Director, Horticulture And Grounds

Position Title:          Director of Horticulture and Grounds

Institution:               Close-wide Shared Services

Department:            Facilities

Status:                       Full-time, Exempt, 12 months

Reports to:                Operations Committee, with one member of the committee as the primary point of contact

Supervises:               Assistant Director of Horticulture and Grounds, Turf & Athletic Fields Groundskeeper, Vehicle and Equipment Mechanic, Zone Gardners

Job Summary:

Manages all aspects of Horticulture and Grounds maintenance on 60-acre historic site (which includes trees, shrubs, herbaceous borders, lawn, natural woodland, medieval sculptures, and athletic fields), as designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., including associated institutions and houses.  Supervises all related service contracts.  Develops and implements landscape projects, garden designs, and renovations.  Works closely with the PECF institutions, and representatives of the All Hallows Guild (AHG) on all priorities and work related to all exterior projects.  Serves as primary contact and works closely with consulting landscape architects, designers, arborists, and contractors.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Directly supervises the Assistant Director of Horticulture and Ground, Turf & Athletic Fields Groundskeeper, Vehicle and Equipment Mechanic, and several Zone Gardeners. Recruits, hires, instructs, schedules, develops, and supervises all personnel in the Horticulture and Grounds Department.
• Responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of all exterior landscape spaces including trees, plantings, turf, walls, fences, irrigation, memorial benches, and athletic fields.
• Responsible for all exterior trash removal including the parking garage and gift shop, and responsible for maintaining the Close-wide trash removal contracts.  
• Regularly inspects all plantings, gardens and Grounds to determine needs, conditions and priorities. Develops those priorities into tasks for staff.
• Prepares seasonal, annual and long-range schedules and work plans.
• Works closely with the PECF president to assess Close conditions during inclement weather in order to determine opening/closing schedule for PECF institutions. Works with the Horticulture and Grounds team shoveling snow, spreading salt and sand, and operating snow removal equipment safely. Assists in storm response – snow removal, ice removal, hurricane and storm clean-up.
• Trains subordinates and others in Horticulture and Groundskeeping techniques and the proper and safe use of equipment, tools, chemicals, and other materials.
• Develops and ensures adequate and accurate plant labeling and interpretive materials for gardens and landscape.
• Plans, schedules and coordinates all work including but not limited to seasonal plantings, new landscapes, garden additions, and replacements. Performs follow up inspection to ensure compliance with quality and productivity standards.
• Coordinates department purchases of equipment, supplies, and plant material. Develops and monitors department budget within Finance and Accounting guidelines.
• Working with the chief legal officer, as applicable, and within relevant contracting guidelines, negotiates contracts and purchases of landscape services, tree work, trash removal, vehicle fuel, and vehicle maintenance supplies.
• Assists in the development and implementation of preventative maintenance programs for all vehicles and equipment.
• Works closely with the Operations Committee, PECF director of facilities, and Institutional facilities directors on oversight and schedule of priorities and needs.
• Participates as a member on the Garden Committee of All Hallows Guild and coordinates with other Foundation committees and departments on grounds-related matters. Working closely with the AHG president and other members, coordinates all grounds-related aspects of the annual, 3-day AHG Flower Mart event set up, clean up, take down, logistics, billing, etc.
• Partners with the Cathedral, AHG and volunteers to preserve and enhance the legacy of the Bishop’s Garden and its medieval stone sculptures and plants.
• Works closely with the horticulture manager overseeing the AHG Intern Program. Interviews and hires interns.
• Continues professional development by attending horticultural and management classes and seminars, and by being involved in area horticultural/professional societies.
• This is an essential personnel position. Events, committee meetings and inclement weather may dictate working more than 40 hours in a work week and evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Other duties as assigned.

WORK BEHAVIORS:

• Works within approved budget and develops and implements cost saving methods. Understands financial targets and budget goals, implements operating budgets to address changing priorities, and promotes conservation of organizational resources.
• Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences and promotes a harassment-free environment.
• Displays willingness to make decisions, exhibits sound and accurate judgment, supports and explains reasoning for decisions, includes appropriate people in decision making process and makes timely decisions.
• Demonstrates leadership; exhibits confidence in self and others, inspires respect and trust, reacts well under pressure and motivates others to perform well.
• Manages team by including subordinates in planning, making time for them, providing regular performance feedback and developing their skills and encouraging growth.
• Coaches staff performance; sets goals and objectives, gives performance feedback, motivates staff for increased results and recognizes contributions.
• Develops project plans, communicates changes and progress, completes projects on time and on budget and manages project team activities.
• Analyzes and forecasts staffing needs, utilizes recruitment sources, makes quality hiring decisions when staffing department and presents a positive, realistic view of the organization.
• Leads service operations team; fosters team cooperation, defines team roles and responsibilities, supports group problem solving, ensures progress toward goals and acknowledges team accomplishments.
• Demonstrates ability to manage change; develops workable implementation plans, communicates change effectively, prepares and supports those affected by change and monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Resolves conflicts through the following means: encourages open communication, maintains objectivity and uses negotiation skills.
• Demonstrates ability to build rapport up, down, and across the organization, establishes collaborative relationships to achieve objectives; displays empathy and recognizes and respects diverse viewpoints.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ten or more years’ experience in Horticulture and Grounds management in a public garden or collegiate setting, including at least five years in a supervisory capacity.
• Degree in ornamental horticulture or a combination of education & experience that includes courses equivalent to a major in horticulture.
• Pesticide Applicator’s License or ability to obtain within six months.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Proven success supervising a large multicultural workforce.
• Ability to work closely with an active volunteer governance structure.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Computer literacy, facility with word processing, spreadsheet and database software.
• Familiar with equipment operation and maintenance to ensure safe and effective use of vehicles and equipment.
• Spanish speaking ability preferable.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Must be able to work beyond scheduled hours, often with little notice (e.g. for snow removal, storm damage, annual events).

• Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather—extreme heat and cold, high winds, rain and snow.
• Must be able to perform physical work including bending, stooping, and reaching. Must be able to work on feet for extended periods of time, and to lift, carry and push at least 50 lbs.

The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation ("PECF") requires all PECF employees who are regularly working at the PECF, absent an exemption for a medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief, to either (a) have received an original course of a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g. the original Pfizer/Moderna/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines) and at least one COVID-19 booster vaccine; or (b) be up-to-date with the COVID-19 vaccine as defined by the CDC by having received an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Employees are also strongly encouraged to obtain all additional COVID booster shots for which they are eligible under the then current CDC eligibility guidelines for COVID-19 boosters.