Vice President of Horticulture & Natural Resources at Naples Botanical Garden Inc

Description

Salary Description: $155,000 - $180,000 Annually

Classification: Exempt

Organization Description

Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre world-class paradise, featuring the flora and cultures of the tropics and sub-tropics including Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Florida. The Garden’s mission is to connect people and plants through display, education, conservation, and applied science. The Garden has beautifully restored native habitats, cultivated gardens, walking trails, and public programming that offer education and enjoyment for people of all ages. Naples Botanical Garden is a 501(c)3 organization.

Position Summary: The Vice President of Horticulture & Natural Resources leads the teams responsible for the care of nearly 200 acres of display gardens and restored native ecosystems, and a state-of-the-art nursery operation. As a member of the executive leadership team, this leader will have an integral role in shaping broader strategies across the Garden. This is a full-time position reporting to the President & CEO.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advance the execution of key priorities in collections, natural areas, and display gardens within the Garden’s current assets and master plan, and ensuring that they integrate with research, conservation, education, interpretation, and visitor experience goals.
• Provide visionary leadership and strategy within the department.
• Establishes effective partnerships throughout the Garden in support of our cooperative culture. 
• Work closely with the Vice President of Conservation to build a collaborative, cohesive partnership that leverages the unique assets of the Garden with current and future plant conservation research and applied science activities.
• Use structured approach to create, manage and execute annual budgets, work plans, and projects.
• Take ownership for talent development of team and contribute to talent development across the Garden. Build and leverage skills, knowledge and capabilities of Horticulture & Natural Resources management team members. Coach and mentor team members to success.  
• All other management and administrative functions associated with running a large department.

Requirements/Qualifications:

Technical Expertise:

• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, ecology, natural resources, or a related field.
• 15+ years’ experience in horticulture, natural resources, or a related area.
• 7+ years’ experience in a leadership role overseeing full employee lifecycle work.
• Deep understanding and experience with horticulture operations and living collections.  
• Experience with ecosystem restoration, land management, and plant conservation, preferred.
• Experience with nursery management and familiarity with tropical and regional native plants is desirable but demonstrated ability to quickly build that expertise is required.  
• Deeply committed to the appreciation of nature and environmental sustainability in both vision and practice.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook) and demonstrated ability to learn relevant software.

Leadership & Management:

• Proven experience managing and motivating teams, with a collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Skilled in mentoring staff, setting clear goals, and promoting teamwork across departments.
• Confident decision-maker who listens well, gives thoughtful feedback, and leads with integrity and humility. 
• Experience and demonstrated understanding of budgeting, project management, and overall department administration.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Strong communicator who works well with diverse groups, both internally and with external partners.
• High emotional intelligence and integrity with the ability to build trust and credibility.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, evolving environments while keeping projects on track.

Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving:

• Creative thinker with strong judgment and problem-solving skills to support the efforts of the department and to collaborate effectively in the Garden.
• Ability to see the big picture while managing day-to-day operations.
• Experience developing and executing clear, actionable strategies.

A pre-employment background check is required.

We know that not everyone will meet every single qualification listed. If you’re excited about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply—even if your experience doesn’t line up perfectly. You may be the right candidate for this role or other opportunities with us.

Benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan with matching
• Short-Long Term Disability
• PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Garden Perks

Naples Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Garden has a long-standing policy of employment and advancement based solely upon qualifications to perform the essential elements of a position without regard to age, creed, gender, national origin or ancestry, race, color, religion, veteran status, pregnancy, marital status, HIV status, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, handicap or mental or physical disability.