Associate Director of Glasshouse Horticulture

Reports to: Vice President of Glasshouses and Landscape

About the Role

The Associate Director of Glasshouse Horticulture oversees the production program for approximately 80,000 plants for Special Exhibitions and outdoor seasonal displays, including propagation, production, and shipping across the Garden's glasshouses. This role collaborates with the Director of Glasshouse Horticulture and the Manager of the Conservatory to oversee care and maintenance of the glasshouse living collections in the Nolen Greenhouses and Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. The Associate Director directly supervises union glasshouse gardening staff and works closely with colleagues in Horticulture and other NYBG divisions to ensure production goals and schedules are met.

In collaboration with the Director of Glasshouse Horticulture and the Vivian and Edward Merrin Vice President for Glasshouses and Landscape, this role contributes to special exhibition design, develops and implements production request lists and planting schedules, establishes best management practices for plant health (including a biological control program), coordinates glasshouse maintenance, and oversees climate control systems.

Responsibilities

• Leadership
  • Supervises a union workforce responsible for growing a wide variety of plant material (annuals, perennials, bulbs, tropical, and hardy woody plants) for living glasshouse collections, changing exhibitions, and seasonal displays.
  • Instructs and directs students in the School of Professional Horticulture and volunteers.
  • Develops, implements, and tracks skills and safety training programs for staff, students, and volunteers in concert with the Director of Horticulture Operations.
  • Establishes annual operating budgets for glasshouse work and tracks and manages expenditures.
• Plant Production
  • Manages plant orders, develops production request lists and crop schedules, and contributes to special exhibition design to meet institutional needs and deadlines.
  • Develops and implements best management practices for plant production, including fertilizer schedules, plant placement, pest and disease management, greenhouse environment, and growing techniques.
  • Maintains records of cultivation practices, procedures, and techniques.
• Glasshouse Collections
  • Collaborates with the Director of Glasshouse Horticulture, Manager of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and Vice President for Glasshouses and Landscape to develop and implement strategies for collections-related work.
  • Develops and implements best management practices for glasshouse living collections, including fertilizer schedules, plant placement, pest and disease management, and greenhouse environment.
  • Collaborates with Plant Records to track and record changes to the living collections.
• Plant Health
  • Collaborates with the Director of Horticulture Operations and AVP for Horticulture Operations to monitor plant health in the Nolen Greenhouses and establish integrated pest management strategies, including biological control practices.
  • Plans, supervises, and tracks plant health treatments.
  • Assists with reporting plant health treatments to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
• Facility and Operations
  • Establishes optimal climate settings for glasshouse collections and plant production; works with the Director of Glasshouse Horticulture and Facilities Specialist to monitor and adjust as needed.
  • Coordinates glasshouse maintenance activities with relevant staff.
  • Manages inventory of supplies for greenhouse operations and plant production.
  • Oversees loading, shipping, and tracking of plants between glasshouses.
• Institutional
  • Represents NYBG at professional conferences, in the media, and for institutional events as appropriate.
  • Performs other related work, including some weekend and holiday assignments.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of experience supervising professional horticulturists in a glasshouse setting.
• 3 years of experience producing and forcing diverse plant material for horticultural display.
• Demonstrated knowledge of integrated pest management (IPM) tools and techniques, including use and management of beneficial insects in a glasshouse environment; experience with biological control practices preferred.
• Strong foundation in growing medium and fertility management for glasshouse crops.
• Demonstrated proficiency with greenhouse climate control and mechanical systems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; proficiency in MS Office programs.
• 2-year technical college degree in horticulture, greenhouse management, or closely related area, or equivalent work experience.
• Commercial Pesticide Applicator-Category 3A License issued by the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation at time of appointment or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
• Driver’s license valid in the State of New York at time of hire.
• OSHA 30 Training for General Industry at time of appointment or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to:

• Work outdoors in all weather conditions and in a glasshouse environment in all seasons.
• Stand, sit, crouch, kneel, and walk for extended periods.
• Operate lifts and other machinery, climb ladders, and use hand tools.
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Schedule

Baseline work schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM–4:30 PM. Must be able to work weekends when scheduled.

Pay

$100,000 to $110,000 per year.

Benefits

• 15 vacation days
• 13 paid holidays
• 12 sick days
• Health and dental insurance coverage
• 401K
• Pension plan