Horticulture Manager

Bok Tower Gardens, Inc.•Lake Wales, FL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

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. The Horticulture Manager is responsible for the supervision and continual development of assigned staff, building positive employee relations by coaching, counseling, mentoring, motivating, resolving conflict, praising, etc., and participating in interim and annual performance reviews. They meet regularly with the Director of Horticulture for work assignments to plan and coordinate projects, determining necessary personnel or discussing garden concerns. The role involves performing regular inspections throughout the gardens to identify insect/disease problems or weed control needs, and reporting major issues to the Director of Horticulture. The manager is responsible for the staff’s proper use and maintenance of tools, equipment, and materials, performing minor maintenance of power equipment, tools, and irrigation, and ensuring the gardening staff’s safety performance. They must maintain required knowledge of established garden plants and their cultural requirements for growth and cultivation. Additionally, the role includes leading horticultural tours, assisting with educational programming and special events, coordinating and overseeing subcontracted projects, and supervising special team projects. The manager also assists the Director of Horticulture in the hiring and onboarding process for Display Horticulture Staff. Responsibilities extend to assisting in the greenhouse with seedling starting, watering, spraying, and propagating plant material, as well as performing turf and lawn maintenance. In the absence of the Director of Horticulture, the manager provides occasional overall supervision of the Horticulture Department.

Requirements

Associates or bachelor’s degree in horticulture, botany, or natural sciences
Minimum of 5-10 years of hands-on experience in public gardens
Minimum 2-3 plus years supervisory experience with landscape or garden staff preferred
In-depth knowledge of plant culture, Best Management Practices, plant identification and design preferred
Previous experience in garden or grounds maintenance with the ability to operate various types of hand and power operated tools and equipment utilized in all phases of horticulture work (lawnmower, front-end loader, tractors, backpack sprayers, weed-eaters, etc.)
Previous experience and knowledge of irrigation systems and maintenance
Proficiency with PC Access program, mapping with GPS Trimble Unit, and Arcview 8.0.
Knowledge of Microsoft Suite.
Current Florida Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License with ornamental and turf category or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire
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.
Must be able to perform strenuous physical work outside in the Florida weather year-round, sometimes under unfavorable weather conditions and exposure to insects
Continual or prolonged periods of time bending, stooping, reaching, crouching, kneeling, crawling, digging, and lifting at least 60 pounds
Most possess and maintain a valid driver’s license

Nice To Haves

Minimum 2-3 plus years supervisory experience with landscape or garden staff preferred
In-depth knowledge of plant culture, Best Management Practices, plant identification and design preferred

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