Director, Botanic Gardens

Details

Posted: 23-Mar-24

Location: Northampton, Massachusetts

Type: Full-time

Salary: Open

Categories:

Staff/Administrative

Internal Number: R-202400130

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at [email protected] .

Botanic Garden
Job Description

Job Summary

Responsible for the leadership, care and management of the Smith College Botanic Garden as an integral part of the teaching, learning and research mission of the college. Oversee the primary operations of the botanic garden, which include: improvement and maintenance of the living collections as an instructional garden; public programming, education and outreach; and teaching and research activities in the area of botany, horticulture, landscape studies, and botanical humanities and arts. Strengthen botanical and environmental literacy among students and the public, foster student research with plant species from around the globe, and further plant conservation. Support Botanic Garden staff in their curatorial roles of cultivating and displaying botanical diversity and partnering with faculty and staff around the college. Collaborate with other unique college collections to advance Smith's strategic plan for face-to-face learning.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Management & Administration (40%)

Lead staff responsible for all aspects of operating a college botanic garden including living collection care/management, educational programing and support, communications and outreach, finance and revenue generation, visitor services, volunteers, and membership. Manage the operations of the living collections in a manner that enhances the scientific value and beauty of the campus. Cultivate strong relationships across the college, including with academic departments and other users of the collections and facilities: the Department of Biological Sciences, Landscape Studies Program, Education, CEEDS, Environmental Science and Policy, Art and others. Cultivate strong relationships with regional partners to enhance exhibits, educational programing, and experiential learning opportunities. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with professional botanical societies and other botanic gardens in the US and abroad. Serve on appropriate campus committees. Manage the budget and endowed funds of the Botanic Garden. Partner with Development and Alumnae Affairs in communicating the campus strategic vision and goals, fundraising, and general outreach.

Academics (20%)

Establish collaborative relationships with Smith faculty to ensure that the botanic garden resources meet their research and teaching needs. Create an inclusive learning environment for students. Facilitate access to the living collections by outside researchers and academic collaborators. In coordination with relevant academic units, will involve teaching, mentoring student projects, curricular collaboration, and research within an academic department or departments, as appropriate to expertise, on a flexible basis.

Strategy (20%)

Define priorities for the botanical and horticultural activities of the Botanic Garden. Guide managers to develop new programs, plantings and exhibitions aligned with the college's larger strategic goals. Coordinate and collaborate with Facilities on the stewardship and planning of the campus landscape, trees, and shrubs. Identify and develop opportunities for strategic collaboration with the other unique teaching and research collections on campus, especially Museum and the Library. Develop curatorial guidelines, priorities, and practices and educational approaches, priorities, and practices for both public programs and curricular support functions.

Leadership (20)

Lead the continuing evolution of a living collection integrated in an academic institution, including creating a new strategic plan that looks toward the next half-century of interdisciplinary work the botanic garden will foster. Cultivate a culture of positive change and collaboration during a period of transformation. Forge strong partnerships within and outside of Smith, making the botanic garden an interdisciplinary crossroads and world-wide destination for a broad community of scholars and students

Other Function

All employees are expected to participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

Master's degree in a discipline appropriate to the leadership of a botanic garden in a research-intensive environment plus at least 5 years of proven operational leadership in a complex organizational setting, including the effective management of fiscal, human, and physical resources or an equivalent combination of education and experience; ability to continually assess Botanic Garden programming to enhance its support for teaching, learning, and research at Smith.

Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Skills

Professional knowledge of horticulture practice, landscape design and historic preservation. Demonstrated knowledge of the administration and maintenance of living botanical collections; the ability to be an engaging and thoughtful spokesperson for the future of the Botanic Garden and the college's role in shaping this future with internal and external partners. A lively intellect and comfort with working in a fast-paced environment; a record of innovation and creativity achieved by working collaboratively with others. Resilience and stamina for the tasks at hand; personal equanimity in dealing with a broad spectrum of personalities; a positive outlook and a good sense of humor. Demonstrated expertise in working with diverse communities including first-generation, multiethnic, and multilingual students and staff as well as alumnae, donors, visitors and others. A successful history of staff recruitment, development, and team building, including a demonstrated commitment to building and supporting a diverse staff. A history of writing and communicating well to varied audiences in person, in print, and across varied media.

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application.
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Review of applications will begin

April 18, 2024

Compensation Grade:

Grade D

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women's colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at [email protected] .

As set forth in our mission and values , Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.