Job Listing: Nursery Horticulturist (Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden)

NURSERY HORTICULTURIST

HORTICULTURE

Garden Overview

Mission

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s mission is connecting people through plants to improve communities.

Vision

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, including the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve, reveals the unity and integration of human and plant life, celebrates the fundamental significance of the natural world, and enriches communities through horticultural and educational excellence and innovative outreach activities.

Values

Responsibility, Innovation, Integrity, Hospitality and Inspiration

Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a non-profit 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 and 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.

Our Horticulture staff exhibits a tireless commitment to creating new and innovative gardens and displays that delight and inspire visitors of all ages and from all backgrounds.  We are committed to demonstrating the use and cultivation of a wide palette of native and exotic plants suitable for use in Central Virginia and strive to maintain our collections to the highest standards in an environmentally responsible way.  We think independently, work collaboratively, and are unified in our passion for horticulture. 

About the Nursery Spaces at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

The Horticulture department utilizes just over 20,000 sq. ft. of nursery space, including the Anne Holt Massey Greenhouse, a 10,000 sq. ft. Dutch-style Venlo glass greenhouse, to propagate, grow, stage, and store plant material for its permanent collections, ornamental displays, educational programs, and plant sales. Staff, volunteers, and community partners work collaboratively in this space to ensure the Garden’s plant production needs are met, and its mission is fulfilled. The Nursery Horticulturist supports the Garden’s horticultural operations and community programs.

Position Summary

Under the guidance of the Horticulture Section Leader, the Nursery Horticulturist leads the production, planning, and maintenance of the Anne Holt Massey Greenhouse and associated nursery spaces. This role combines hands-on horticulture, plant production, teamwork, and collaboration with community partners.

Nursery & Greenhouse Production and Plant Health

• Propagate, cultivate, and maintain a diverse range of herbaceous and woody plants using organic and conventional methods, including annuals, perennials, woody plants, orchids, aroids, palms, aquatics, and seasonal crops.
• Implement and innovate production techniques such as tissue culture, hanging baskets, topiaries, and specialty standards.
• Oversee daily nursery and greenhouse operations, including environmental management and back-of-house coordination.
• Monitor plant health, identify issues proactively, and apply sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies; coordinate scouting and treatments with the Arboriculture and IPM Manager.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot nursery systems and equipment such as Dosatron units, Argus greenhouse controls, irrigation systems, and pesticide foggers.
• Coordinate annual plant orders between staff and outside vendors.
• Assist the Conservatory Horticulturist with conservatory bedding change-outs and routine conservatory tasks as needed.

Living Collections Documentation and Labeling

• Maintain accurate plant records in collaboration, adhering to Living Collection Policy and Collection Management Plan in all plant identification, recordkeeping, plant installation, and movement decisions.

Collaboration, Coordination, and Leadership

• Work with the Horticulture Section Leader on section-wide initiatives, project delegation, and team coordination.
• Supervise and mentor seasonal staff, interns, volunteers, and corporate work groups.
• Serve as a liaison among nursery stakeholders, including horticulture staff, Reynolds Community College programs and plant sales, volunteer plant sale teams, and partner organizations.
• Support mission-driven and revenue-generating plant production for plant sales, the gift shop, and donations to community partners.
• Partner with Marketing for the promotion of horticulture by supporting the development of blog posts, social media, etc.
• Interact with the public on an informal basis by answering questions, providing directions, etc.

Facilities, Grounds, and Safety Operations

• Report, coordinate, and participate in repairs, preventative maintenance, and facility improvements in nursery and greenhouse environments.
• Organize, inventory, and restock nursery supplies and materials to support smooth daily operations.
• Use and maintain horticultural tools and equipment such as hand tools, mowers, blowers, tractors, and utility carts.
• Maintain exterior grounds and surrounding areas to ensure a clean, safe, and aesthetically maintained environment.
• Ensure safe access to buildings, walkways, and parking areas throughout the year, including performing snow and ice removal and seasonal weather response tasks.
• Coordinate with Facilities and Operations staff to schedule and complete equipment repairs, infrastructure needs, and operational improvements.
• Respond to weather events, emergencies, and unexpected conditions by supporting cleanup, hazard mitigation, and recovery work.
• Follow all safety protocols and maintain compliance with required training
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of a wide range of plant diversity and their needs in a production setting
• Ability to plan crop sequences, manage production schedules, and design garden layouts.
• Proficiency in the safe and effective use of horticultural tools, nursery systems, and machinery.
• Ability to work outdoors and in greenhouse environments in all weather conditions.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience supervising others and engaging with the public.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and complete tasks independently or as part of a team.
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, ensuring coverage for Horticulture and for special events at the Garden, including GardenFest, outside the traditional work week/day.

 Physical Requirements

• The physical strength, dexterity, and coordination are sufficient to perform the above functions.
• Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, and walk for extended periods.
• Must lift to 50 pounds repeatedly.
• Must be able to work outdoors in Central Virginia seasonal extremes.

Note: Duties described above, other duties, and physical demands have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Education & Experience

• A degree in Horticulture, Botany, Plant Science, or a related field.
• Three years of experience working in public gardens, parks, arboreta, and nurseries
• Other combinations of education/experience appropriate to the job will be considered.
• Prior training in greenhouse control systems
• Possession of a valid driver’s license.
• Virginia Pesticide Applicator’s License (or ability to obtain within 6 months).
• Conversational Spanish proficiency is 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 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 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.

Note:  This position is represented by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO, to discuss the specific needs of your group, please reach out to 804-359-4058.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to hr@lewisginter.org.