SECTION HORTICULTURIST

Job Description

Full time – Category 1
Exempt
Salary: $22.00 – $25.00
Full Benefits: Medical/Vision/Dental/HSA/FSA
401k/Roth
Complimentary Membership
Free Education Classes

The Horticulture Section Leader reports to the Vice President (VP) of Horticulture as part of a team of
three to four horticulture section leaders who support departmental administration, finance, and
planning. Under the VP’s guidance, they develop all implementation measures and schedules and execute
horticultural aspirations, goals, and objectives for the Garden and the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. They
develop a strong team of horticultural professionals by investing in the training, support and
development of their staff and volunteers while acknowledging the integrity of the gardens presented is
directly connected to the passion of the team maintaining them. This specific Horticulture Section Leader
position includes leadership of the Garden’s irrigation system.

About Us

Core Values: Responsibility, Innovation, Integrity, Hospitality and Inspiration

Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a nonprofit 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 educational programs. This cadre of identified learners is just a fraction of the 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

Administrative

Oversees designated Horticulture Section and its assigned staff and volunteers, while ensuring work
aligns with organizational goals and core values.
Supports daily work in Garden section by leading a diverse team. This includes interviewing, hiring,
training, supervising, and performance assessment, with the ability to, coach, counsel, and transition
staff.
Promote, celebrate, and model professional development for Department members.
Serve as a member of the Horticulture Departmental Leadership Team.
Collaborates with the Director of Volunteers for volunteer engagement and collaboration with
corporate volunteer groups.
Schedules, plans, and implements strategies for the short-term and long-term evolution of Garden
section to reflect dynamic programming within the Garden, advancement of collections, and aesthetic
beauty.
Collaborate across departments within the Garden and serves on relevant committees.
Assists VP of Horticulture with planning, budgeting, coordinating, and purchasing for staffing and
resources for respective Garden Section.

Horticulture, Collections, Design and Display
Works daily to support and maintain a diverse planting of annuals, perennials, tropical, woody and
edible plants through pruning, grooming, weeding, mulching, watering, fertilizing, and scouting.
Diligently lead in sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies including biological,
mechanical, and cultural controls. Coordinate scouting and control treatments with IPM
Horticulturist.
Interact with the public on an informal basis by answering questions, providing directions, etc.
Safe and correct use of Garden tools and equipment.
Utilize shovels, trowels, fan rakes, grading rakes, spades, digging forks, pickaxes, brooms,
hand shears, hand saws, loppers, pole pruners & pole saws, wheelbarrows, fertilizer spreaders,
garden carts, ladders, and other hand tools to complete assigned tasks.
Operate push mowers, weed-whackers, backpack blowers, push blowers, garden ATVs,
tractors, pickup trucks, and other power equipment in accordance with LGBG safety protocols
and regulatory standards (training will be provided).
Work collaboratively with a dynamic team to achieve horticultural standards of excellence.
Participate in weekly group maintenance tasks such as blowing walkways, filling gas cans, and
caring for tools and equipment.
Participate in group projects and meetings with other horticulture staff and in cross-departmental projects.
Serves as the point of contact and responsible party for Garden’s current and future irrigation system.
Leads communication with Garden contracted resources for irrigation design, installation,
maintenance and repair.
Serves as liaison for Horticulture department for irrigation troubleshooting.
o Works collaboratively across organizational departments to communicate irrigation in
relation to programming.
Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, ensuring coverage for
Horticulture outside the traditional work week/day.
Perform other duties as assigned by the VP of Horticulture or their designee.

Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of and experience with landscape practices and plant care appropriate to the region.
Strong work ethic, keen interest in Horticulture, and an enthusiasm for physical work outdoors.
A demonstrated understanding of the horticultural practices and procedures required for soil
preparation, planting & transplanting, mulching, watering, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, propagating,
mowing, raking, sweeping & blowing, and tree & brush cutting.
The ability to use shovels, trowels, fan rakes, grading rakes, spades, digging forks, pickaxes, brooms,
hand shears, hand saws, loppers, pole pruners & pole saws, wheelbarrows, fertilizer spreaders,
garden carts, ladders, and other hand tools effectively.
Demonstrated experience working with and managing irrigation technologies.
The ability to operate push mowers, riding mowers, string trimmers, backpack blowers, push
blowers, garden UTVs, pickup trucks, chainsaws and other power equipment safely and effectively.
The ability to follow written and verbal instructions.

Education and Experience

A degree in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or a related field.
Five years of experience working in public gardens, parks or arboreta.
1 year of experience working with a large-scale irrigation system
Virginia Pesticide Applicator’s License (or the ability to obtain one within six months of hire).
Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Other combinations of education/experience appropriate to the job will be considered.
Proficiency in conversational Spanish desired.

Additional Information

Must comply with provisions of the current Employee Handbook, all published personnel policies and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
Must conduct herself or himself and perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals and families, and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to the security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
Must report all mishaps, injuries, and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and to Human Resources.
Must ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Application Instructions

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to hr@lewisginter.org.