Senior Manager of Garden Partnerships - Chicago, IL

Chicago Botanic Garden•Chicago, IL

28d

About The Position

The Senior Manager of Garden Partnerships serves as the Chicago Botanic Garden’s primary leader and main point of contact for two of our external partnerships: the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) and the McCormick Place Rooftop Farm. This role is the Garden’s representative in these partnerships, responsible for strategic relationship management, operational excellence, and ensuring that both sites reflect the highest horticultural, educational, and sustainable standards expected by our partners and the public.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in horticulture or equivalent experience
Minimum five (5) years of professional experience in horticulture, landscape management, or urban farming, or commensurate experience
At least five years of staff supervisory experience or comparable experience
Minimum two years of experience managing and tracking budgets, including proficiency in Excel
Proven success/ability in building and maintaining high-level external partnerships or client relationships
Strong knowledge of sustainable growing practices
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable representing the Garden to executive-level stakeholders with the ability to interact effectively across all levels via email, phone, video meetings, and in-person
Familiarity with post-harvest handling and food safety standards
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in all weather conditions
Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively to manage site production
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and Outlook

Responsibilities

Primary point of contact and strategic lead for the Obama Presidential Center, cultivating and strengthening a robust, collaborative partnership with OPC leadership and staff.
Develop the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit & Vegetable Garden annual design and lead its operational implementation.
Ensure the operational use of organic and sustainable methods of gardening through weeding, watering, crop rotation, deadheading, fertilizing, planting, transplanting, pruning, winterizing, trellising, releasing beneficial insects, removing debris, etc.
Facilitate quarterly meetings with OPC staff aimed at fostering a positive relationship between both organizations and achieving the goals of the annual plan in accordance with the contracted agreement.
Maintain ongoing communication with facilities staff at OPC.
Work with the director of operations to develop and manage the budget of the OPC garden and McCormick Place Rooftop Farm.
Supervise Rooftop Farm and maintain relationship with its hospitality operator.
Hire, train, coach, evaluate performance of staff; prioritize and assign work to meet partnership deliverables.
Ensure the proper selection, ordering, planning, and coordinating of annual and permanent displays.
Plan, coordinate, monitor, and implement maintenance programs to ensure proper care, growth, and development of the plant displays.
Develop and implement the integrated pest management program for the gardens and keep accurate records of pesticide applications.
Ensure the labeling of all plants for display in a timely manner.
Serve as a horticultural resource for the Obama Presidential Center.
Support Windy City Harvest program, providing work experience for trainees from August through October.
Ensure the harvesting and packaging of vegetables is in compliance with Good Agricultural Practices and food safety standards.
Ensure submission of progress reports to OPC, McCormick Place, and Windy City Harvest.
Attend Windy City Harvest department meetings.