; Supervise special team projects
• Assist the Director of Horticulture in the hiring process for the Display Horticulture Staff as well as the onboarding process
• Assist in the greenhouse; starting seedling, watering, spraying and propagating plant material when needed. Perform turf and lawn maintenance, weed and water as needed
• Occasional overall supervision of the Horticulture Department in the absence of the Director of Horticulture
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, fellow supervisors, direct supervisors, volunteers, and co-workers
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team effectively
• Ability to work with and supervise a diverse staff and volunteer group
• Strong organizational, analytical, and mathematical skills for research, recordkeeping, and problem-solving; ability to read design schematics
• Ability to understand and interpret instructions; ability to work effectively and efficiently with minimal supervision
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate maintenance and horticultural needs and personnel needs in a courteous and effective manner
• Ability to plan, assign, supervise, and evaluate the work of subordinates and/or volunteers
• Knowledge of garden plants and desire to learn central Florida horticulture and the aesthetic ethic of the Gardens
• Ability to fulfill the Garden’s plant collection and plant records policies
• Ability to perform and support horticultural practices that facilitate plant health through understanding soil nutrition, sustainable gardening and Integrated Pest Management
• Ability to visualize and conceptualize garden detail and aesthetics applying best garden practices for plant health and keep a commitment to excellence.