Description

Montgomery Parks-Horticulture, Forestry and Environmental Education Division is currently seeking a motivated, highly organized, and professional Greenhouse Manager to perform a broad range of production greenhouse work for Brookside Gardens. This position reports directly to the Assistant Director of Production and Display. Go to our website to learn more about Brookside Gardens. www.brooksidegardens.org    
 
Brookside Gardens, a horticultural display garden in Wheaton, Maryland, seeks a passionate and enthusiastic Greenhouse Manager with broad horticultural knowledge and experience.  The potential candidate should be a highly collaborative team member that will put Brookside Gardens’ mission first and help to deliver remarkable experiences to our guests.  The Greenhouse Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Brookside Gardens’ plant production facilities, including two greenhouses, container production fields, and overwintering structures.  We seek an individual who possesses a unique blend of horticultural creativity and managerial skills to lead a staff of two experienced horticulturists as well as part-time staff, interns, and many volunteers.

Throughout the year, Brookside Gardens hosts more than 1,000,000 visitors, many at engaging programs and events for children and adults, including the summer live butterfly exhibit and winter light display. We welcome applicants who reflect the diversity of our community and can help us become a more inclusive garden for staff and visitors.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a six-time National Recreational and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner.  Behind the vast and diverse Montgomery County Department of Parks system is a career staff complement of nearly 800 employees, 420 parks and over 37,000 acres of park land that serves a diverse population of more than one million residents in the Washington DC area. Go to our website to learn more:  https://www.montgomeryparks.org/

DIVERSITY STATEMENT The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor. We will do what we can to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at 301-495-4525 to request accommodation. 
 
Please Note: The salary range listed above represents the earning potential for this position. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Examples of Important Duties

  • Grows high quality, healthy plants for Brookside Gardens’ displays, collections, education programs, and sales.
  • Evaluates crop requests and schedules crops to maximize use of space and labor.
  • Maintains healthy collection of large container plants for display in Conservatory, Garden and Visitors Center.
  • Holds purchase card for Greenhouse Production section
  • Maintains the Greenhouse Production section budget, purchasing horticultural supplies and plants in advance.
  • Monitors greenhouses and supporting structures regularly for general maintenance and repairs.
  • Supervises maintenance of propagation greenhouses and supporting structures.
  • Manages Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program for Greenhouse Section.
  • Produces plants for sale throughout the year; developing schedule of sales.
  • Supervises personnel in section; evaluating, counseling, recognizing, and disciplining in compliance with Merit Rules and Regulations.
  • Provides training, cross-training, and job enrichment opportunities for staff to promote their professional development.
  • Teaches two public programs per year in cooperation with the education section.
  • Updates and reviews plant propagation section procedures and schedules; reviews with staff.
  • Performs administrative functions for the section as necessary.

Important Skills and Characteristics 

  • Knowledge of plant identification, greenhouse control systems, plant cultural requirements, and disease and pest recognition and management.
  • Demonstrated skill in all areas of crop production.
  • Uses hand tools and power equipment safely.
  • Willingness to share horticultural knowledge with visitors, volunteers, and staff in informal settings and through formally scheduled programs.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including use of Microsoft Office suite and other specialized programs.
  • Ability to plan and direct the work of seasonal staff, volunteers, and interns.
  • Ability to perform strenuous work in all weather conditions. Working in extreme high and low temperatures, apply pesticides, operate equipment, interact with visitors in a formal/informal setting, stoop, bend, stretch, pull, and lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Some evening and weekend work is required, including assisting with special events.

Preferred Qualifications 

  1. Progressively responsible experience working in a greenhouse setting growing a variety of annual, perennial, tropical and specialty ornamental crops on tight timelines for display in a public setting.
  2. Multilingual.

 

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in horticulture or related field; and

2. Three years of progressively responsible professional experience in horticulture or closely related field; or

3. An equivalent combination of education and experience.

4. Valid driver’s license.

5. A Maryland State Pesticide Applicator’s License may be required within six months of employment.

Supplemental Information

Class/Specification: Horticulturist II

Working Conditions
Works in an office or field. Considerable pressure to meet deadlines. May work evenings and weekends. May be exposed to weather and horticultural chemicals.

            Very competitive and flexible benefits programs available!
Get to know Montgomery Parks and the opportunities available:   https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/divisions/

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.