Botanical Garden Coordinator

Elon University • Elon, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Botanical Garden Coordinator is responsible for the health and appearance of the campus botanical gardens and landscape. The primary responsibilities include overall responsibility for the appearance of gardens, overseeing the design of display beds, coordinating planting and maintaining annual floral display beds, garden expansion, improvement of garden areas, acquisition of plants and materials, and landscape renovation. Other responsibilities include assisting with garden visits, marketing of the gardens, updating the gardens web pages, perennial and shrub gardens maintenance to include; mulch beds, pruning, weed control. The Botanical Garden Coordinator may be assigned other tasks or projects by the Director of Landscaping.

Requirements

• Associate degree, or vocational or technical school degree in Horticulture, landscape design, landscape management, or related field. with more than 8 years of experience with the following relevant work experience: A four-year bachelor's degree in Horticulture, landscape design, or related field, plus a minimum of eight (8) years' work experience in horticulture or related field; or a two year associated degree in Horticulture, landscape design, or related field plus ten (10) years' work experience in horticulture is required.
• Must have the ability to read, analyze and interpret professional journals and technical literature.
• Verbal skills required to effectively communicate work assignments and interacting with landscape contractors.
• Must be able to understand basic arithmetic calculations in order to calculate areas, calibrate application equipment and apply fertilizers and pesticides accurately.
• Able to perform accurate materials and cost estimates for projects.
• Must be able to perform detailed visual observation of plants and gardens and ascertain information, while working in the field, to determine if there is a general decline in the health of plant material and determine what corrective measures must be taken.
• Computer experience with PC's, experience with Microsoft Office applications including Word and Excel is required.
• Landscape design skill, experience and demonstrated ability.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to organize, motivate and lead a diverse group are required. Success is based on the ability to work with an extremely broad social and intellectual assortment of people.
• Able to identify the majority of landscape plants on the Elon Campus and demonstrate a thorough knowledge of their cultural requirements.
• Must possess a valid NC Driver's license and be insurable by the University carrier.
• A NC Pesticide License is required, or must be obtained within six months of employment.
• A NC Plant Professional Certification is required, or must be obtained within six months of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, landscape design, landscape management, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing the health and appearance of designated botanical garden collections and landscaped areas on campus. This shall include: Diagnosing plant health issues or improper growing conditions; following appropriate IPM practices to determine and direct pesticide applications, weed control and fertilization; and directing watering, pruning and removal of plant material.
• Perform and/or oversee the planning, designing, acquiring, and coordinating seasonal display beds. Changes in accordance with the seasonal calendar, the university calendar, special events, and weather conditions to assure the desired level of quality, appearance, cleanliness, and plant health.
• Responsible for enhancing and improving the existing and new campus landscaped spaces. To include, but not limited to, annual/bi-annual plant replacements across campus and procurement of plants and materials within allocated resources. This will include design and input of plant and materials for new landscaped areas. Coordinate installation of the plant replacements.
• Oversee the planning and designing of the expansion of the campus botanical gardens. Continue and expand initiatives to expand collections, gardens, and the communication of relevant information to students, faculty, and visitors. Will assist with campus garden visits, updating of plant collection lists, and marketing of the university botanical gardens.
• Inclusive Community Building Community is foundational to Elon and a shared responsibility within our residential campus. All who work at Elon should demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with Elon’s foundational commitment to relationships, mentoring and collaboration in a close-knit residential community. We embrace the shared responsibility to foster inclusive excellence within a strong residential community. Accordingly, employees are expected to join together and build connections in activities that foster an active and engaged campus environment and engage in professional development to support the shared responsibility of enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion through meaningful relationships and mentoring at Elon. Employees are encouraged to, for example, attend or participate in campus activities such as College Coffee, Numen Lumen, campus cultural events, athletic events, continuing education, professional development opportunities and trainings, employee resource groups and other university-sponsored activities to demonstrate an active commitment to the Elon community.

Benefits

• 28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.
• Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses
• Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.
• Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.
• Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.
• Free use of campus fitness facilities.
• Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.
• Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree