Job Listing
 🔗Director of Horticulture

  • Full Time
  • Edgewater, MD
  • $62000.00 USD / Year
  • October 12, 2024
  • Department: Horticulture
  • Job Summary: The Director of Horticulture is a hands-on position requiring a strong combination of horticultural expertise and administrative skills.
  • Job Qualifications:

    · Master’s Degree preferred from an accredited institution with a focus in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources Management, or other related field, or a progressing history of success in a horticultural role at a public garden.

    · Minimum of 3 years of experience working in a public garden.

    · Maryland Pesticide Operator’s License; or ability to acquire same within 9 months of hire.

    · Proven ability to lead and direct the work of others to complete general projects, including employee oversight, volunteer supervision, outside contractor collaboration, and project coordination.

    · Highest level of professional and ethical conduct; demonstrates knowledge and understanding of organizational policies, procedures, and systems.

    · Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must enjoy and feel comfortable interacting and working in close proximity to general public, in a safe and friendly manner, answering questions about the living collections.

    · Scheduling flexibility that allows working weekends, holidays, early mornings, or late evenings for grounds maintenance, public programs, or other needs.

     

  • How to Apply:

    Submit resume and cover letter to: executivedirector@historiclondontown.org. No phone calls please.

  • Job benefits: This is considered a full-time position and is eligible for the following benefits: • Retirement plan and Foundation match • Foundation-paid flexible spending account • Ability to buy into group health insurance with London Town paying 70% of the premium. • 10 days of accrued annual leave and 7 days of personal leave each year, plus designated holidays.
  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: • Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. (i.e., load, unload and move gardening supplies, medium to heavy weight tools and equipment). Must be able to work in bright sunshine with probable high UV levels. • Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures up to 100°F as well as temperatures down to zero degrees, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed). • Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop and reach for extended periods of time-- 80% or more of the workday is standing on feet. • Ability to safely operate tools, vehicles, and specialized equipment such as chainsaws, tractors, lawnmowers, etc. • Willingness and ability to perform duties of other divisions as directed and be available for “stand-by” work on a predetermined basis or in response to emergency.
  • Application Email: executivedirector@historiclondontown.org

Historic London Town and Gardens

Historic London Town and Gardens is a twenty-three acre park featuring history and horticulture on the South River in Edgewater, Maryland. The park is owned by Anne Arundel County and managed by the London Town Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. ​ Created in 1993, the Foundation manages the site under a formal operating agreement with the Anne Arundel County government. The Foundation is responsible for developing and conducting interpretive, recreational, and educational programs that allow visitors to learn about our historical, archaeological, and horticultural offerings.

The Director is responsible for the implementation of institution-wide horticultural goals and objectives, established in collaboration with the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities & Duties Horticulture / Grounds Management

· Oversee maintenance, improvement, and restoration of the grounds, gardens, propagation facilities, workspaces, and equipment.

· Perform a wide range of landscape maintenance tasks important to the preservation, protection, and display of the collection, including but not limited to soil preparation, planting, transplanting, mulching, weeding, watering and irrigation, fertilizing, pesticide application, tree work, etc.; oversee and perform winter snow and ice removal.

· Consult with Senior Staff to make facilities-related improvements on the grounds and to ensure that emergent problems are addressed promptly and safely.

· Bid out, secure, and/or oversee annual contracts for lawn and leaf maintenance, tree pruning, plant health care, irrigation maintenance, and other services, as necessary. Serve as the main organizational point of contact for grounds contractors; supervise all contract work on the grounds.

· Collaborate with staff, board, contracted professionals, and others, to plan for and implement capital projects related to London Town’s grounds and gardens (ex. disaster response and recovery, landscape improvement and renovation, grounds master planning).

Administrative / Operational Support

· Develop, propose, and oversee annual horticultural and grounds budget, track expenses & income.

· Set departmental priorities on both a day-to-day and mid-term basis in accordance with organization-wide priorities and needs.

· Prepare funding proposals for horticultural projects; oversee and administer pertinent grant projects as needed.

· Oversee or assist in the planning and execution of special events such as the plant sale or other London Town events and programs as needed.

· When tasked, represent London Town in meetings and interactions with partners and other stakeholders.

Collections Management / Education

· Maintain collections information.

· Generate accession and display labels for plant specimens in London Town’s collection.

· Ensure that plant acquisitions align with site’s mission, educational priorities, and aesthetic goals.

· Collaborate with the Director of Public Programs to oversee or assist with horticulture-related workshops, presentations, educational opportunities, public programs, etc.

· Assist the Director of Public Programs with historic areas garden management and care.

· Lead tours of the gardens on an as-requested basis.

Personnel Management / Recruitment

· Recruit, oversee, and set work priorities for seasonal gardeners, volunteers, and interns.

· Develop individual and group volunteer opportunities (in collaboration with other staff as necessary). Create a positive work environment where horticulture employees, interns, and volunteers feel supported and valued. Other duties as necessary and required.

 

Benefits

All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.

Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.

Interns are not allowed to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full-time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.

The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.

The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.

Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.

How to Apply

You may review NCPE's internship opportunities anytime without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.

Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your username or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.

Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.

Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!

Once the deadline for submission has passed, NPS supervisors will review the applications and may contact candidates for a phone interview. Candidates who are not selected will be notified. Please allow about 4 weeks after the deadline before inquiring about the status of your application.

Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.