[PCA] JOB: VP of Horticulture @MOBOT (St. Louis, MO)

Olivia Kwong plant at plantconservation.org
Tue Aug 31 14:19:03 CDT 2010


Vice President, Horticulture
Missouri Botanical Garden
St. Louis, Missouri


THE SEARCH

The Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the 
nation and a major force in field-oriented research on plants globally, 
seeks a new Vice President, Horticulture.

BACKGROUND

The Missouri Botanical Garden was founded as a public garden in 1859 by 
the philanthropist Henry Shaw (1800-1989). Shaw believed that gardens, in 
addition to providing recreational and aesthetic benefits, should offer 
tools to expand and apply knowledge about the natural world.  The early 
Garden included horticultural displays, the acquisition of important 
botanical works and herbaria, botanical research and publication, and 
public instruction, all of which continue today.

Through the years, the Missouri Botanical Garden has continued to grow 
through improvement and expansion of its horticulture, education, and 
outreach programs and through development of its science and conservation 
programs.  Today the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic 
Landmark and is recognized worldwide as a leader.

The garden is a complex institution: a horticultural collection of great 
beauty, a research center for science and conservation, and a place of 
learning for students of all ages.

THE HORTICULTURAL COLLECTION:

The Horticulture Division, which has approximately 60 full-time and 5 
part-time employees, assisted by 6 interns and more than 700 volunteers, 
maintains all the gorgeous displays at the Garden. Examples of the 
Garden's horticultural displays are listed below, for a complete listing; 
please visit the Garden.s website, www.mobot.org.

. The Climatron Conservatory which has become a symbolic image of 
the Missouri Botanical garden.  Covering over a half-acre, the Climatron 
houses some 1,200 species of plants in a natural, tropical setting.
. The Linnean House, the oldest continuously operating greenhouse 
conservatory in the United States, contains the Garden.s camellia 
collection.
. The Gladney Rose Garden displays over one hundred varieties of 
hybrid tea and floribunda roses.  Many varieties of climbing roses are 
featured on the formal fence and arbors enclosing the garden.
. Samuels and Heckman Bulb Gardens where thousands of bulbs herald 
the spring.  Both gardens feature summer and fall-flowering bulbs and 
bulbous plants.
. The Japanese Garden is the largest Japanese strolling garden in 
the Western hemisphere.
. The Strassenfest Garden which contains plants native to central 
Europe and Germany, as well as plants hybridized or discovered by native 
Germans.

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION:

The Vice President, Horticulture leads the strategic planning process for 
the division and is the principal person responsible for leading the 
Garden.s horticultural initiatives to ensure effective performance of 
diverse horticultural operations, including all landscape and exhibit 
programs and maintenance of Garden grounds and adjacent properties. The VP 
must have a solid understanding of the nature of botanic garden 
collections, supporting science, conservation and sustainability as well 
as display. He/she will collaborate with other senior leaders to 
facilitate an integrated approach between the Garden.s priorities in 
science, horticulture, education, and visitor experience. He/she accepts 
primary responsibility for knowing benchmarks of excellence in the 
profession and keeping MBG at the forefront, and oversees the development, 
implementation, evaluation and assessment of horticultural gardens, 
landscapes, and operations.

The VP serves as a member of the Garden.s senior leadership team and 
actively participates and collaborates with senior Garden leaders on a 
wide range of initiatives and key decisions concerning the Garden's 
strategic goals and operations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Although no one candidate may embody all of the desired qualities, the 
successful candidate will bring many of the following qualifications and 
attributes:

. Master's degree in horticulture, landscape design, botany, 
biology, science or related field; PhD a plus, with a minimum of 10+ 
years. relevant and increasingly responsible horticulture management 
experience inclusive of developed strategies, executed business plans, 
staff supervision and managing a variety of horticulture operations at a 
public garden.  An equivalent combination of skills, education and 
experience may be considered.
. Minimum of (2) years. volunteer management experience.
. Ability to effectively manage a division and provide guest service 
within a fast paced mission based public attraction. Minimizes 
organizational obstacles to help teams work more effectively; strong focus 
on execution.
. Thorough understanding of plant collection policies and 
procedures.
. Thorough knowledge of botanic garden collections, supporting 
science, conservation and sustainability.
. Proven ability to work collaboratively with internal team members 
and external organizations such as USDA, state extension services, etc. 
for the purposes of creating a commitment to common goals, prioritizing 
and executing realistic priorities in a sophisticated environment.
. Strength in team building, delegation, and management. 
Willingness to communicate openly, listen well, learn from others, and 
lead through persuasion.  Excellent judgment.
. Leadership experience in management, supervision and budgeting.
. Excellent oral and written skills; ability to conduct 
presentations and guide meetings.

Send your resume to UnlimitedCareers at aol.com for immediate consideration.

The Missouri Botanical Garden is an equal opportunity, affirmative action 
employer and is strongly committed to diversity.




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