Job Listing: Butterfly Exhibit Manager (Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden)

Garden Overview

Mission 

We connect 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 education 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.

Job Description

The Butterfly Exhibit Manager is responsible for the daily operations of an educational live butterfly exhibit.  This position leads a team of staff, volunteers, and students in the care of the pupa and butterflies according to the codes, regulations, and standards.  The Butterfly Exhibit Manager develops interactive programs and materials, providing educational experiences for guests of all ages and abilities.  This position will deliver dynamic, welcoming guest experiences that convey the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s mission of connecting people to plants and enhancing guests’ relationship with the natural world.

Responsibilities

• Manages the daily operations of the butterfly exhibit and support spaces, including management of project budgets and expenditures and establishment of operating priorities.
• Leads a team in and provides care and handling of the pupae and adult butterflies; responsible for implementing protocols and operating procedures to maintain a high level of sanitation, care, and safety of butterflies.
• Supervises staff, volunteers, and student workers, including hiring, training, work allocation, evaluation, and enforcement of internal procedures and controls.
• Designs and delivers educational experiences for youth and adults, including exhibit interpretive materials and displays, formal and informal programs, tours, public programs, and self-guided activities.
• Develops and implements protocols to ensure compliance with the USDA APHIS PPQ permit and other codes, regulations, and standards; assists with permit renewal process.
• Provides exceptional customer service for guests of all ages and abilities while ensuring exhibit rules and guidelines are followed.
• Produces and maintains exhibit operating procedures, records, and reporting.

• Works cross-departmentally to design and install exhibits, create effective educational programs, and improve marketing and retail opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong operational planning and implementation skills.
• Strong leadership and team-management skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and standards for the ethical and humane treatment of animals in education.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn plant and insect identification, greenhouse control systems, disease, and pest recognition.
• Knowledge of developing interpretive programming related to exhibits.
• Demonstrated knowledge of informal learning, natural sciences, environmental science, museum studies, and/or the natural world.
• Models positive and respectful interactions with plants, animals, and people.
• Comfortable with handling insects, including dispatching specimens that may be injured or diseased.

• Strong interpersonal skills, including clear written and verbal communication needed to work with diverse teams.
• Must be able to initiate, build, and sustain relationships with fellow staff and volunteers.
• Strong organizational, administrative, and supervisory abilities, including excellent time management skills and attention to detail.
• Works well independently and thrives in a team environment; adaptable and solution-oriented.
• Able to work varied hours outside the traditional work week, including weekends, evenings, holidays and special events including GardenFest.
• Proficiency in conversational Spanish a plus.

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.

Physical Demands / Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds intermittently.
• Must be able to work in temperature extremes, including high temperatures and high humidity.
• Must be able to bend, squat, kneel, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.

 Note: Duties described above, other duties, and physical demands have been identified as essential.

Education and Experience

• A degree in environmental science, botany, biology, entomology, horticulture, education, museum studies, or a related field.
• Previous experience with live animal care.
• 2 years’ experience in implementing educational, natural science, environmental science, or museum exhibitions and programs.

• 2 years’ experience coordinating the work of others (whether as formal supervisor of paid staff/volunteers, team leader, or in a context outside traditional employment).

• Other combinations of education/experience appropriate to the job will be considered.  

Please submit a cover letter and resume to hr@lewisginter.org