Director of Gardens and Collections at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

[Jessi White]

Location: Austin, TX
Earliest start time: September 01, 2025
Salary Range: $85,000 + depending on qualifications

About the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center:
The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to inspiring the conservation of native plants through its public botanic garden and its education, research and outreach programs. Founded in 1982, the Wildflower Center is the state botanic garden, a community gem, and a national leader in the field of native plant education, sustainable landscapes, landscape restoration and research. It is home to the largest living collection of Texas native plants in the state, welcomes over 275,000 visitors annually, has 16,000 member households and reaches more than 2 million people annually through its native plant database. The Center is focused on improving landscapes, promoting biodiversity, and connecting people with nature.

About the position:
The Gardens and Collections Director will lead a talented team to create and foster inspiring gardens that feature the Wildflower Center’s significant Texas native plant collections in formal and naturalistic gardens, as well as manage irrigation, greenhouses, growing facilities, water features, paths, and other elements of 9+ acres of cultivated gardens. The ideal candidate will bring their expertise in planting and garden design, ecological horticulture, collections management, resource conservation, and leadership to the Center.

This position works very closely with the Science and Conservation and Lands and Operations teams, and because the gardens and collections are core to our mission, cross-disciplinary collaboration across all teams is critical.

Responsibilities
• Provides vision for planting designs and expert guidance to team members in the design and maintenance of the gardens.
• Oversees living botanical collections, including processes involved in accessioning, record keeping, and plant acquisition, with the broad goal of creating and maintaining a unique and valuable collection of native Texas flora. Oversees management of nursery operations responsible for cultivating native plants for gardens, arboretum, natural areas and conservation collections.
• Plans, budgets, and manages projects for gardens and living collections.
• Leads, develops and supports a dynamic team of staff, serving as mentor and building the next generation of conservation gardeners through professional development and hands-on training.
• Represents the Wildflower Center and its mission to a variety of audiences, including donors, and participates in the national conversation related to native plants and horticulture.
• Collaborates with the Center’s leadership team to forward its goals to enhance the garden experience, expand its reach, grow its plant conservation efforts, and lead in resource conservation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications
• 5+ years of garden leadership and team management experience
• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, ecology, landscape architecture or related field
• Demonstrated creative vision for garden and landscape design
• Demonstrated use of ecological horticulture techniques as they relate to soil and water conservation, resource consumption and reduction, integrated pest management (IPM), supporting biodiversity, and adaptive management
• Experience managing nursery operations
• Familiarity with key concepts and processes related to building and maintaining plant collections, rare plants and conservation horticulture
• Demonstrated experience creating unique and compelling garden displays and innovating in challenging environmental conditions
• Skilled communicator with experience writing, being on camera, teaching classes, and making engaging presentations to the public

Preferred Qualifications
• Deep knowledge of and experience working with plants native to the U.S.
• Vision and creative drive
• Demonstrated experience working across teams to achieve common goals
• Passion for and experience teaching and sharing information with a variety of audiences
• Experience with experimental gardens and introducing plants into the nursery trade

For more information and to apply visit: https://utaustin.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UTstaff/job/JOHNSON-WILDFLOWER-CENTER/Director-of-Gardens-and-Collections_R_00039660

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