Lead Horticulturist

Job Description

The Lead Horticulturist will perform all horticultural duties necessary to establish and maintain sophisticated public garden landscapes, including implementing, and maintaining garden and natural areas. The Lead Horticulturist will oversee the day-to-day activities of the horticulture staff in the garden by providing training, supervision, and ensuring that horticulture goals and assignments are accomplished.

Additional responsibilities include operating heavy machinery, power equipment, and interpreting the garden to the public. This is a hands-on position in which the Lead Horticulturist will be required to physically perform all tasks necessary for the continued development of Stoneleigh and occasionally work weekends, evenings, and holidays as requested to fulfill their responsibilities. This position reports directly to Stoneleigh’s Garden Manager.

About Us

Natural Lands, a vibrant, regional, nonprofit organization and leader in land conservation, natural resource stewardship, and public engagement, seeks a Lead Horticulturist to join the professional garden staff at Stoneleigh: a natural garden.

Located in Villanova, PA, Stoneleigh: a natural garden is a 42-acre former private estate that opened as a public garden in May of 2018. We are reimagining the historic landscape by creating gardens that are beautiful, biodiverse, and vital to our local ecology, with native plants as the foundation. Stoneleigh: a natural garden is open Tuesday through Sunday at no charge to visitors. The garden also hosts house tours and events.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Supervise Horticulturists and summer interns, ensure successful execution of plans and work goals, and provide training in proper horticultural techniques.
• In conjunction with the Garden Manager, coordinate weekly garden tasks such as scheduling and planning.
• Facilitate and implement landscape projects, horticultural tasks, greenhouse and nursery production, and garden maintenance in collaboration with the Stoneleigh horticulture team.
• Perform horticultural duties such as pruning, planting, weeding, mowing, brush hogging, mulching, snow removal, etc.
• Manage turf and meadow program and coordinate with the appropriate contactors.
• Implement integrated pest management program; monitor and inspect plants for health deficiencies and problems, ascertain proper corrective measures and apply appropriate pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, plant selections, and cultural practices.
• With managerial approval, source, procure and purchase plants and supplies.
• Participate in plant collections management by assisting with research and selection of new plant material, installing accession tags, inventorying beds, documenting associated database information, etc.
• Operate tractors, trucks, mini-excavators, lifts, and other heavy machinery. Also operate standard garden equipment such as chainsaws, blowers, mowers, and tillers, and perform heavy lifting as required.
• Lead tours and assist with garden events, classes, volunteers, and membership activities.
• Facilitate work with contractors and consultants as necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Botany, Landscape Architecture or related field and 3+ years of relevant work experience with demonstrated supervisory experience.
• Extensive horticulture knowledge and skills.
• Must be passionate about horticulture, native plants, and the environment.
• Highly motivated, responsible, reliable, and dependable.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in the garden.
• Must provide professional customer service and be comfortable working with the general public and providing tours.
• Must be flexible when dealing with changes in work plans.
• Must carry out tasks in a professional manner and have an aptitude for injecting positive energy into the workday.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Additional Information

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:
• Must have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and a good driving record.
• Successfully pass a background check.
• Must be able to walk, stand, bend and squat on uneven terrain; must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds and push up to 50 pounds.
• Must be comfortable working from a ladder, lift and other high places.
• Must be prepared to work outdoors in all conditions, including heat, cold, and with occasional exposure to poison ivy, biting and stinging insects, etc.
• Must be available to occasionally work on weekends, evenings, and holidays as requested to fulfill responsibilities.

Natural Lands is committed to creating an exclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. We aim to build a workplace where employees feel empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Application Instructions

Please visit our Careers page and complete the online application process; address all applications to Felicia Schaefer, Director of Human Resources.
https://secure6.saashr.com/ta/6192807.careers?CareersSearch=&ein_id=102081409&lang=en-US