Horticultural Manager

Job Description

The Horticultural Manager (HM) oversees and manages the FMBG Horticultural and Propagation Center (FMBG-HPC) of Mercer Botanic Gardens (MBG).Duties include managing and maintaining the greenhouse facilities and providing high quality plant material for specialty sales and events that enable FMBG to raise funds in support of the mission and goals of MBG. This position reports to the FMBG President with additional accountability to the HPC Committee Chair.

About Us

The Mission of Friends of Mercer Botanic Gardens is to “Bring Together Plants, People and Opportunities” to benefit Mercer Botanic Gardens.

Friends of Mercer Botanic Gardens (TMS) is the nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization of the Mercer Botanic Gardens working to enable Mercer Gardens to fulfill its mission “To improve quality of life and inspire greater appreciation of the essential value and beauty of the plant world”. Through fundraising, specialty plant sales, horticultural propagation and outreach that fosters and develops relationships, partnerships and connections, TMS is a vibrant and essential partner of the Mercer Botanic Gardens.

Together, Friends of Mercer Botanic Gardens and the Mercer Botanic Gardens, create a social space that draws people of all ages to the Gardens for fun, learning, social interaction, quiet and peaceful spaces, beauty and personal enrichment.

Duties & Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

1) Greenhouse management (structures) – ensure that each greenhouse is in working order, including the irrigation systems, heating and cooling systems, plastic walls, and shade cloth. Coordinate with HPC Maintance Committee.

2) Greenhouse management (plants) – keep each greenhouse and the surrounding areas neat and orderly, free of weeds (both in individual pots and in the general area), pests and disease. Apply treatment as needed. Fertilize on a regular schedule. Maintain Greenhouse Logbook for each of these tasks.

3) Plant purchases from outside growers/suppliers – maintain relationships with current growers and suppliers, and identify and cultivate relationships with new ones.The HM is expected to seek out and select plants that are well suited to the Texas Gulf Coast region and to locate ‘harder to find plants’ that will appeal to our customers. This will be accomplished by working closely with each FMBG Growing Lead and with input from the MBG Grower.

4) Plant acquisition through seeds/propagation – harvest and/or purchase seeds and propagate plant material from seeds, existing plant stock and from the MBG. Maintain and expand the “Mercer Grown” program.

5) Coordinate all aspects of plant acquisition and receipt with the Growing Leads from each growing group – Trees and Shrubs, Annuals and Perennials, Shade and Houseplants, Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs, Natives, Gingers, Roses, and Cacti & Succulents. This includes forwarding any plant availability vendor lists to the Growing Lead, collaborating to produce request lists, and providing them with a copy of vendor receipts for their respective area.

6) Train and develop the volunteers at the FMBG-HPC. Provide direction on how to perform the various tasks and keep a white board current in the potting shed of the daily tasks needed.

7) Keep the potting shed stocked and clean. Order supplies as needed, such as soil, mulch, soil amendments, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, pots, etc. Keep records of purchases.

8) Serve in a leadership role in March Mart and all the in-person specialty plant sales. This includes providing plant material, planning, event set up and placement, event breakdown, and return of excess stock to the greenhouses. Responsibilities also include providing information for the plant preview, pricing, labeling, sales signage, and plant and equipment inventory which is to be coordinated with each Growing Lead.

9) Serve in a leadership role in all the virtual sales. This includes providing plant material, assisting with the inputting price, quantities, and descriptions of all the plants in the sale and monitoring online sale. Also, assisting with preparing email notification blasts prior to the sale.

10) Work closely with the FMBG Office Manager. Provide documentation of all sales receipts for plants and supplies and follow budget guidelines set forth by the FMBG Office Manager. The FMBG Office Manager, the FMBG President and the FMBG-HPC Committee Chair should all be kept informed of any pertinent issues relating to the FMBG-HPC.

11) Complete at least one continuing education class/program per year, focused on horticultural practices, pest management, or the business aspects of a successful horticultural production unit.

Education and Experience

– A bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred and/or 3-5 years’ experience in horticulture, plant sciences, nursery management or crop rotation. Knowledge in plant propagation and greenhouse management is strongly preferred.

Additional Information

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

– Must possess and maintain a valid Texas Driver’s License

– Must possess and maintain a Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator License or initiate the steps to get one within 3 months of hire date

– Demonstrate good interpersonal skills (written and verbal) to develop strong relationships with growers, volunteers, MBG staff and customers

– Must possess strong computer skills including Excel spreadsheets

Physical Demands:

– Must be able to stand on feet for 5-6 hours each workday and work outside in the elements for extended periods of time. The temperature can vary from the teens to over 100 degrees.

– Must be able to squat, routinely lift 10 pounds and occasionally lift 50 pounds from the ground to overhead.

– The HM works a standard 40-hour work week but will be required to work some evenings and weekends due to FMBG and MBG programs
Compensation

– Starting salary is $38,000-plus; commensurate with work experience, and bonuses are possible as well for excelling in job duties.

– A performance review will be administered at the end of a 90-day probationary period

Application Instructions

Send resume and cover letter to: info@themercersociety.org with the Subject line: Horticultural Manager