Senior Horticulturist

POSITION DESCRIPTION

SENIOR HORTICULTURIST
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark and accredited museum in Miami, Florida (www.vizcaya.org). The Senior Horticulturist is a hands-on position that manages the daily care and ongoing restoration of Vizcaya’s historic landscapes and natural areas. The position is on the Engagement & Cultural Resources Team in the Horticulture & Sustainability Department, reports to the Horticulture Manager, and directly supervises the Gardeners.

Vizcaya is owned by Miami-Dade County and is operated by the non-profit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust, Inc. Our mission is to preserve the estate’s cultural and environmental resources to engage people in connecting with the past, understanding the present and shaping the future. Our vision is to position Vizcaya as an enduring, inclusive and innovative place that inspires people to embrace the cultural vitality and environmental sustainability of the world around us.

Essential Functions

• Schedule and administer landscape and horticulture projects throughout the Formal Gardens and Vizcaya Village as directed by the Horticulture Manager.
• Provide training, orientation and support to Gardeners and volunteers in regular cyclical maintenance duties such as weeding, watering and turf care.
• Oversee successful and safe applications of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers in accordance with Integrated Pest Management and Miami-Dade County guidelines. Inventory and track supplies of chemicals, fertilizers and landscape materials, recommending purchase when needed.
• Actively maintain inventory of tools and handheld power equipment and arrange for maintenance and repair of Vizcaya’s heavy equipment fleet.
• Collaborate with the Horticulture Manager on plant research, sourcing, and procurement to ensure creative, innovative, and where required, historically appropriate horticultural display.
• Support the management of the living collections database as directed by the Horticulture Manager.
• Provide core support for disaster preparation, response, and overall disaster readiness of the Horticulture & Sustainability Department.
• Evaluate and manage Vizcaya’s tree canopy, including natural areas. Supervise arboricultural contractors according to pre-established schedule and plan.
• Oversee landscape contractors’ routine and as-needed maintenance in the Main Gardens and Vizcaya Village.

General Responsibilities of All Managers in Supervisory Roles

• Achieve meaningful and timely actions that advance Vizcaya’s mission, vision and strategic plan.
• Help to sustain and grow Vizcaya’s revenues and participate in pursuing funding opportunities as requested.
• Proactively promote communication, collaboration and customer service.
• Engage in internal committees as appropriate and complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Recommend hiring, discipline and promotion of your direct reports; review and approve payroll, leave and overtime; set annual employee goals and evaluate performance.
• Create and manage your budget; ensure you and your direct reports understand and comply with Vizcaya’s policies and procedures; review the work of your direct reports for accuracy and appropriateness.

This job description is not designed to be comprehensive; duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Position Requirements

• At least 3 years of work experience in landscape maintenance, horticulture, public horticulture, or a closely related field, including at least 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Associate’s degree in landscape maintenance, horticulture or closely related field.
• Knowledge of landscape Best Management Practices and Integrated Pest Management theories and practices.
• Experience in managing living plant collections and horticultural displays.
• Demonstrated leadership, teambuilding, communications and project management skills.
• Commitment to collaboration, customer service, strategy and innovation.
• English fluency.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Factors Vizcaya Will Consider When Evaluating Applicants and Determining Compensation

• Additional relevant work experience, training, certification and education.
• Experience using heavy landscape equipment; operation and maintenance of power tools.
• Experience in living collections management, including accessions management.
• Public garden or estate management experience.
• Knowledge of orchids and epiphytes.
• Spanish, Haitian Creole and other language skills.

Compensation
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens offers competitive compensation with generous paid leave, retirement benefits, and robust medical and other insurance for full-time employees. Salary will be based on the selected candidate’s experience and skills. The anticipated compensation is approximately $59,000 for someone meeting the requirements of the position to approximately $65,000 for someone exceeding them.

Work Environment/Physical Demands
The majority of work is done outside in varying climatic conditions that include excessive heat and humidity. The position requires sitting, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling. The position requires the ability to stand for long periods of time and to safely traverse uneven surfaces. The position frequently lifts and/or moves up to 50 lbs. The position works with typical landscape maintenance equipment and materials. The position involves some interaction with the public, community members, partners, donors, vendors, contractors and other constituents. Vizcaya is a non-smoking environment.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work/Schedule
This is a full-time (40 hours per week), exempt position. Periodic evening and weekend work is required.

To Apply
Please submit a resume and a cover letter expressing your interest in this position to: HRVizcaya@vizcaya.org. Please reference the position title in the subject line of your email.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is committed to equity and inclusion and is engaged in a strategic process to ensure that our staff, Board and volunteers reflect our community’s diversity. Vizcaya welcomes applicants from groups that are underrepresented in cultural organizations and seeks to recruit, develop and retain a diverse workforce.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an equal opportunity employer. Vizcaya respects people of all backgrounds and does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, familial status, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence or stalking, or other applicable legally protected characteristics protected by law.

Updated February 18, 2022