Ecological Landscapes & Greening Manager

Job Description

The Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) seeks an experienced and collaborative professional to serve as Manager of Ecological Landscapes & Greening. This is a hands-on role for someone who brings strong horticultural expertise and contributes to day-to-day planning, coordination, and project implementation across landscape-related programs.

This position supports the quality and consistency of DCH’s landscape and greening work while helping maintain the systems that keep projects running smoothly. The Manager works closely with the Director of Horticulture to support program delivery, strengthen internal coordination, and ensure work reflects ecological integrity and best horticultural practices.

This role includes providing hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for program trainees, volunteers, and emerging staff through teaching and mentorship. DCH promotes a culture of equity, inclusion, respect, collaboration and accountability – where all people, plants and places can thrive.

About Us

Since 1977, the Delaware Center for Horticulture (DCH) has worked alongside communities to transform underutilized and overlooked spaces into vibrant places of beauty, connection, and resilience. Founded by volunteers and members of the Garden Club of Wilmington, DCH began as a small volunteer-led initiative, and has grown into a trusted leader in urban greening, environmental education, and community revitalization throughout Wilmington and New Castle County.

We are rooted in the belief that access to nature, clean air, healthy food, and green space is essential — not optional. Much of our work takes place in neighborhoods that have faced disinvestment, blight, environmental burdens, and limited access to green spaces. By integrating horticulture with workforce development, public health, and sustainability, we help strengthen the social fabric and create greener, more livable communities.

Duties & Responsibilities

Landscape & Program Implementation
-Lead the day-to-day planning, installation, maintenance, and stewardship of DCH’s sponsored and contracted landscape projects as public examples and hands on laboratories of sustainable ecological best practices.

-Provide on-site leadership for landscape staff, seasonal staff, and program participants during field work.

-Maintain DCH’s grounds, gardens, container displays, and indoor plant collections, ensuring high-quality horticultural standards and thoughtful seasonal execution.

-Draft site plans, plant selections, and maintenance approaches in collaboration with the Director of Horticulture, incorporating feedback and final approval.

-Advance regenerative, ecological, and climate-resilient practices across all horticultural spaces, gardens, and landscapes.

-Utilize DCH’s varied sites: grounds, gardens, container displays, and indoor plant collections, as learning laboratories ensuring high-quality horticultural standards and thoughtful seasonal planning.

-Model a teaching-centered approach to horticultural work that supports DCH’s broader education mission.

-Create meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for program participants, interns, volunteers, and newer staff through field-based teaching and demonstration.

Planning, Scheduling & Operations Support

-Support the Director of Horticulture with scheduling, coordination, and logistical planning across landscape-related projects.

-Help develop and maintain shared tools and systems (e.g., schedules, task lists, project plans, documentation) that support consistency across programs.

-Track timelines, project progress, deliverables, key metrics (including KPIs) and reporting needs related to grants, contracts, and internal accountability.

-Coordinate with the Director of Horticulture on project estimating, proposal development, and project scoping for sponsored and contracted landscape projects.

Budget & Resource Stewardship

-Manage project-level budgets for sponsored and contracted landscape work, including materials, supplies, and implementation costs.

-Monitor project expenses and communicate regularly with the Director of Horticulture to ensure alignment with available resources.

-Support thoughtful use of materials, tools, and staff time in service of project quality and sustainability.

Supervisor and Sources of Collaboration

Reports to: Director of Horticulture

Collaborates with: Programs team including Community Forestry, Education, Volunteer Manager

Direct Reports: Urban Greening Coordinator, Ecological Landscape & Greening Coordinator, Landscape Teams Lead and seasonal workforce development trainees

Education and Experience

-Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Natural Resource Management or related field, and minimum 5 years horticultural gardening and ecological design

-Minimum 3 years management experience in staff supervision and project leadership.

-Budget management and fundraising experience, including grant management.

-Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

-Proficient in horticultural tools and technology.

-Valid driver’s license and ability to work outdoors in variable conditions.

Additional Information

Work Environment and Physical Demands

-The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

-Ability to lift 50+ pounds and perform physical labor outdoors year-round.

-Comfortable using horticultural tools and equipment.

-Ability to stand and work on foot for extended periods.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust.

Work is performed primarily in an office environment and the field. Field assignments may occasionally contend with adverse weather conditions, requiring special clothing and safety precautions. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to attend meetings or events. This position is subject to employment requirements outlined in the Employee Handbook.

Salary and Compensation

$55,000-$60,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Benefits include health, dental, vision, PTO, 10 paid holidays, retirement contributions, and other supplemental insurance.

Application Instructions

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to:
careers@thedch.org (Please reference Manager of Ecological Landscapes & Greening in the subject line.)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.
For more information about DCH’s mission, values, and programs, visit www.thedch.org.