ABG – Conservation Safeguarding Nursery Horticultural Coordinator

[Emily Coffey]

Opening at Atlanta Botanical Garden in the Conservation & Research Team:

POSITION TITLE: Conservation Safeguarding Nursery Horticultural Coordinator

DEPARTMENT: Conservation & Research

REPORTS TO:  Conservation Horticulture Manager

FLSA:  Exempt

LOCATION: Gainesville, GA

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position reports to the Conservation Horticulture Manager. The successful candidate will be responsible for curating the ex situ conservation collections of rare and endangered plants, and ensuring the nursery’s physical structures and systems operate efficiently and effectively.  This position is based full-time in Gainesville, GA but requires bi-weekly trips to the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Midtown Atlanta location, and some travel to field sites.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Conservation Collections Maintenance and Management– Daily maintenance and grounds management of the nursery; watering; weeding; pruning; planting and other daily horticultural tasks required to maintain the 3+ acre site. Ability to construct or repair irrigation systems utilizing hand tools and power tools. Train staff to perform daily nursery duties during absences, including developed watering, weeding, and pest control protocols. Support ABG Midtown staff during absences and with larger projects.
Collections Management and Plant Curation– Extensive knowledge of plant collection management including plant accessioning and labeling is needed. This position tracks all plants entering and leaving the nursery, and coordinates with  the Conservation Horticulture Coordinator and Plant Records Manager to maintain a current inventory of all nursery plants and accessions. Works with the Conservation Horticulture Manager to develop and implement a  5-year Conservation Safeguarding Nursery Curatorial plan.
Budget Management and Planning – Carefully monitor the Conservation Safeguarding Nursery budget and account for any related expenses.  Plan a yearly budget and develop a multi-year plan for expected nursery expenses as well as writing up proposals for nursery improvements and future visions.
Collection Development and Fieldwork – Work closely with the Conservation and Research team.  This may include bog workdays, invasive species management, seed collection trips, plant population mapping, brush clearing and the reintroduction of plants back into the wild habitat. Field work may occasionally require periods away from home and is often physically demanding.
Independent Project Management- Ability to oversee and complete independent projects at the nursery such as construction of bog beds, installing new irrigation systems for optimal water usage and overseeing research experiments.
Working Actively with Partners in Conservation – Participates in workshops and conferences for rare plant conservation including Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance (GPCA) meetings. Works closely with local partners including the Georgia DNR, The Nature Conservancy, the USDA Forest Service, and community organizations
Volunteer and Intern Leadership- Supervise conservation-focused projects of undergraduate researchers/interns. Actively seek, train, and schedule volunteers and seasonal interns at the nursery, as well as present opportunities for off-site volunteer activities with the Conservation and Research department. Work closely with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville Greenhouse Manager to coordinate volunteer work days and also partner organizations such as Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Botanical Society.

The above job duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work for employees in this position, but this is not intended as an exclusive or all-inclusive inventory of all duties required of employees in this job.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

B.S in Horticulture, Plant Biology, or related field required, M.S. preferred, and 3+ years experience in Botanical Garden plant collections management required
Collections Management – Experience in data management including labeling and GIS mapping.
Plant Health – Sound knowledge in the identification and management of plant health issues including IPM, diseases and plant nutrition.
Plant Knowledge – A good working knowledge of rare plants native to the S.E. USA.; ability to utilize dichotomous key to identify plants in the field.
Ecology – A knowledge/interest in native wetlands and their ecology.
Independent worker who is able to self-motivate and complete daily tasks without assistance.
Must be able to work outside in extreme hot and cold weather conditions.
Must have a valid Georgia driver’s license and good driving record.
Must be willing to drive between Atlanta and Gainesville 2-3 times per month.
Must be able to use power tools for basic construction – including building beds and fixing general repairs.
Horticultural flexibility- Weekend and holiday work may be required during the growing season to assure the health of plant collections.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to spend long hours working outside year-around in a wide range of weather and temperature extremes. Close attention to plant health, ability to think through and innovatively design resolutions to design and growing challenges. Work independently and alone for many hours, supported by part time technicians, undergraduate interns, and community volunteers. Ability to lift 50lbs and work in strenuous conditions.

MENTAL REQUIREMENTS: Excellent organizational and time management skills. Ability to effectively respond to multiple, changing and often conflicting priorities is essential. Must be able to effectively interact with the general public and co-workers and peer professionals.

Please email resume, cover letter, and list of three references to Careers at careers@atlantabg.org, all files should include applicants last name, document title, and title of the position you are applying for (Smith_Resume_ConsNursCoord).

Review of Applications will begin immediately with interviews starting March 29, 2021.

 

https://atlantabg.org/employment/conservation-safeguarding-nursery-coordinator/

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