Employment & Botanical
Garden Jobs
Welcome! We are excited to share these employment opportunities at the Garden with you. The Garden celebrates the diversity of all people, just as we honor the diversity of plants and ecosystems in our world, with a focus on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility.
Garden Overview
Mission
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s mission is connecting people to plants by inspiring communities to explore and conserve nature.
Vision
We are a Virginia garden of international significance leading in horticultural and educational excellence. We cultivate experiences that enhance each person’s relationship with the natural world.
Values
Responsibility, Innovation, Integrity, Hospitality and Inspiration
Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a nonprofit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting educational programs. This cadre of identified learners is just a fraction of the more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected, and appreciated.
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 conduct herself or himself and 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 mishaps, 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 regulations.
- Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Full-Time Openings
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Human Resources Director
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 [email protected].
Living Collections Manager
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 [email protected].
Horticulture Section Leader
Salary: $24.00 - $27.00 per hour
Job Description
The Horticulture Section Leader 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 passion of the team maintaining them. This position provides leadership for dynamic spaces within the Garden including the historic Grace Arent’s Garden, Children’s Garden, Cherry Tree Walk, and Margaret Johana Streb Conifer Garden. Future garden areas will be within this position’s oversight upon completion of the THRIVE campaign.
Responsibilities
Administrative (40% of time)
- Oversees designated Horticulture Section and its assigned staff, volunteers, and workforce development participants while ensuring work aligns with organizational goals and core values.
- Supports daily work in the Garden section by leading a diverse team. This includes interviewing, hiring, training, supervising, and performance assessment, with the ability to, coach, counsel, and transition staff.
- Supports and coordinates horticulture initiatives for capital projects.
- Promotes, celebrates, and models professional development for Department members.
- Serves as a member of the Horticulture Departmental Leadership Team.
- Collaborates with the Director of Volunteers for volunteer engagement and organizing corporate volunteer groups.
- Schedules, plans, and implements strategies for the short-term and long-term evolution of the Garden section to reflect dynamic programming within the Garden, advancement of collections, and aesthetic beauty.
- Collaborates with external partners and internally across departments within the Garden and serves on relevant organizational committees.
- Communicates with the facilities and events department to support and ensure scheduled horticulture work has a limited impact on Garden rentals.
- Assists VP of Horticulture with planning, budgeting, coordinating, and purchasing for staffing and resources for respective Garden Section.
Horticulture, Collections, Design and Display (60% of time)
- Works daily to support and maintain a diverse planting of annuals, perennials, tropical, woody and edible plants through pruning, grooming, weeding, mulching, watering, fertilizing, and scouting.
- Develops and maintains core collections of the Garden, focusing on conifers and allied ancient plants, native plants, camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons.
- Collaborates with Plant Records and GIS Manager to maintain accurate plant records and advance our botanical collections.
- Label installation and maintenance
- Participating in bed code inventories
- Reporting removals, additions, divisions, transplants etc. to the Plant Records and GIS Manager in a timely manner
- Collaborates with the design and maintenance of the children’s garden to support our learning and engagement programs.
- Diligently leads in sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies including biological, mechanical, and cultural controls. Coordinates scouting and control treatments with Arboriculture and IPM Manager.
- Represents Garden interest with green industry partners by participating in shows, meetings, conferences, symposia etc.
- Interacts with the public on an informal basis by answering questions, providing directions, etc.
- Models safe and correct use of Garden tools and equipment.
- Utilize shovels, trowels, fan rakes, grading rakes, spades, digging forks, pickaxes, brooms, hand shears, hand saws, loppers, pole pruners & pole saws, wheelbarrows, fertilizer spreaders, garden carts, ladders, and other hand tools to complete assigned tasks.
- Operate push mowers, weed-whackers, backpack blowers, push blowers, garden ATVs, pallet jacks, bucket lifts, tractors, pickup trucks, and other power equipment in accordance with LGBG safety protocols and regulatory standards (training will be provided).
- Works collaboratively with a dynamic team to achieve horticultural standards of excellence.
- Participate in weekly group maintenance tasks such as blowing walkways, filling gas cans, and caring for tools and equipment.
- Participate in group projects and meetings with other horticulture staff and in cross-departmental projects.
- Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, ensuring coverage for Horticulture outside the traditional work week/day.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the VP of Horticulture or their designee.
Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of and experience with landscape practices and plant care appropriate to the region.
- Strong work ethic, keen interest in Horticulture, and an enthusiasm for physical work outdoors.
- A demonstrated understanding of the horticultural practices and procedures required for soil preparation, planting & transplanting, mulching, watering, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, propagating, mowing, raking, sweeping & blowing, and tree & brush cutting.
- The ability to use shovels, trowels, fan rakes, grading rakes, spades, digging forks, pickaxes, brooms, hand shears, hand saws, loppers, pole pruners & pole saws, wheelbarrows, fertilizer spreaders, garden carts, ladders, and other hand tools effectively.
- Demonstrated experience working with and managing irrigation technologies.
- The ability to operate scissor and articulating lifts, push mowers, riding mowers, string trimmers, backpack blowers, push blowers, garden UTVs, pickup trucks, chainsaws, and other power equipment safely and effectively.
- The ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
Physical Demands / Working Conditions
- The physical strength, dexterity, and coordination sufficient to perform the above functions.
- Must be able to bend, squat, kneel, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to work out-of-doors in Central Virginia seasonal extremes.
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly.
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
- A degree or professional certification in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or a related field.
- Five years of experience working in public gardens, parks or arboreta with increasingly responsible horticulture management and leadership experience.
- Virginia Pesticide Applicator’s License (or the ability to obtain one within six months of hire).
- Possession of a valid driver's license.
- Other combinations of education/experience appropriate to the job will be considered.
- 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, 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 promp
- 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 [email protected].
Part-Time Openings
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Seasonal Openings
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Internship Openings
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MARKETING INTERN
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 [email protected]:
- 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