Plant Production Supervisor

Huntsville Botanical Garden•Huntsville, AL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Production Supervisor leads day-to-day operations of Huntsville Botanical Garden’s greenhouse and nursery production facilities. The role oversees production planning, propagation, crop scheduling, plant health, inventory management, and assigned staff and volunteers. It provides high-quality plant material for Garden landscapes, living collections, education programs, and Plant Sales, coordinating with the Horticulture Manager, Curator, and other institutional partners. The position translates approved priorities and budgets into reliable production plans, accurate records, and measurable operating results while advancing sustainable growing practices and operational resilience. The supervisor plans and conducts plant propagation and production; manages greenhouse and nursery operations, growing conditions, and equipment; and coordinates plant sourcing and inventory for Spring and Fall Plant Sales. The role maintains operational, procurement, inventory, and crop-performance records and uses operational data to support budgeting, forecasting, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement. It supervises assigned personnel, interns, and volunteers, collaborates with horticulture, curatorial, and conservation teams, and develops and documents cultivation practices and procedures. The role is full-time and exempt, with a flexible schedule that includes regular weekends, occasional evenings, and occasional holiday hours depending on the season. Work takes place in an office and on Garden grounds, including greenhouses, cold frames, and indoor and outdoor areas in all weather conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, nursery or greenhouse production, plant science, or a related field and at least two years of relevant experience in plant propagation, greenhouse or nursery production, and crop scheduling; or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience.
Demonstrated experience coordinating production workflows and directing the work of others.
Valid driver’s license, subject to insurability and annual Motor Vehicle Record review.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including spreadsheets, and ability to maintain accurate digital records.
Must possess or obtain the pesticide applicator credential required for assigned duties within six months of hire, subject to applicable law and HBG policy.
Ability to organize, prioritize, delegate, and adjust production schedules; anticipate capacity constraints; manage competing deadlines; exercise sound technical judgment; and escalate risks in time for effective decisions.
Strong knowledge of propagation, crop culture, plant health, integrated pest management, environmental controls, and irrigation under northern Alabama conditions.
Familiarity with cultivated and native plants of the southeastern United States, including plant identification and growing requirements.
Ability to use production, inventory, and financial information to develop practical plans, track performance, and recommend improvements.
Strong supervisory, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; constructive collaboration across departments; reliable handoffs; and commitment to staff development, safety, and HBG core values.
Practical knowledge of the safe operation and care of relevant nursery, greenhouse, and grounds equipment.
Ability to perform manual labor, including frequent lifting, carrying, or transporting of loads up to 50 pounds; work with loud equipment; frequently bend, climb up to 15 feet, and traverse uneven and sloping terrain; and wear required Personal Protective Equipment.
Ability to work in office and Garden grounds, including greenhouses, cold frames, and indoor and outdoor areas in all weather conditions, with exposure to loud, prolonged noises and/or vibrations.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or additional professional training in horticulture, nursery or greenhouse production, or a related discipline.
Experience supervising employees and volunteers.
Experience managing nursery inventories, plant procurement, and retail or fundraising plant sales.
Experience producing native plants or conservation collections.
Experience using greenhouse environmental control and nursery inventory systems.
Experience documenting propagation protocols or production performance.

Responsibilities

Plan and conduct propagation and production of a wide variety of plants for Garden collections and displays, educational programs, events, and Plant Sales.
Coordinate production priorities and identify capacity constraints with the Horticulture Manager and relevant program leads.
Develop and maintain integrated crop schedules, production forecasts, growing-space allocations, and resource plans.
Recommend production-versus-purchase decisions, monitor milestones and crop readiness, and communicate material risks, losses, or competing priorities.
Manage daily greenhouse and nursery operations, including growing environments, irrigation, fertigation, integrated pest management, sanitation, biosecurity, crop quality, and safe equipment use.
Maintain production-area grounds and coordinate facility repairs and preventive maintenance with Facilities and the Horticulture Manager.
Monitor greenhouse environmental control systems and growing conditions, including temperature, humidity, moisture, ventilation, and irrigation; maintain records, troubleshoot within delegated authority, and escalate system failures or infrastructure needs.
Plan and execute plant production, sourcing, and inventory management for Spring and Fall Plant Sales.
Develop assortment recommendations, production and procurement plans, inventory forecasts, and resource requirements consistent with approved targets, product-mix strategy, pricing parameters, and budgets.
Coordinate plant purchasing within approved authority and oversee inventory accuracy, plant identification, quality, labeling, pricing implementation, staging, replenishment, and post-sale inventory reconciliation.
Coordinate routine nursery operations and task handoffs with Plant Science & Conservation staff; report progress, risks, and recommendations in departmental meetings.
Maintain accurate production, procurement, inventory, plant disposition, and crop-performance records.
Analyze crop losses, costs, growing-space utilization, and other operational indicators to support budgets, performance evaluation, forecasting, and continuous improvement.
Supervise assigned staff, interns, and volunteers through scheduling, work assignments, delegation, technical training, coaching, performance feedback, and safety oversight.
Promote cross-training, documentation, and continuity of essential operations.
Collaborate with the Curator and conservation personnel on approved propagation, safeguarding, collections, and research-related production activities.
Follow plant identification, provenance tracking, documentation, biosecurity, and collections policies; refer curatorial and conservation priority decisions to the appropriate program leads.
Improve propagation and cultivation practices, including for commercially unavailable or underutilized southeastern native plants.
Develop and refine growing procedures and contribute production data and technical expertise to institutional projects, grant proposals, and professional knowledge sharing.
Collaborate constructively with Garden colleagues, communicate decisions and handoffs clearly, and perform other duties as assigned.