Head Gardener

Dedicated in 1953, Kingwood Center Gardens is a cultural and educational center with special emphasis on ornamental horticulture and gardening. The Kingwood mission is “to create beautiful gardens for enjoyment, education, and inspiration”.

 

Kingwood Center Garden’s Head Gardener promotes positive transformative guest experiences, overseeing the daily fostering of outdoor horticultural displays. The Head Gardener leads the installation and fostering of seasonal horticulture displays.  This position provides routine supervision of the full-time and seasonal gardening staff and volunteers while collaborating with other Horticulture team members. The Head Gardener applies a standard, as well as specialized horticultural practices including, but not limited to landscape/garden design, organic and permaculture practices, IPM, use of irrigation systems, weeding, pruning, planting, and watering. The Head Gardener provides experience, expertise, and professionalism, as a teacher and coach to staff and garden guests alike.

·        Participates in the design and plays a leading role in the implementation of seasonal displays and shows

·        Collaborates with the team of Director of Horticulture, Gardeners, Assistant Gardeners, seasonal reports, and volunteers, fostering outdoor garden spaces toward design intent maturity, following Kingwood’s aesthetic standards

·        Collaborates with other Kingwood Center staff to install temporary exhibits

·        Contributes to department annual budget planning

·        Leads a proactive approach to IPM including scouting, identifying, and generating ecologically sound management solutions

·        Coordinates, with input from other horticulture staff, the plant record, and plant labeling processes throughout Kingwood

·        Engages in public speaking, workshops, and demonstrations as needed

·        Other duties as assigned

·        Monday through Friday schedule with some evenings and weekends required

·        Ohio Pesticide License or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire

·        Must be able to communicate clearly with staff and the public

·        Must be able to balance office workload with supervision in the garden.

·        Must be able to work outside in extreme weather conditions year-round.

·        Must be physically fit, able to occasionally lift to 50 lbs.

·        Working understanding of Microsoft Office, including Access, Outlook preferred.

·        Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture required

·        Three years minimum in a supervisory role leading staff to meet to exceed their potential, preferably in a public garden, estate garden, or landscaping

·        Formal training/minimum 3 years field experience in landscape design, permaculture, or advanced soil health preferred

·        Prior experience working in a public garden preferred

·        Experience supervising volunteers preferred