Salary: $70,000 - $85,000 per year

Job Description

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is searching for a Human Resources (HR) Director to support and coach the organization’s staff and volunteers as we advance our strategic plan and cultivate a culture of leadership throughout the Garden. As part of the Garden’s senior leadership team, the HR Director will use problem-solving skills and build relationships to support an employee-centric atmosphere prioritizing quality performance, professional advancement, and inclusion. The Director will work collaboratively across departments to manage talent attraction and talent development. The Director will drive and lead retention strategies so that we are able to retain our top talent. The HR Director will be skilled in change management and will proactively update and amend our personnel policies to align with the Garden’s mission, vision, and values. This position will play an integral role in maintaining positive labor relations and will be involved with negotiations with the IAM Union during collective bargaining.

Responsibilities

• Is part of the Leadership Team and is part of the advancement of the Garden’s strategic plan to ensure the accessibility and relevance of the Garden for the Community.
• Talent Recruitment and Retention.
  • Develops and implements organizational strategy for inclusive hiring of diverse staff to ensure we reflect the community we serve.
  • Works collaboratively with garden leadership to anticipate current and future talent needs relevant to strategic and master plans.
  • Assists with creation of departmental succession plans.
  • Innovates practices and values that increase staff retention and elevate the Garden as a top regional employer.
• Manages new staff onboarding, orientation to welcome, educate and celebrate new team members.
• Coordinates training and organization-wide learning sessions.
  • Oversees workforce development strategy and supervisor coaching for employee relations ensuring a culture of leadership at all levels.
  • Advises teams on HR best practices, training resources, conflict resolution, supervisory coaching and solution-based problem solving.
  • Provides leadership and insight when sensitive issues arise and gives guidance on delicate circumstances.
• Directs the garden’s performance appraisal process including communication, training, goal-setting and merit review based on core values and the strategic plan.
• Works with HR Team to administer bi-weekly payroll processing for accuracy, deductions, levies and garnishments, accruals, changes and reporting.
• Leads employee benefit administration programs, review, reporting, and compliance.
  • Acts as a liaison between the Garden and external benefits providers and vendors (health, disability, retirement, etc.).
  • Performs periodic audits of HR files and records internally and with external providers.
• Evaluates, evolves and communicates employee and volunteer handbooks to ensure clear policies and policy awareness.
  • Acts as a change agent to ensure that any changes are implemented seamlessly.
• Assures State and Federal legal compliances with highest industry standards and meet Federal and State reporting requirements with audits.
• Maintains accurate and current human resource files, records and documentation.
• Stays appraised of current trends in HR field including current legislation and development.
  • Conducts periodic wage and salary review against industry peers.
  • Analyzes trends in compensation and benefits and make recommendations for improvement.
  • Ensures the fair and equitable administration of policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Duties

• Stays current with other regional non-profit HR Managers.
• Weekend, evening and holiday hours as needed.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and group facilitation.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Expertise and experience with employment laws and regulations.
• Well-organized and detail-oriented, able to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Technical proficiency with computers, databases, Microsoft software programs (including Microsoft Excel), HRIS and payroll software.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and computer work
• The position requires familiarity with all public areas of the 82-acre Garden.

Note: Duties described above, other duties, and physical demands have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Education and Experience

• Preferred: SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP or HRCI certification.
• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field.
• Minimum of five years in human resource management and experience with non-profits.
• Experience working with unions is desired.
• Proficiency in conversational Spanish desired.

Each employee of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

• Must comply with provisions of the current Employee handbook, all published personnel policies, and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
• Must perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals and families and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
• Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to the security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
• Must report all injuries and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and to Human Resources.
• Must ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulation
• Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to hr@lewisginter.org.

Salary: $24.00 - $27.00 per hour

Job Description

The Living Collections Manager (LCM) reports to the Vice President (VP) of Horticulture as part of a team who supports departmental administration, finance, and planning. Under the VP’s guidance, the leadership team develops all implementation measures and schedules and executes horticultural aspirations, goals, and objectives for the Garden and the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. They develop a strong team of horticultural professionals by investing in the training, support, and development of their staff and volunteers while acknowledging the integrity of the gardens presented is directly connected to the performance of the team maintaining them. The LCM is responsible for maintaining all plant related records including the plant records database, files of plants received, accession tags and display labels, and maps. Our LCM will be an enthusiastic and detail-oriented individual with a broad range of skills, experience, and knowledge spanning the fields of horticulture, living collections management, and geographic information system (GIS). They will have strong organization and curation skills, be able to work independently and collaboratively, demonstrate strong project management skills, and have a passion for public horticulture.

Responsibilities

Living Collections

• Communicate the essential nature of curating a living collection to a botanical garden.
  • Develop, implement, and continuously conduct ongoing training for new and existing staff/volunteers/interns on various computer-based Horticulture department procedures, IrisBG, Garden Explorer, GIS.
  • Provide information for organizational plant collections to garden constituents through plant lists, maps, articles, brochures, etc.
  • Contribute to plant-related interpretation via research, writing, collaboration, and editing.
  • Create, research, and deliver informative presentations or reports to constituents.
  • Promptly and accurately respond to information requests regarding the Garden’s living collections holdings and conservation/sustainability efforts.
• Manage the Garden’s Collection Management Software, IrisBG.
  • Serve as primary institutional contact with IrisBG technical staff. Troubleshoot database problems, coordinate solutions, and schedule or conduct periodic software upgrades.
  • Ensure all plant record curatorial tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.
  • Ensure operability of various hardware, software, and tools including the Garden’s IrisBG database and Garden Explorer website, Floria field app, rotary engraver, metal embosser.
• Prepare and manage the Living Collections annual budget; ensure all subscriptions, supplies, hardware, and software are secured and paid for in a timely manner.
• Research, write, review, and/or update policies and other guiding documents as needed and appropriate, including the Living Collection Policy, Living Collection Development Plan(s)
• Initiate, support, and curate partnerships with local and national plant societies.
• Track plant specimens that are part of the garden’s Memorial Tribute Program, including plant name and location, recipient and donor name, contact information, memorial wording, etc.

Plant Records Responsibilities

• Verify plant names using botanical references. Update taxon information in database as needed.
• Identify plants using botanical references and by comparison with other named specimens.
• Accession all woody and herbaceous plants at the Garden and the Reserve in accordance with the Living Collections Policy and plant record protocols.
• Maintain accurate labeling; coordinate and produce plant accession tags and display labels and affix them to plant specimens in the field. Oversee tag embosser and label engraver operation by staff and volunteers.
• Coordinate periodic inventories of plant collections.
• Ensure all plant-related purchase orders, receipts, invoices, and related correspondence are recorded, processed, and archived in a timely manner.

GIS Responsibilities

• Coordinate the Garden’s Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping toolbox by securing and maintaining software, hardware, creating apps, to serve Garden stakeholders and needs.
• Develop and maintain electronic maps of collections using IrisBG Garden Explorer and ArcGIS. Update maps on a regular basis. Create custom maps for organization as needed.
• Configure and deploy Esri's ArcGIS solutions, apps, and extensions (Experience Builder, Dashboards, QuickCapture, FieldMaps, etc.) for mapping, documentation, and interpretation.
• Serve as hiring manager and reporting supervisor for plant record interns, or coordinators; organize and guide their projects, professional opportunities, and daily/weekly work.

Skills and Abilities

• A deep understanding of plant collections curatorial policies and practices.
• The ability to review plant identification using taxonomic keys, herbaria, and other references.
• Ability to identify a wide variety of trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous perennials, and annuals suitable for cultivation in central Virginia. Familiarity with tropical plants is helpful.
• Mastery of horticultural taxonomy and the principles of horticultural nomenclature.
• Great analytical and executive functioning skills; self-motivated and creative problem-solver.
• Superior communicator with ability to multitask and excellent time management skills.
• Desire to work with a diverse staff of all ages and backgrounds.

Education and Experience

• B.S. in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or related field; relevant certifications.
• One year of professional experience managing botanical garden records required.
• Proficiency with IrisBG Collections Management Software and Microsoft Office required.
• One year of experience working with GIS applications, specifically Esri solutions (ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, Enterprise, and ArcGIS Online).
• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Other combinations of education/experience appropriate to the job will be considered.

Each employee of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden must:

• Comply with provisions of the current Employee handbook, all published personnel policies, and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
• Perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals, families, and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
• Be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
• Report all injuries and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and HR.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Must be able to constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as computer printer, scanner, copy machine, and camera.
• Must possess the ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of observer).
• Must be able to occasionally lift 25 pounds.
• Must be able to occasionally work out-of-doors in Central Virginia seasonal extremes.

Note: Duties described above, other duties and physical demands have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to hr@lewisginter.org.

MARKETING INTERN 

The Marketing Department strives to build the Lewis Ginter Botanical brand and support the mission to connect people to plants by inspiring communities to explore and conserve nature. This is a paid internship; hours are flexible but require a minimum of 150 hours per semester and 10-15 hours per week.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in supporting the Garden’s social media efforts. This involves monitoring (including some weekends) and creating content.
• Write for the Garden’s blog.
• Help make updates to the Garden’s website.
• Post Garden info to websites such as tourism sites and media calendars.
• Take and upload digital photos and video of the Garden.
• Assist with events as needed.
• Provide general office and project support for the Marketing Department.
• Work with the Chief Marketing Officer and Digital Content Strategist to help meet the needs of reporters and photographers.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience using social media; experience using for a business or brand is a plus. (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and TikTok.)
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Ability to work on computers and use a digital camera.
• Some simple graphic design skills and the ability to use or to learn Photoshop and WordPress.
• Should be prepared to work in a business environment, including meeting deadlines, working alone and as part of a team, and multitasking.

INTERNSHIP TRAINING INCLUDES:

• Social media use in a business setting.
• Writing blog posts and optimizing content for SEO.
• Building photography, videography and graphic skills.
• Marketing and public relations experience in a non-profit setting

TO APPLY:

Candidates are asked to submit the following to willn@lewisginter.org:

• Resume
• a writing sample (preferably a blog post, news article or social media post)
• An informal cover letter detailing your interest in the specific internship and how you hope this experience will help you reach your educational and career goals. Please also let us know if you plan to pursue this internship for credit and list your scheduling availability (start/end dates, days/times available)
• Optional: links to social media account/s
• In addition, we ask candidates to have at least one recommendation on LinkedIn

DEADLINES FOR APPLICATIONS:

Spring Semester/December 15th
Summer/March 15th