Seed Bank Manager

Naples Botanical Garden Inc•Naples, FL

About The Position

The Seed Bank Manager is a full-time position leading all aspects of Naples Botanical Garden’s seed conservation programs. The role safeguards imperiled plant species, manages conservation and restoration seed banks, and supports restoration initiatives. As a leader in the Conservation and Natural Resources Department, the manager advances strategic plant conservation, supports regional partnerships and capacity, and ensures excellence in data management, fieldwork, and seed handling. Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre garden featuring plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics, restored native habitats, cultivated gardens, trails, and public programming. Its mission is to connect people and plants through display, education, conservation, and applied research.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Biology, Botany, Ecology, or a closely related field, or equivalent work experience.
Fieldwork experience and experience with ex-situ or preserved collections.
Exceptional organizational and scientific documentation skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to collaborate across teams and work independently to complete projects.
Comfort leading and working collaboratively with staff and volunteers.
Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and commitment to the Garden’s mission of connecting people with plants.
Some travel is required.
Ability to stand and work outdoors for long periods.
Ability to walk in difficult terrain and work in extreme temperatures.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors as needed.
Pre-employment background check required.

Nice To Haves

M.S. degree (preferred but not required).
Working knowledge of basic taxonomic principles and characteristics of major plant families and Florida flora.
Experience leading a team.
Ability to speak basic Spanish.

Responsibilities

Oversee conservation and restoration seed bank staff, laboratory, and operations in support of the Garden’s living collections strategies and goals.
Lead the collection, processing, documentation, and storage of seed and vegetative materials for conservation, restoration, and living collections according to best practices.
Maintain high standards of ex-situ collection curation, data integrity, and workflow management.
Develop and fulfill grant and project deliverables.
Participate in national and regional seed bank and related working groups.
Identify and prioritize target species through systematic gap analysis supporting the Garden’s living collection strategy and policies.
Support organizational conservation planning in collaboration with cross-departmental partners.
Support plant material requests through BGCI’s PlantSearch platform.
Coordinate and lead fieldwork, including planning, logistics, permitting, collections, and staff oversight.
Participate in and build capacity for regional plant conservation, focusing on south Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Lead and support research on and publication of seed storage protocols.
Disseminate results through reports, professional meetings, peer-reviewed publications, and other communication platforms.
Use and maintain plant conservation data systems, including IrisBG and ESRI products.
Ensure accurate documentation of seed collections, storage conditions, viability assessments, and conservation metadata.
Work with Horticulture and other departments to support curation and management of conservation plant collections.