Skip to main content

This job has expired

Director Research and Conservation

Employer
Horticulture
Location
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, US
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
Jun 13, 2021

View more

Sector
Academic / Research
Field
Conservation science, Informatics / GIS
Discipline
Sustainability
Salary Type
Salary
Employment Type
Full time
As one of the great gardens of the world located just 30 miles outside of Philadelphia, Longwood Gardens is rooted in a steadfast mission of excellence in horticulture, education, and the arts. Across our many departments, each and every staff member creates the magic that makes our Gardens distinctive. Our team of dynamic professionals is what sets us apart, and our spirit of legacy, innovation, and opportunity is what guides us. While beauty is our heart, our people are our soul.
Longwood Gardens seeks a Director, Research & Conservation, with proven leadership to lead a talented team of globally recognized professionals in our Research & Conservation division. The Research and Conservation programs at Longwood are focused on the advancement of the art, science, and sustainability of horticulture, environmental stewardship, and plant conservation. The Research and Conservation Director will lead science-based activities to strategically drive excellence in research, conservation, land stewardship and ecology with local, national, and global impact. These activities are the basis for all of our horticultural endeavors and establish Longwood as a great garden of the world and a leader in applied research.
The Research & Conservation division is one of four divisions in the Horticulture Department and currently consists of 14 full-time staff and six part-time staff, as well as numerous volunteers and students. This division includes horticultural research, environmental stewardship & ecology, plant conservation, land stewardship operations, and soils and compost management.
Longwood is internationally recognized for a long legacy of global plant exploration and, more recently, has expanded programs in plant conservation and environmental stewardship. The person in this role will be arriving at a pivotal moment. Longwood has just embarked on the most ambitious capital project in a century, Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience. The new garden will open in 2024. In addition to existing programs, this Director will also support horticultural aspects of sustainability within the boundaries of this project: https://longwoodgardens.org/longwood-reimagined
We seek a dynamic leader who has demonstrated the ability to think strategically and work in a fast-paced, highly creative, and collaborative environment across a multidisciplinary organization. The Director, Research & Conservation, is responsible for leading all aspects of these research and conservation activities including applied research and conservation projects, plant exploration, plant trials, plant breeding, living collections curation, land stewardship and ecology, and the operations to support these endeavors, including further development of the strategic plan for this division in alignment with Longwood's Mission.
The ideal candidate will possess a doctorate degree in biology, botany, horticulture, or a related field and have a minimum of ten years of experience in horticultural research and conservation, with a minimum of five years in a leadership capacity of similar magnitude. A track record of leading a self-motivated and highly capable team charged with the development and implementation of research, conservation, and environmental stewardship programs is required. The ideal candidate will also have demonstrated a strong background in applied research and have knowledge of a wide variety of plant species, including those hardy in Zone 6b and floriculture crops. Knowledge of: basic laboratory operation; experimental design, and implementation; technical and scientific methods of plant production using tissue culture and growth chambers; soils and plant nutrition, as well as plant breeding are required. An understanding of science-related resilient landscapes as well as soils & compost management is helpful.
Baseline knowledge and skills for the position include but are not limited to excellent verbal communication, including public speaking, strong interpersonal skills, professional writing skills and record of publication, and proficiency with Microsoft Office and GIS applications. A record of funded grant proposals necessary. Must have skills and proven experience with successful fiscal management including operating budgets and project budget development.

Deadline to apply is June 11, 2021.

Longwood Gardens is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that diversity, equality, and inclusion strengthen our institution and the world around us.

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert