Garden Manager

Annual hiring range: $55,000 to $60,000, contingent upon qualifications and experience

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants must attach a cover letter and a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application in a PDF format . Please note that the applicant tracking system does not convert attachments in Word format successfully.

Position Summary

The Wiess School of Natural Sciences is seeking a Garden Manager for the Betty and Jacob Friedman Holistic Garden. The manager will manage the garden and supervise garden workers, including students. S/he will facilitate the purchasing, planting, maintenance, harvesting, and sales of produce and plants and fundraising. S/he acts as a key contact for garden activities.

The ideal candidate for the position will have experience overseeing and working with the annual and seasonal gardening process. S/he is a collaborative and independent thinker and able to creatively research and solve problems and communicate well.

This position is eligible for a flexible work schedule; remote work is not available. Responsibilities may require evening and weekend hours to meet the needs of garden management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
• 3 years of related administrative experience
  • In lieu of the administrative experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted

• Skills Required
  • Knowledge of organic gardening techniques, organic garden management, and protection of the natural ecosystem of which the garden is a part
  • Functional knowledge of organic gardening methods, botany, and environmental science
  • Functional knowledge of basic business practices
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as a part of a team to meet expected deadlines and schedules
  • Ability to monitor the health of plants under all conditions
  • Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills

Essential Functions

• Administers garden operations, ensuring efficient, effective, and productive operations
• Creates and implements plans to achieve garden objectives and mission
• Interprets, implements, and ensures compliance with Rice University and Betty and Jacob Friedman Holistic Garden policies and regulations and recommends changes to procedures and processes
• Creates budget plans, monitors and approves expenditures, develops reports, conducts analyses, and manages and maintains financial records
• Enrolls, coordinates, and supervises student workers and TAs
• Implements effective volunteer recruitment, management, and recognition program
• Teaches appropriate horticultural techniques to student workers, TAs, and volunteers
• Maintains the garden’s budgets
• Keeps on file records of plantings, planting plans, etc. and other garden records
• Maintains the garden’s budgets
• Maintains an inventory of garden tools, equipment, and supplies and replaces supplies as they are used up or needed
• Contributes to and leads improvements in the operation of the garden
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

The main function of the manager is to help coordinate day to day maintenance of the garden under the direction of the Director. Other specific duties vary but include the following:

• Organizes, advertises, and conducts tours and workshops
• Develops and maintains the garden’s large email list
• Assists in development of garden’s social media
• Maintains visitor logs for outreach purposes
• Creates opportunities for engagement between the garden and the greater Rice community and beyond
• Analyzes data, identifies trends, develops reports, and recommends and implements changes to improve alignment with institutional mission and goals
• Creates and implements outreach plans that may include relationship development, communications, and event and conference management
• Provides support in developing relationships with internal and external entities
• Assists with fundraising activities
• Assists in preparation for courses taught in the garden

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies