HR DIRECTOR
Employment Type
Job (Full-time)Job Categories
Administrative & Finance
Job Description
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is searching for a HR Director to support and coach the organization’s staff and volunteers as we advance our strategic plan and cultivate a culture of leadership throughout the Garden. As part of the Garden’s senior leadership team, the HR Director will use problem-solving skills and build relationships to support an employee-centric atmosphere prioritizing quality performance, professional advancement, and inclusion. The Director will work collaboratively across departments to manage talent attraction and talent development. The Director will drive and lead retention strategies so that we are able to retain our top talent. The HR Director will be skilled in change management and will proactively update and amend our personnel policies to align with the Garden’s mission, vision, and values. This position will play an integral role in maintaining positive labor relations and will be involved with negotiations with the IAM Union during collective bargaining.
About Us
Garden Overview
Mission
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s mission is connecting people to plants by inspiring communities to explore and conserve nature.
Vision
We are a Virginia garden of international significance leading in horticultural and educational excellence. We cultivate experiences that enhance each person’s relationship with the natural world.
Values
Responsibility, Innovation, Integrity, Hospitality and Inspiration
Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a non-profit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting education programs and more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected and appreciated.
Duties & Responsibilities
• Is part of the Leadership Team and is part of the advancement of the Garden’s strategic plan to ensure the
accessibility and relevance of the Garden for the Community.
• Talent Recruitment and Retention.
o Develops and implements organizational strategy for inclusive hiring of diverse staff to ensure we reflect the
community we serve.
o Works collaboratively with garden leadership to anticipate current and future talent needs relevant to strategic and
master plans.
o Assists with creation of departmental succession plans.
o Innovates practices and values that increase staff retention and elevate the Garden as a top regional employer.
• Manages new staff onboarding, orientation to welcome, educate and celebrate new team members.
• Coordinates training and organization-wide learning sessions.
o Oversees workforce development strategy and supervisor coaching for employee relations ensuring a culture of
leadership at all levels.
o Advises teams on HR best practices, training resources, conflict resolution, supervisory coaching and solution-
based problem solving.
o Provides leadership and insight when sensitive issues arise and gives guidance on delicate circumstances.
• Directs the garden’s performance appraisal process including communication, training, goal-setting and merit review
based on core values and the strategic plan.
• Works with HR Team to administer bi-weekly payroll processing for accuracy, deductions, levies and garnishments,
accruals, changes and reporting.
• Leads employee benefit administration programs, review, reporting, and compliance.
o Acts as a liaison between the Garden and external benefits providers and vendors (health, disability, retirement,
etc.).
o Performs periodic audits of HR files and records internally and with external providers.
• Evaluate, evolve and communicate employee and volunteer handbooks to ensure clear policies and policy
awareness.
o Acts as a change agent to ensure that any changes are implemented seamlessly.
• Assure State and Federal legal compliances with highest industry standards and meet Federal and State reporting
requirements with audits.
• Maintains accurate and current human resource files, records and documentation.
• Stays appraised of current trends in HR field including current legislation and development.
o Conduct periodic wage and salary review against industry peers.
o Analyze trends in compensation and benefits and make recommendations for improvement.
o Ensure the fair and equitable administration of policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
• Preferred: SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP or HRCI certification.
• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field.
• Minimum of five years in human resource management and experience with non-profits.
• Experience working with unions is desired.
• Proficiency in conversational Spanish desired.
Additional Information
Full-Time Category 1 Benefits:
Paid Time Off
Medical Insurance – HSA & FSA
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Free Group Term Life Insurance
Short Term Disability
Long Term Disability
Supplemental Insurance
Retirement 401k & Roth
Free In-house Education Classes
Employee Assistance Program
Professional Development
Garden Shop Discount
Garden Café & Tea House Discount
Free Annual Friends Membership at the Garden
Service Recognition Bonus
Application Instructions
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to hr@lewisginter.org.