Vice President of Horticulture

Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 165,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

403(b) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis seeks a visionary Vice President of Horticulture to lead the development, maintenance, and enhancement of our landscapes, gardens, conservatories, and visitor experiences.

Reporting to the President and Director, you will shape a bold horticultural vision aligned with the Garden’s mission and strategic framework. You will oversee a 57-person team and a $5.8 million divisional budget, collaborate across horticulture, conservation, education, and public

Qualifications

• At least 10 years in public garden management, horticultural design, or botanical leadership.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior executive or director-level role.
• Ability to communicate across donors, volunteers and media; English required; multilingual desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for development, maintenance and enhancement of gardens and displays.
• Oversee the 57-person team and a $5.8 million divisional operating budget.
• Collaborate across horticulture, conservation, research, education and public engagement.
• Represent the Garden to donors, volunteers and professional partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Public garden management

Budget management

Team leadership

Education

Ph.D. in horticulture / botany / landscape architecture

ISA Certified Arborist

Job description

Job Description

Vice President of Horticulture
Reporting to the President and Director
St. Louis, Missouri

The Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the world’s premier botanical institutions, seeks an exceptional horticultural leader to serve as its next Vice President of Horticulture. For more than 165 years, the Garden has advanced horticulture, science, conservation, education, and public engagement while connecting people to plants and the natural world. This is a rare opportunity to build upon an extraordinary horticultural legacy and shape the future of the Garden’s landscapes, collections, displays, and visitor experiences at a pivotal moment in the institution’s evolution. To learn more about the Garden, please visit https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/.

Reporting to the President and Director, the Vice President of Horticulture will provide strategic leadership for the development, maintenance, and enhancement of the Garden’s landscapes, gardens, conservatories, and displays. The Vice President will establish a compelling horticultural vision aligned with the Garden’s mission and emerging strategic framework while advancing design innovation, sustainable practices, operational excellence, and an exceptional visitor experience. Working collaboratively across the institution, the Vice President will strengthen connections among horticulture, conservation, research, education, sustainability, and public engagement. The Vice President will oversee a team of 57 staff, four direct reports, and a divisional operating budget of $5.8 million.

The Garden seeks a collaborative and inspiring leader who combines horticultural credibility with the enterprise leadership capacity to guide a large and complex division. The successful candidate will bring at least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in public garden management, horticultural design, or botanical leadership, including at least five years in a senior executive or director-level role. Demonstrated success leading large teams and complex operations is essential, along with experience in strategic planning, organizational change, project management, landscape design, living collections, conservation horticulture, and visitor-centered public gardens. The ideal candidate will balance long-term vision with day-to-day operational realities, communicate clearly, build trust across teams, and represent the Garden effectively among donors, volunteers, community leaders, professional partners, and media representatives.

A Ph.D. in horticulture, botany, landscape architecture, or a related discipline is preferred. Exceptional candidates with a compelling combination of education, professional experience, and demonstrated success in public horticulture will receive full consideration. ISA Certified Arborist certification is a plus. The ability to communicate effectively in English and preferably in one or more additional languages, particularly languages frequently spoken in Latin America, is highly desirable.

The Missouri Botanical Garden offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. The salary range for this position is $165,000–$185,000, commensurate with experience. Benefits include paid time off; medical, vision, and dental insurance; and a 403(b)-retirement plan.

Salaries: 100,000 and above.