FELLOWS 2027-2028

Longwood Gardens • Kennett Square, PA

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Longwood Fellows Program is a unique, yearlong, residential leadership accelerator designed to prepare high-potential professionals for high-impact roles at public gardens, both in the United States and abroad. Continuing Longwood Gardens’ mission of training horticulture professionals, the Fellows Program supports the future of public gardens through this investment in leadership development for the sector at large. Fellows refine their leadership skills through a combination of coursework, project-based learning, and networking opportunities with industry professionals to learn about topics such as strategic planning, master site planning, nonprofit finance, leadership communications, conflict management, and leading effective teams. The program grafts theory with practice, offering Fellows the opportunity to conduct case-based discussions, learn from regional and global public garden leaders, and engage in practical learning through a departmental immersion at Longwood, a two-month field placement with a partner garden, and by conducting a cohort project that addresses a pressing issue facing public gardens.

Requirements

• 5+ years of work experience in public horticulture or closely related field (public garden, arboretum, national park, university, or similar).
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English.
• Commitment to professional excellence and personal growth.
• Leadership competencies including intellectual curiosity, drive and motivation, adaptive interpersonal skills, fiscal responsibility, resiliency, and strong communication skills.
• Ability to advance others’ success and collaborate well as a member of a team.
• Welcoming of diverse perspectives and backgrounds, and open to learning from cultural exchange.
• Capacity to be visionary and innovative: future thinking.
• Demonstrated commitment to public horticulture.
• Endorsement by garden professionals.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, such as a diploma in horticulture.
• Individuals transitioning between careers.

Responsibilities

• Refine leadership skills through coursework, project-based learning, and networking.
• Conduct case-based discussions.
• Learn from regional and global public garden leaders.
• Engage in practical learning through departmental immersion at Longwood.
• Complete a two-month field placement with a partner garden.
• Conduct a cohort project addressing a pressing issue facing public gardens.

Benefits

• Biweekly stipend
• On-property housing
• Full Longwood benefits package including health insurance
• Annual stipend for individualized leadership development
• American Public Gardens Association annual conference registration and associated airfare, lodging, and meals
• Two-month garden placement, including airfare and lodging
• Membership in the Longwood Gardens Alumni Association

What This Job Offers

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