Lead Horticulturist

The Mariners' Museum; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mariners’ Museum and Park seeks a Lead Horticulturist to manage horticulture across a 550-acre park. You will lead a small team, oversee ornamental and native plant programs, and coordinate with research and events staff. This full-time, non-exempt role offers $26.00 per hour plus a generous benefits package.

Responsibilities include planning operations, budgeting, staff supervision, and community outreach, with emphasis on conservation of living collections and garden value for visitors.

Qualifications

• Associates or Undergraduate Degree in Horticulture preferred, but not required.
• 2 years of public ornamental horticulture experience preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee ornamental horticulture across 550 acres of park, excluding trees.
• Weed, water, prune, mulch, and propagate plants as needed.
• Plan annual horticultural operations and budget.
• Lead the horticultural crew and coordinate volunteers and contractors.
• Engage with the community and Mariners’ team through presentations or articles.

Skills

Plant knowledge

Communication

Equipment operation

Management

Education

Associates or undergrad in Horticulture

Job description

Description

The Mariners’ Museum and Park is home to one of the nation’s largest privately owned and maintained parks featuring a 550-acre public treasure with the scenic 167-acre Mariners’ Lake and the award-winning five-mile Noland Trail. Free and open to all, the Park offers a unique setting for walking, hiking, running, recreation, and reflection among rolling woodlands and beautiful lake views.

The Mariners’ Museum and Park is seeking a Lead Horticulturist to join our dedicated Park Team. The Lead Horticulturist is responsible for all horticulture at the 550 acre Mariners’ Museum and Park, with the exception of turf and trees. The Lead Horticulturist is responsible for managing the horticulture team, which will consist of one entry level Horticulturist. The primary goal for the position is to create and maintain whimsical and technically excellent gardens that serve people and wildlife.

The Mariners’ Museum and Park considers the Park to house the living collection, similar to how artifacts inside the Museum are part of the collection. The Lead Horticulturalist’s role is focused on the plants in the living collection. The Mariners’ strategy is based around conservation, research, access, and value. Conservation and research are collection-based, while access and value are community-based. The Lead Horticulturist’s role supports all components of the strategy, with the greatest emphasis on conservation of the living collection and creating value for the community through the gardens.

The Lead Horticulturist position is full-time, hourly, and non-exempt that offers $26.00 per hour plus a generous benefits package.

No phone calls, please – only applicants being considered for interviews will be contacted.

Duties:

Ornamental Horticulture

• Weed landscape beds and containers.
• Water beds and containers.
• Prune ornamental woody plants, excluding trees.
• Cleanup perennial plants as needed.
• Mulch landscape beds as appropriate.
• Propagate as needed. This includes keeping the nursery neat and orderly.
• Conduct planting for bed renovations as needed.
• Design, install, and maintain seasonal containers.
• Conduct minor equipment maintenance, such as cleaning, sharpening and oiling hand tools.
• Fill and drain fountain for events in South Courtyard.

Conservation Horticulture

• Remove invasives from naturalized areas.
• Plant and establish natives in naturalized areas.
• Propagate natives for planting in naturalized areas as needed.
• Coordinate with Park Research Coordinator for maintenance of existing native meadows and installation of new native meadows.

Management

• Plan an annual schedule of horticultural operations.
• Prepare an annual horticultural budget to support planned operations.
• Set the weekly horticultural schedule to be presented at the weekly landscape meeting.
• Lead the horticultural crew in the field.
• Coordinate and direct horticultural volunteers.
• Coordinate and supervise relevant landscape contractors and vendors.
• Revise and create standard operating procedures for common horticultural tasks.
• Engage with the community and Mariners’ team, through occasional presentations or articles.
• Manage horticultural projects, including bed renovations and grant execution.
• Manage purchasing of plant material from nurseries.
• Coordinate horticultural work with Mariners’ events and educational programming.
• Communicate regularly with the Landscape Manager.

Shared Duties

• Clean shop on a rotating basis, including the shared bathroom, shop floor, and food area.
• Assist with Fall Fest for setup, takedown, and on the day of ( Typically on a Saturday).
• Trash and litter removal as part of daily activities.

All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to identify and care for Mid-Atlantic ornamental plants.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to safely and properly operate vehicles, golf carts, tractors, 2-way radio systems, hand pruners, power pruners, and other equipment as needed.
• Some management experience is preferred, but not required. Management training will be given upon hiring.

Education and Experience:

• Associates or Undergraduate Degree in Horticulture preferred, but not required.
• 2 years of experience in public ornamental horticulture preferred. This includes work at parks open to the public, with or without an admission fee, regardless of ownership.

Conditions of Employment:

• Valid Division of Motor Vehicles Vehicle Operator’s license with a good DMV record is required.
• Must be able to pass a background check before employment.
• Must be able to work outdoors in various weather conditions/extremes.
• Must be able to work holidays and weekends as needed, in the event of emergencies.