West Hollywood, California
Williamsburg, Virginia
West Lafayette, Indiana
Wheaton, Maryland
Posted: 18-Jan-23
Location: Wheaton, Illinois
Type: Full-time
Categories:
Sector:
Cantigny Park
Located in Wheaton, Illinois, Cantigny Park is Col. Robert R. McCormick’s 500-acre estate, which encompasses a park, formal gardens, a museum dedicated to the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, and a 27-hole public golf facility. Cantigny welcomes over 400,000 visitors each year to enjoy its education and recreational amenities and public and private events.
Cantigny’s gardens are developed for public enjoyment and education with a mix of woody plants, herbaceous perennial, and seasonal collections. Annual and seasonal displays correspond to organization-wide themes and initiatives, special events, and public holidays. For instance, the 2022 theme of “Alebrijes: Creatures of a Dream World” celebrated 49 site-specific sculptures created by artists from Mexico City and installed throughout the park. In partnership, the garden included displays of plants native to Mexico and hosted programs inspired by Mexican culture.
Cantigny’s formal garden spaces include a rose garden; seasonal display gardens for annual and perennial flowering plants, woody plant collections, a hosta garden, a rock and gravel garden, a fountain display garden, a prairie view garden, pond garden, shade garden collections, a logarium, and an idea garden. All gardens and collections are supported by five (5) on-site production greenhouses and nursery areas, which total approximately 18,000 sf.
Position Summary:
The Director of Horticulture is a visionary leader with technical expertise and a long-term perspective. The Director will ensure the horticultural excellence of Cantigny Park’s gardens. The Director will help craft and implement strategic goals with measurable objectives to align with organizational values and ethos of continuous evaluation and improvement. This position will implement Cantigny’s refreshed strategic plan that elevates the gardens as a principal focus for engaging and educating audiences. The position will also bring inspirational vision, expertise in horticultural technology, and a fresh perspective on operational processes and methods.
The position coordinates, plans, directs, and leads all operations related to the Park’s gardens and horticultural displays. This includes direct supervision, mentorship, and advocacy of nine full-time horticulturalists and nine part-time and seasonal employees. While fostering interdepartmental communication, the Director also collaborates closely with other Cantigny staff.
Horticulture Operations
The Director of Horticulture is responsible for the development of innovative, diverse, ecologically appropriate, and sustainable plant displays and garden maintenance procedures that advance the Cantigny’s horticulture offerings to the next level. This goal is supported by, but not limited to, the following duties:
- Oversee the designs and maintenance for all Cantigny Park gardens, including IPM, plant replacement, and seasonal displays
- Oversee all greenhouse operations, production schedule, integrated plant management, and other uses
- Collaborate with the Natural Areas and Grounds team on the periodic renewal and replacement of trees and shrubs in the garden display areas
- Manage projects both new and restorative for the gardens – from design to installation
- Oversees plant documentation and curation programs for Cantigny’s Garden collections
Administrative
The Director of Horticulture is a passionate and inclusive leader who is an active listener, leads by example and promotes a creative workplace. Administrative duties include:
- Develop, schedule, coordinate, and execute all departmental budgets, and purchases, both operational and capital in nature
- Nurture the professional growth and skillsets of the Cantigny Horticultural Department Staff
- Collaborate with Human Resources on performance reviews, pay, and hiring
- Build and steward relationships with Cantigny volunteers, promoting learning as well as celebrating their contribution to the organization
- Manage and collaborate on internal and consultant-driven design plans for landscape improvements, while adhering to Master Plan design standards
- Training staff in all applicable areas of departmental safety including but not limited to the usage of personal protective equipment, proper operation of tools/ machinery, and proper handling of hazardous materials
- Documenting safety training completed by their direct reports and coordinating training requirements and accomplishments with Human Resources
- Regularly collaborate with and support other park directors (Facilities; Turf-Forestry-Natural Areas; Guest Services, Museum, Security) to facilitate an integrated delivery of Cantigny’s mission
Public Engagement and External Relations
The Director of Horticulture actively engages in public representation of Cantigny Park, exemplifying its mission, values, and goals in local, regional, and national public garden organizations and societies. This goal is supported by, but not limited, the following duties:
- Presents and attends conferences at local and national horticulture organizations and associations
- Builds relationships with other horticulture professionals and organizations
- Builds relationships with current and prospective product vendors and consultants
- Stays current with the latest horticulture advancements in the Midwest and national public garden communities
- Support Cantigny’s community outreach efforts through speaking, teaching, and tours
Overarching Leadership Qualities
Innovation and Change
- Curious and embraces opportunities to improve how we work
- Is open, flexible, and prepared to learn
- Create opportunities to reflect on experiences and/or practices to foster learning
- Learns from experiences, including mistakes
- Actively seeks and accepts feedback
- Creates a work environment that encourages creative thinking and innovation
- Comfortable with ambiguity
Inclusion
- Appreciate other perspectives informed by diverse identities and backgrounds
- Contributes to a climate of transparency and openness within the Foundation
Results-Driven
- Achieves exceptional results
- Has high personal standards of performance
- Has a sense of urgency, which is communicated to and influences other
- Keeps commitments and demonstrates follow through
Leadership
- Is optimistic and passionate about the future
- Leads by example, personally demonstrating the behavior expected of all
- Supports and celebrates the success of others
- Advances the vision, mission, and values of the organization
- Defines and communicates a clear purpose and direction
- Helps others understand how the organization’s vision and values relate to their work
Managing People
- Creates a culture where everyone is accountable for results
- Appropriately delegates tasks, authority, and responsibility
- Provides challenging assignments and opportunities for development
- Gives timely, specific feedback and effective coaching
Collaboration
- Outstanding listening skills
- Concise and coherent speaking, writing, and presenting
Organization
- Reliability
- Strong planning and time management skills
- Flexible
- Thrives in a dynamic environment
Supervisory Responsibility:
Responsibilities include - Hiring, budgeting, coaching, performance management, gaining cooperation and acceptance of ideas, and collaborating on significant projects. Requires a high degree of diplomacy, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to influence others in all types of positions. Identifies needs/concerns of others, determines potential solutions, resolves, or redirects appropriately.
Working Conditions:
This full-time position requires adaptation to diverse working conditions. While office work is performed within a traditional context, there are numerous duties, special events, projects, plantings, field monitoring, and scouting, which must take place outdoors. Summer heat, rain, cold winter temperatures and snow are all commonplace for the Director of Horticulture.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor of Science (BS) in Horticulture, Soil Sciences, Landscape Architecture, or related field.
Master’s Degree is highly preferred.
Experience:
5 years’ experience in horticulture or related field, preferably in a public garden setting with demonstrated supervisory experience. 7+ years’ experience preferred.
Expertise and Skills:
Expertise in one or more technical aspects of public garden horticulture, greenhouse production and/or garden design; interpersonal and leadership skills; staff and project management; budget management; public speaking; teaching; community outreach; additional language abilities desired.
Vaccination Requirement
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation requires as a condition of employment that all employees are fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) or have been approved for an accommodation based on a medical condition or conflicting religious belief.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Cantigny Park and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, individuals with disabilities, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital and housing status.
