Position Summary
Position Description
JOB SUMMARY:
The Assistant Director of Horticulture provides overall management of ornamental gardens, grounds, arboretum, ponds, and horticulture facilities. The Director ensures that top quality maintenance of gardens and grounds is achieved, using staff, student employees and volunteers. This position also works closely with other key staff on strategic planning and other considerations related to site development and horticulture programs. Other duties as assigned.
JOB DUTIES:
40% – Essential – Direct and develop the care of the gardens, grounds and plant collections to meet strategic goals and support the SCBG mission and vision using both horticultural and sustainable best practices of care and maintenance. Ensures safe conditions of workplace, including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of irrigation, equipment and pathways and trails. Work with key staff to ensure positive and educational visitor experience and to evaluate plantings for performance, design intent and collection integrity.
40% – Essential – Lead and develop all horticultural and grounds staff. Define, prioritize, assign and track status of horticulture tasks. Organize training for safety awareness and horticulture techniques and principles. Improve policies and procedures as needed.
10% – Essential – Develop, assess and monitor all horticultural budgets. Work with Executive Director and key staff to identify budget priorities and plan annual budget. Oversee procurement and sourcing for horticultural displays and grounds maintenance.
10% – Essential – Actively engage in education and outreach. Work with internal and external audiences to represent SCBG. Facilitate research and cooperation with other botanical gardens and peer organizations. Facilitate research and instructional opportunities with CU faculty and CES staff.
Essential Level 1 employee
Required to respond during an emergency closure or modified operations in order to provide the University’s initial response to the emergency situation, including the execution of mission essential functions. Some positions in this category may be required to work remotely or be on-call.
Required Qualifications
Education - Master's Degree Experience - 5+ years in public horticulture with broad knowledge of a wide variety of plant species including cultural requirements and experience in managing and supervising staff. Licenses/Certifications - SC pesticide applicator's license (or ability to obtain one).
Preferred Qualifications
Education - Master's Degree - Horticulture, botany, natural resource management or related field Experience - 5+ years of budget preparation and oversight
Equal Employer Statement(s)
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
About Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
Clemson Cooperative Extension helps improve the quality of life of all South Carolinians by providing unbiased, research-based information through an array of public outreach programs in youth development; agribusiness; agriculture; food, nutrition and health; and natural resources. With offices in all 46 counties of the state, Extension works to help support South Carolina’s $51.8 billion Agribusiness (agriculture and forestry) industry; strengthen families and communities; improve stewardship of natural resources and the environment; strengthen connections between people and their food; and expose South Carolina youth to opportunities in agriculture, science, technology, engineering and math.