Plant Production Supervisor

Huntsville Botanical Garden•Huntsville, AL

7d•$44,000 - $51,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Production Supervisor leads the 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 personnel and volunteers. It delivers plant material for Garden landscapes, living collections, education programs, and Plant Sales in coordination with the Horticulture Manager, Curator, and institutional partners. The supervisor translates approved priorities and budgets into production plans, accurate records, and measurable operational results while advancing sustainable growing practices and operational resilience. The position plans and conducts plant propagation and production; manages crop schedules, forecasts, growing-space allocations, and resources; and oversees greenhouse and nursery environments, irrigation, fertigation, integrated pest management, sanitation, biosecurity, crop quality, equipment safety, and production-area upkeep. It monitors environmental controls, maintains operational and treatment records, troubleshoots within delegated authority, and escalates system failures and infrastructure needs. The role also plans and executes sourcing and inventory management for Spring and Fall Plant Sales, including purchasing within approved authority, inventory accuracy, plant identification and quality, labeling, pricing implementation, staging, replenishment, and post-sale reconciliation. The supervisor maintains production, procurement, inventory, plant disposition, and crop performance records; analyzes losses, costs, space utilization, and operational indicators; and contributes to budgets, forecasting, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement. The role supervises assigned staff, interns, and volunteers through scheduling, delegation, training, coaching, feedback, and safety oversight. It collaborates with horticulture, curatorial, conservation, and other Garden colleagues on approved production, collections, research, and institutional projects, while following plant identification, provenance, documentation, biosecurity, and collections requirements. The position is full-time and exempt. A flexible schedule is required, including 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. Physical requirements include manual labor, frequent lifting or transporting loads up to 50 pounds, working with loud equipment, frequent bending, climbing up to 15 feet, traversing uneven and sloping terrain, and wearing required personal protective equipment.

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 promptly.
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; ability to collaborate across departments and provide reliable handoffs; 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.

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