Campus Gardens and Preserve Manager

Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art; Chadds Ford Township (PA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, PA seeks a Campus Preserve Manager to lead stewardship of a landscape that includes cultivated gardens, meadows, and woodlands, expanding the campus from 15 to 325 acres while balancing conservation with public access.

You will supervise staff, interns, and volunteers, develop a holistic land management plan, oversee seed programs and nursery operations, and collaborate on educational programming and visitor experience at the museum campus.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated five plus year experience in horticulture, ecological gardening, land stewardship, preserve management, or ecological landscape management.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in horticulture, ecology, botany, natural resource management or a related field, or an equivalent combination of skills, education and experience.
• Possesses knowledge of Mid-Atlantic Piedmont native plants and practical seed experience.
• Strategic thinking for long-term stewardship of complex landscapes balancing conservation, access, and operations.
• Strong supervisory and organizational skills with budgeting and multi-project management.
• Ability to work independently in the field with minimal supervision.
• Experience operating hand and power tools and equipment.
• Experience designing or managing interpretive programming or public engagement.
• Experience managing bird habitat stewardship and related education is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication; diplomatic in interactions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
• Passion for conservation, native plant horticulture, and Brandywine’s mission.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and work weekends/evenings.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee additions, revisions, and maintenance of Campus Gardens & Preserve (10-15 acres; expansion to 325 acres).
• Recruit, onboard, supervise, and support staff, seasonal employees, interns, and volunteers.
• Develop a holistic land management plan for the 325-acre campus.
• Oversee routine maintenance, seasonal operations, and long-term stewardship across all acreage.
• Serve as subject matter expert on Mid-Atlantic Piedmont native plants; apply ecological horticulture techniques.
• Oversee native plant seed program including seed collection, cleaning, storage, catalog, and sales.
• Supervise nursery operations to produce plants for sales and campus needs.
• Plan and coordinate restoration and maintenance projects; manage contractors.
• Maintain property boundaries and address encroachments; liaise with neighbors.
• Design and lead interpretive programming in ecological gardening; develop guided walks and workshops.
• Coordinate with executives and departments on campus construction and events.
• Contribute articles for Brandywine publications and social media.
• Prepare and manage budgets and invoicing for gardens, preserve, and trail infrastructure.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Horticulture

Ecological gardening

Land stewardship

Preserve management

Ecological landscape management

Staff supervision

Budget management

Strategic planning

Public engagement

Interpretive programming

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in horticulture/ecology/natural resource management

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

BASIC FUNCTION: The Campus Preserve Manager leads stewardship and management of Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art's Chadds Ford, PA campus, which is comprised of a diverse landscape of cultivated native gardens, meadows, woodlands, and multi-use trail systems. Central to this role is activating and expanding the campus from 15 to 325 acres, broadening community access, and establishing a living laboratory for model conservation practices and learning. The position integrates horticultural and natural resource management, facilities coordination, educational programming, and visitor experience in alignment with Brandywine's conservation mission and public access goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 1. Oversee all additions, revisions, and maintenance of the Campus Gardens & Preserve, encompassing approximately 10-15 acres of ecological native gardens surrounding the museum and administrative buildings and approximately 63 acres of adjacent meadows, with the planned goal of expanding to 325 acres.
• 2. Recruit, onboard, supervise, and support a team of staff, seasonal employees, interns, and volunteers of varying backgrounds, educational levels, ages, and abilities dedicated to the stewardship and maintenance of the Campus Gardens & Preserve.
• 3.Develop and implement a holistic land management plan for the 325-acre campus encompassing cultivated gardens, meadows, woodlands, riparian areas, trails, and ecologically sensitive zones — making the full campus a model for native gardens, natural resource management and ecological restoration.
• 4. Oversee routine maintenance, seasonal operations, and long-term stewardship activities across all acreage, balancing ecological health with public access and visitor safety.
• 5. Serve as subject matter expert on native plants of the Mid-Atlantic Piedmont region, the plant communities they form, and their essential ecological roles. Apply ecological horticulture techniques to achieve impactful public garden displays with strong ecological function, and broaden departmental knowledge through research-based findings.
• 6. Oversee all aspects of Brandywine's native plant seed program, including plant species identification, seed collection, drying, cleaning, storing, packaging, testing, selling, and inventory management. Supervise development of the annual native plant seed catalogue and all aspects of the annual fundraising native plant and seed sale, including materials procurement, educational copy, signage, pricing, sales area layout, volunteer coordination, and customer engagement.
• 7.Supervise nursery operations, primarily reliant on seed propagation, to produce plants for the annual native plant sale, the Chadds Ford campus, and seed order sales to external entities.
• 8. Plan and coordinate ecological restoration and maintenance projects, including invasive species management, habitat enhancement, tree removals and tree maintenance, native plantings, and erosion control. Manage relationships with outside contractors and consultants performing land management, restoration, or maintenance work.
• 9. Maintain awareness of property boundaries and proactively address encroachments, access issues, and neighbor relations.
• 10. In partnership with Education staff, design, lead, and support interpretive and educational programming in ecological gardening and land stewardship for visitors, schools, volunteers, members, and community partners. Develop and deliver guided walks, workshops, lectures, and hands‑on stewardship programs, and support public engagement infrastructure including signage, self‑guided trail materials, and digital interpretation tools that enhance visitor understanding and experience.
• 11. Coordinate with Executive Leadership, Facilities, Security, and Communications & Marketing teams on construction projects, special events, and campus planning initiatives.
• 12. Contribute articles and material for Brandywine publications and social media.
• 13. Prepare and manage operational and capital budgets and invoicing for gardens, preserve, and trail infrastructure, including expenses, contracted services, and staffing.
• 14. Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 1.Demonstrated five plus year experience in horticulture, ecological gardening, land stewardship, preserve management, or ecological landscape management.
• 2.Bachelor's or Master's degree in horticulture, ecology, botany, natural resource management or a related field, or an equivalent combination of skills, education and experience.
• 3.Possesses specific knowledge of plant species native to the Mid-Atlantic Piedmont region, preferably having practical experience in working with the seeds of these species.
• 4.Demonstrated ability to think strategically and plan for the long-term stewardship of complex landscapes, balancing conservation goals, public access, operational needs, and organizational priorities.
• 5.Strong supervisory and organizational skills with attention to detail. Must have experience managing staff and budgets and be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize workflow.
• 6.Ability to work independently in the field with minimal supervision.
• 7.Experience operating and maintaining hand tools, power tools, and equipment (e.g., mowers, tractors, chainsaws).
• 8.Proven experience designing or managing interpretive programming, nature education, or public engagement initiatives.
• 9.Experience managing bird habitat stewardship and developing related educational programming across expanding acreage, with demonstrated knowledge of bird habitat restoration and conservation best practices a plus.
• 10.Strong written and verbal communication skills are required as well as a keen sense of diplomacy, optimizing effective interaction with a broad range of individuals, both within the organization as well as with outside professionals.
• 11.Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365.
• 12.A passion for conservation, native plant horticulture and model nature resource management, as well as a dedication to the mission of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art.
• 13.Ability to lift and carry a minimum of 50 pounds and meet the physical demands of the position which include standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, digging.
• 14.Ability to work occasional weekends and evenings.
• 15.Valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation.