Conservation Horticulture Manager

Naples Botanical Garden
Naples, Florida

Classification: Non-exempt


Organization Description:

Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre world-class paradise, featuring the flora and cultures of the tropics and sub-tropics including Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Florida. The Garden’s mission is to connect people and plants through display, education, conservation, and applied science. The Garden has beautifully restored native habitats, cultivated gardens, walking trails, and public programming that offer education and enjoyment for people of all ages. Naples Botanical Garden is a 501(c)3 organization.


Position Summary: This position will be responsible for supporting efforts to safeguard and propagate rare and endangered plant species and will collaborate on all aspects of the Garden’s seed and plant conservation efforts. The successful candidate will assume a leadership role in the Conservation and Natural Resources Department to further the Garden’s mission to connect people and plants through efforts to conserve imperiled plant species and ecosystems. This position requires a broad interdisciplinary science background.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Lead collaborative efforts across the Garden to develop, manage, and curate conservation plant collections as seeds and living plants
  • Perform gap analysis to guide organizational plant conservation targets and collections development 
  • Organize required collections permitting and reporting in a timely manner
  • Coordinate conservation fieldwork to monitor and collect target plant species
  • Lead the development and publication of propagation and seed storage protocols
  • Maintain and curate the Naples Botanical Garden Seed Banks and living conservation collections
  • Manage a team of employees within the Conservation Horticulture department

Requirements/Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in plant sciences, Ecology, or Science related field
  • Working knowledge of a variety of south Florida native plants and habitats
  • Ability to function effectively as a member of a team as well as work independently to see projects through to completion 
  • Excellent organizational and record keeping skills 
  • Possess great oral and written communication skills 
  • Stand and work outdoors for long periods of time. Walk and inspect property in difficult terrain. Work in extreme temperatures. Lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds 
  • Able to work indoors and outdoors 
  • Pre-Employment background check required 

Benefits:

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Life Insurance
  • Retirement Plan
  • Long-Short Term Disability
  • PTO
  • Paid Holidays
  • Garden Perks

Naples Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Garden has a long-standing policy of employment and advancement based solely upon qualifications to perform the essential elements of a position without regard to age, creed, gender, national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, veteran status, pregnancy, marital status, HIV status, genetic information, sexual orientation, handicap or mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability


Salary Description

$23.65 hourly