Director, Horticultural Operations

Job Description

The Director of Horticultural Operations will be responsible for providing strong, professional leadership of Hershey Gardens’s horticultural team, as well as facilitating planning, maintenance and sustainability of Hershey Gardens. This includes 23 acres of outdoor, public space, as well as back of house operational space. This position will also oversee the operations of indoor exhibits in the Milton and Catherine Hershey Conservatory and Butterfly Atrium, and the Hoop House and Student Garden in the Children’s Garden. Collaboration with education and public program staff is key in planning for exceptional educational opportunities for guests.

About Us

Hershey Gardens opened in 1937 with Milton Hershey’s request to “create a nice garden of roses.” Through the years, the 3-1/2 acre rose garden has blossomed into 23 acres of botanical beauty providing visitors with unique experiences and enriching opportunities. Guests can enjoy 11 themed gardens, The Children’s Garden, the indoor Butterfly Atrium and so much more! Overlooking the town of Hershey, the Gardens is a very popular attraction for visiting guests and a frequent destination for local residents.
Hershey Gardens is dedicated to horticultural excellence while providing valuable learning opportunities and inspiring memorable experiences.
Hershey Gardens is an operating division of The M.S. Hershey Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management:
Foster a positive and collaborative working environment in order to motivate the team to maintain Hershey Gardens’ established level of horticultural excellence. Departments within the horticultural operations include, Horticultural Design, Butterfly Atrium/Conservatory and Hoop House.
Determine schedules and work assignments based on event schedules, work priorities and weather. Lead a large number of horticulture volunteers to support the horticultural goals of Hershey Gardens.
Ensure that staff are proficient in rose care, weeding, mulching, pruning, irrigation and general plant knowledge as it pertains to our collection.
Support and enforce Foundation policies.
Provide feedback to team members on a timely basis and develop a path of learning and training for all staff. Prepare and provide annual performance reviews.
Supervise approximately 5-6 full-time staff to include management level staff, 5-6 part-time staff. Responsible for reviewing payroll, and other administrative functions relating to the supervision of staff.

Operations & Site Management:
Oversee the maintenance and health of the 23-acre garden, with particular attention paid to our historic 3.5 acre rose garden and year-round Butterfly Atrium. Employ an “outside in” perspective to ensure that all areas of the gardens are pristine and presentable to guests at all times.
Ensure that tools and equipment are maintained and in safe working order, including hand tools, motorized vehicles, tractors and irrigation systems. To include enforcement of all safety protocols for the safety of staff and guests.
Support event preparation as needed to ensure seamless execution of public programs.
Collaborate with the Foundation Facilities Team to ensure the smooth operations of systems and buildings associated with horticulture programs.

Sustainable Gardening:
Work with the Senior Director and staff to develop sustainable gardening goals and targets, with specific focus on the use of native and climate-resilient plants and eco-friendly irrigation.

Administrative Responsibilities:
Develop annual budgets for Horticulture Operations. Review and collaborate with the managers of each horticulture department to establish budgets for the respective area of excellence. Maintain records, such as irrigation water usage, hard goods consumption, fuel consumption, and chemical usage for use in preparing budgets. Oversee bid processes and contract scheduling. Order materials and equipment.

Education and Experience

Associate’s degree in horticulture, landscape architecture, or a related field required, bachelor’s degree preferred.
Minimum of 5 years experience in a supervisory role, and 7 years experience in a related field.

Additional Information

Salary Range: $75,000-85,000

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace required.
Strong written and verbal communication skills required.
Clearances: This position requires criminal history background checks in addition to child abuse background checks as a condition of employment.

Status description and working hours:

Permanent full-time, exempt. Sweet perks include a benefits program to choose among medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, partially funded HSA, and a robust 403(b) savings plan. Admission to Foundation operating divisions with additional community discounts are also included.

Application Instructions

Visit https://www.hersheygardens.org/employment/ to apply.