"Associate Director of Student and Public Engagement, Marsh Botanical Garden"

Overview

Reporting to the Director of Marsh Botanical Garden, the Associate Director (AD) of Student and Public Engagement strategically develops and executes the public and educational mission of Marsh Botanical Garden through the growth and expansion of our permanent plant diversity collections and student and public programming, fundraising, events, and tours. Through active collaboration with other Yale and community partners, the AD develops and oversees an ambitious and diverse array of programs that support engagement by Yale students and the New Haven community, and the use of garden collections as resources for education, student research, and public engagement. The AD will contribute significantly to the garden’s role as a vital creative and intellectual force within the university and the greater New Haven community. This position facilitates campus and community outreach and develops programs to engage students, faculty, and the larger community around the collection, its greenhouses, and outdoor facilities including participation in community-wide activities with local educational and non-profit organizations.

1. Partners with the Faculty Director and the Associate Director of Research to conceive, develop and execute the strategic vision and programming for Marsh Botanical Garden (MBG), which includes Marsh Botanical Garden activities and collaborations with other universities, programs, public institutions, potential partners and research centers.
2. Fosters the integration of garden collections into teaching across the Yale curriculum. Develops collaborative relationships based on a broad view of how the garden can contribute to scholarly endeavors. Ensures maximum teaching opportunities are available by strategically partnering with faculty members from a wide range of academic departments and programs.
3. Leads and oversees the advancement and growth of the Marsh Botanical Garden community and educational programs. Directs the operations of various initiatives within Marsh Botanical Garden. Provides direction and leadership in support of the philosophy, mission, strategy, annual goals, and objectives. Assists with recruiting students to engage in MBG research and outreach activities. Facilitates both internal and external collaborations.
4. Identifies and pursues funding sources to support and grow teaching and outreach programming, which includes managing the lifecycle of this process from identification of funding sources, to grant writing and submission, and collaboration with necessary partners, including the Yale Peabody Museum and the Yale School of the Environment.
5. Develops and maintains successful relationship with Yale’s development office to cultivate a community of garden supporters. Works directly with University donors. Interacts directly with existing donors to offer updates on current funded projects; works with existing donors on emergent projects and initiatives. Works directly with Yale alumni and alumni-facing initiatives. Develops MBG alumni network; works directly with alumni to support special projects, collaborations and research; develops and hosts programs for Yale reunions.
6. Supervises indoor and outdoor horticultural team to care for living plant collections, implementing sustainable gardening practices and integrated pest management.
7. Establishes and oversees a systematic plant record policy, including direction of the plant collection and accessioning policy and labeling in line with the MBG mission.
8. Manages and ensures maintenance of BG-Base and other relevant electronic collections records.
9. Coordinates proper climate control in the greenhouses, irrigation systems and maintenance of horticultural equipment collaboratively with University Grounds, Facilities and other appropriate entities.
10. Manages and ensures maintenance of the inventory of plant propagation and maintenance equipment and supplies and ensures that materials and equipment are ordered as needed.
11. Develops communication materials for the campus, the botanical community, and the public. Designs and produces brochures for the Marsh Botanical Garden and for program initiatives. Designs, writes, edits, produces and distributes newsletters and annual reports. Manages and provides guidance for the MBG online presence and initiatives, including content for the website, social media, and the production of digital publications. Designs and maintains websites for the Garden and individual initiatives.
12. Develops, manages and administers budgets for programs and initiatives, in partnership with the Operations Manager. Revises contracts and contract renewal processes as appropriate.
13. Establishes and maintains high horticultural standards and practices. Manages and develops the team of Marsh Botanical Garden salaried and hourly staff, volunteers, docents and student employees.
14. Maintains, and promotes positive and professional relationships with Yale faculty, students, administrators, internal staff, volunteers, members, vendors, contractors, and the general public.
15. Utilizing science background to represent Marsh Botanical Garden with Yale faculty and external scientific community.
16. Teaches topical classes as needed.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Ph.D. in Botany, Horticulture, Plant Science or a related discipline and relevant field experience; or Masters in Botany, Horticulture, Plant Science or a related discipline.
2. Experience with managing staff with a diverse range of technical expertise within a garden or museum setting.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Broad-based knowledge in garden management and/or educational programming.
2. A working knowledge of basic landscape maintenance, including various garden equipment, operations, troubleshooting and repair.

Physical Requirements

Ability to safely and routinely lift 40 lbs., and to engage in manual labor of horticulture and to navigate and develop a hilly landscape.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Directs, monitors, and assesses needs and directs the application of resources of an administrative University office dealing with one or more major functional areas.
2. Directs and implements solutions to problems that are routine to complex in nature and that affect multiple functional areas of responsibility.
3. Plans and/or participates in planning University activities on a long-term basis to comply with University goals and objectives.
4. Establishes and implements consistent university-wide policies in multiple functional areas of responsibility.
5. Ensures that University office policies and procedures are in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
6. Develops and monitors goals and objectives for managerial and professional staff in compliance with University strategies.
7. Directs a staff of exempt and non-exempt employees.
8. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in related field and seven years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.