Display Gardens Horticulturist

Job Description

The Display Gardens Horticulturist is a member of the Horticulture Team reporting to the Horticulture Lead and has collaborative relationships with MBGNA’s Curators, Natural Areas, Education, and Visitor Experience teams. This position is an 80% (32 hours/week) permanent position with responsibilities at both Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. Weekly work schedule may vary to fit organizational and individual schedules and will be determined in coordination with the Horticulture Lead and in accordance with University guidelines. The schedule will include occasional evenings and weekends and occasional travel.

The Display Gardens Horticulturist promotes the art and science of horticulture in designed and intentional landscapes, understands cultural requirements for growing plants, is knowledgeable in garden design and composition, and engages with University and community partners in support of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) mission. Responsibilities include the hands-on active care and management of thematic gardens and collections, assists with other horticulture team projects, supports plant production for plant sales, annual displays, and collections enhancement, and leads a diverse crew of volunteers and student staff to accomplish annual goals.

About Us

University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) stewards over 840 acres of land and water across four properties in and around Ann Arbor, with Nichols Arboretum and Matthaei Botanical Gardens serving as its two anchor locations. With more than 500,000 annual visitors, MBGNA is committed to becoming a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the lands and waters we steward. Visit our website:https://mbgna.umich.edu/

Duties & Responsibilities

Operations and Coordination (60%):
Maintain and enhance thematic display gardens throughout MBGNA’s landscape including but not limited to the Kimberly Maged Perennial Garden, Gateway Garden, and entry gardens
Update and implement garden management plans in support of MBGNA’s collections management plan and in coordination with the Curator, Horticulture Lead, and Collections Committee
Design annual displays for gardens and special exhibits including plant selection
Support plant production for plant sales, garden displays, collection enhancement, research purposes, and university courses and programs
Assist with long-range planning for display gardens, including garden design, plant selection, and participating in garden bed renovations
Participate in other horticultural operations as needed including general garden maintenance, seasonal tasks, exhibitions, and projects
Implement proper and appropriate horticultural practices to grow healthy plants and quality garden displays
Understand the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and recognize, diagnose, and properly treat pest problems as needed
Participate in weekend watering schedules

Leadership and Management (20%):
Supervise student staff
Establish and lead episodic and recurring volunteer(s)
Identify, plan, and implement special projects aligned with MBGNA’s strategic plan and with the Collections Committee

Organizational Collaboration (20%):
Coordinate with Curator and Horticulture Lead to ensure plans align with Collections Committee processes
Provide content, programs, and outreach activities with the Education and Communication teams
Partner with the Facilities team to ensure infrastructure improvement and maintenance
Meet with the Education and Visitor Experience teams to ensure audiences and uses are foregrounded in care and design paradigm
Support GIS & Plant Records Specialist with data management including keeping accurate and current plant records, fixing/replacing labels and signs, ensuring content and mapping accuracy, and similar responsibilities
Other tasks or responsibilities as assigned

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture, Botany, Biology, or related field; equivalent combination of two plus years experience and completion of training and/or certificate in professional horticulture programs; or four plus years of professional experience in horticulture, landscape management, or nursery/greenhouse production
Experience managing volunteers and engaging with the public
Possess a Michigan Department of Agriculture pesticide applicators license or complete certification within six-months of start date

Additional Information

The salary range for this position is $38,000 – $40,000
For more information about Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, please visit mbgna.umich.edu.

Application Instructions

Apply here: https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/272173/display-gardens-horticulturist

A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience. In the cover letter, one page or less, please let us know how this role aligns with your career aspirations and skills. Please also include relevant training, photos or a portfolio of relevant work. Submit everything as one file, due to system limitations.