Position Purpose
The
Senior Director of Plant Design and Display will collaborate with the
Vice President, Horticulture to set the global standard in design
excellence for desert plant showcase with the goal of delivering a
signature Garden experience. Member of the Horticulture department’s
leadership team that will direct key initiatives from the Garden’s
15-year strategic plan to elevate plant displays that establish a new
worldwide benchmark.
The ideal candidate has a strong
horticulture knowledge, a collaborative mind-set and design sensibility
for public gardens and outdoor displays. The ability to initiate and
lead garden landscape concepts, develop original, site-specific work,
possess a design sensitivity to proportion, planting composition and
recognize the opportunities for dynamic plantings in a public space is
essential. Leads a diverse team to achieve exceptional plant care while
delivering detailed aesthetics and beauty for the Garden’s cultivated
acreage.
Position Information:
Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Pay: $89,000-$120,000/yr
Essential Duties
- Works
with the Vice President, Horticulture in accomplishing the strategic
and tactical initiatives outlined in the Garden’s 2040 Strategic Plan
under North Star 3. Available May 15th at dbg.org.
- Lead the
planning, renovation and modification of landscapes, displays, and
plant exhibits in collaboration with stakeholders including the
development of conceptual landscape diagrams, planting plans, planting
strategies and presentation drawings, plant palettes appropriate to
project climate and site conditions.
- Lead the execution of
landscape installations and coordinate with landscape contractors,
architects, nurseries, and consultants.
- Lead the design and
development for plant-based exhibits and seasonal plant décor including
seasonal and year-round lighting experiences.
- Work with
staff leads in monitoring plant health and respond in compliance with
accepted IPM practices, living collection policy, ISA standards and
best practices in desert horticulture.
- Establish plant and aesthetic performance metrics and accountability standards throughout the gardens.
- Lead
and manage a department of over 15 staff providing strategic direction,
oversight and performance management for Trail Horticulture,
Groundskeeping and Ornamental
Horticulture teams,
including delegating appropriate responsibility and accountability
while fostering a strong working relationship and team spirit among
staff members.
- Accept primary responsibility for developing, tracking and achieving expense budgets.
- Participate
and/or lead departmental, Garden and planning meetings; assist with
reports and proposals; continue professional education and
participation in professional organizations.
Requirements
Competencies
- Bachelor’s
degree in horticulture, landscape design, public garden management or
equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Minimum
five years of horticulture experience with a proven track record of
successfully planning and implementing plan design and display.
- Project management experience preferred
- Demonstrated
advanced skill in design and implementation of landscape projects for
public settings paired with a visionary and forward-thinking approach to
creating innovative and meaningful visitor experiences.
- Experience in management and care for a public garden, arboretum, display garden or equivalent experience.
- Versed
and current in horticultural field (e.g. pollinators, invasive plans,
desert plants, Integrated Pest Management, pruning, plant collections,
etc.)
- Exceptional time management, communication and organizational skills.
- Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
- The ability to solve problems using discretion and good judgment, high levels of personal motivation.
- Clear,
confident and responsive communicator with a demonstrated ability to
present ideas and design concepts to a wide range of internal and
external stakeholders.
- Creative and collaborative leaders who
inspire and mentors staff, fostering innovation and excellence in the
creation of transformative visitor experiences through plant design and
care.
- Ability to work weekends and evenings when needed.
- Valid driver license required
Equipment Used
Typical
office equipment, Microsoft Office, design software. This role may also
use small hand tools (loppers, pruners, pick axe, shovels, sharp
shooter, etc.) during plant installations.
Internal Communication
Regular communication with Garden staff, Board of Trustees and volunteers.
External Communication
Communication with media, vendors, botanical garden colleagues, growers, architects, contractors and professional associations.
Working Conditions
Must
be able to walk, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, bend, see, hear, speak,
read, and type. Manual dexterity and the ability to lift 30 pounds
required. Daily work occurs outside year-round including summer months.
The Horticulture department implements a summer schedule to support the
safety and well-being of staff working outside.? Reasonable
accommodations may be made, when necessary and feasible, to allow a
qualified individual to perform essential job functions.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Desert
Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all
applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender
identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental
status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other
status protected by law.
The Garden fosters and supports
workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion to honor the unique
perspectives, experiences, and contributions of all, to celebrate
successes, and to cultivate individual and institutional excellence.
All employees will help add to the Garden’s diversity and fully embrace it.
This
job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all
duties, responsibilities, and deliverables of the role. This is not a
contract and should not be viewed as such. Other duties may be assigned
by supervisor and/or his/her/their designee.
