Horticulture Senior Coordinator

California Native Plant Society•Sacramento, CA

13d•$32 - $34•Hybrid

About The Position

The Horticulture Senior Coordinator supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of horticultural practices under the direction of the Horticulture Program Manager. The role advances CNPS’s Landscapes for Change campaign, which envisions a future where California native plants are the default choice in landscapes. This position will blend technical expertise with hands-on execution, by developing and refining horticulture industry standards, resources, and program materials. The position includes both independent work - such as managing data and scientific materials - and task-level leadership, including coordinating volunteers, supervising contractors and vendors, managing schedules, and overseeing small-project budgets. This role plays a key part in the quality and effectiveness of Horticulture projects and programs currently funded into 2028.

Requirements

4-6 years of progressively responsible experience in native plant horticulture, seed conservation/propagation, or land management, or restoration including documented contributions to technical projects, published materials, protocols, or guidance documents.
Demonstrated experience conducting literature reviews, synthesizing practitioner input, and translating findings into applied guidance or standards.
A bachelor’s degree in restoration ecology, botany, plant science, environmental science, or related field.
Relevant experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis in lieu of a degree. For applicants who substitute experience for a degree, the total years of professional experience required for this role will increase proportionately.
Applied horticultural experience with native plant propagation techniques (e.g., seed handling, dormancy treatments, cuttings, divisions), supported by examples of past protocols, Quality Assurance/Quality Control processes, or production outcomes.
Foundational-to-intermediate taxonomy and data‑standards skills, with the ability to identify and correct inconsistencies in plant profile data, ranges, or nomenclature; experience with native plant databases (e.g., Calscape) strongly preferred.
Intermediate data analysis skills, including organizing and validating datasets, summarizing findings, and producing deliverables using productivity and collaboration tools; ability to provide work samples upon request.
Demonstrated ability to develop or refine methodologies, workflows, or repeatable processes that improve accuracy, consistency, or quality of horticultural content.
Strong writing and editing abilities, with demonstrated experience developing technical or educational materials for diverse audiences, such as protocols, cultivation guidance, public webpages, or training materials.
Ability to translate complex scientific or horticultural concepts into accessible public resources, with examples of past publications, resources, or presentations preferred.
Experience providing quality‑assurance reviews for multilingual materials, including Spanish-language content, is a plus.
Demonstrated experience coordinating volunteers, committees, or contributors, with the ability to provide clear task instructions, monitor progress, and document outcomes.
Experience working with or directing contractors or vendors at the task level, including tracking deliverables, timelines, or budgets.
Proven ability to manage discrete projects - including scheduling, organizing information, and reporting on progress - within established parameters under the direction of a program manager.
Experience collaborating with chapters, community groups, California Native American tribes, or partner organizations, with a commitment to respectful communication and shared learning.
Ability to operate effectively in a remote work environment, using digital tools to maintain coordination, clarity, and accountability among dispersed teams.
Demonstrated experience engaging with tribal partners, cultural experts, or community reviewers in a manner that honors Indigenous knowledge and protocols.
A strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility, with evidence of integrating these principles into prior programs, outreach, or communications work.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in ecology, environmental science, botany, or relevant field.
Fluency in Spanish.
Knowledge of CNPS and familiarity with native plants and plant communities throughout California.
Experience and knowledge of the native seed industry.
Experience building trust-based relationships with Indigenous partners and communities.
Experience working with volunteers.
Experience working remotely or in a hybrid work environment within a distributed team.

Responsibilities

Support the launch and maintenance of a public-facing database of California native plant propagation protocols.
Ensure relevance and accessibility of all protocol materials for various audiences.
Create new and update existing best practices from current industry professionals and published scientific resources.
Lead data entry and content management volunteers.
Coordinate integration of the finalized protocols into the Calscape database’s plant profiles.
Support Spanish-language resources and accuracy reviews.
Collaborate on California Native American tribes review of the protocols by California Native American tribal partners to ensure culturally appropriate resources.
Organize and schedule meetings and provide volunteer support.
Industry outreach to nurseries and growers, including prospective partners, and coordination of meetings or committees that support engagement across these sectors.
Participate in CNPS Chapter Council committees and communities as needed, which may include, depending on background and expertise, the Invasive Species Committee, Wildfire Community, Chapter Horticulture Chairs Committee, and others.
Provide general support to chapter members and the broader CNPS community, including responding to emails and phone inquiries, connecting members with relevant resources, and assisting with other day-to-day chapter needs.
Support chapter plant sale activities which include providing technical assistance with Square or other sales platforms as needed.
Identify funding opportunities and advise program leadership and Development team on task-level scoping and resource planning.
Manage discrete projects, schedules, and deliverables.
Lead volunteers and contractors on assigned tasks.
Serve as a point of contact for volunteers and partners; coordinate speaking opportunities and public presentations with Public Affairs.
Contribute horticultural expertise to grants, reports, and publications.
Uphold CNPS’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all program development and outreach activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Review and improve plant profiles in the database, including updating scientific and common names, geographic ranges, cultivation notes, and links to relevant industry care protocols.
Manage and respond to incoming correspondence, including emails submitted through Calscape, and route inquiries to the appropriate contacts as needed.
Review data across platforms and tools to ensure accuracy and consistency.
Develop and review plant care guidance covering irrigation, pruning, mulching, soil health, and pest and disease management informed by integrated pest management (IPM) principles and aligned with goals for biodiversity and pollinator support.
Assist with testing new websites, pages, and database features before public launch, identifying issues, and providing feedback.
Review new and updated content to ensure it is accurate, clearly written, and useful to both a general audience and professionals.
Collaborate on a review process with tribal partners to ensure plant guidance reflects culturally appropriate and community-informed perspectives.
Coordinate meetings and scheduling, and provide support to volunteers, including occasional in-person participation at events or gatherings.

Benefits

100% coverage of employee premiums for health (Kaiser or Anthem), life, dental, and vision insurance.
401(k) plan with up to 6% matching contributions, available immediately upon employment.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), Dependent Care Account (DCA), and Transportation Savings Account (TSA).
13 holidays, 12 sick/wellness days, and 10 vacation days.
12 weeks of paid parental leave, after one year of employment.
CNPS-issued laptop, a $750 home office stipend, and a $60/month telework stipend.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Annual budget of $500 and 32 hours for professional development opportunities.
Attendance at semiannual staff team-building events.
Complimentary CNPS Society membership.