Horticulture Manager

On site – Missoula, Montana – Full time

Pay

$34.49 per hour

About the role

Oversees the horticulture programs and staff of the Department of Ecology and Extension, including oversight of the Plant Clinic and the Rocky Mountain Gardens, and provides technical assistance and education for the community and horticulture industry on plant ecology, pathology, horticulture, and pest management in Missoula County.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and supports department horticulture staff and the Rocky Mountain Gardens to develop and implement educational programming, field trials, and demonstration for horticultural success in Western Montana’s growing conditions.
• Coordinates with Missoula County’s MSU Extension Horticulture Agent to support programming and assist in the integration of Master Gardener volunteers into department activities.
• Oversees and coordinates activities of the Plant Clinic.
• Responds to inquiries from the public and provides information on horticulture, natural resources, agriculture, soils, and pest management.
• Identifies insect and plant samples. Diagnoses plant and pest problems and suggests options to manage them.
• Provides information on sustainable methods in pest management.
• Trains and manages volunteers on intake protocols for the Plant Clinic.
• Works with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Montana Department of Agriculture, and MSU Schutter Diagnostic Lab for survey and monitoring of invasive pests and plant diseases.
• Informs the public on new insect and plant disease problems in the Missoula area.
• Coordinates field visits to diagnose horticultural problems.
• Performs field monitoring on insect and plant diseases.
• Installs and monitors traps for new pest species. Trains volunteers on how to set and check traps, and record and report findings.
• Advises and assists turf, ornamental & nursery businesses with technical issues.
• Serves as a resource for the Montana Nursery & Landscape Association board of Directors, Montana Heritage Apple Program, Great Plains Diagnostic Network, Montana Cut Flower Association, and others.
• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises and evaluates staff, including permanent, seasonal, temporary, and short-term employees, interns and volunteers.
• Serves as a member of the Department’s Leadership Team, assists with strategic vision and budget decisions related to horticulture programs in the department.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, entomology, plant pathology, botany, natural resources, or related biological sciences.
• Three years of experience providing technical assistance or education about plant ecology, natural resources, or pest management.
• Completion of Master Gardener training program within one year of employment.
• Ability to obtain a Montana Government Pesticide Applicator license within four months of hire.

Physical & Environmental Demands

• Considerable time in both an office setting and outdoors.
• Outdoor work may involve physical exertion such as walking over uneven terrain, bending, stooping, and occasional heavy lifting (10 to 50 pounds) in all types of weather.