Horticulture Manager

Title: Horticulture Manager  

Location: Westminster 

Position Reports To: Senior Director of Horticulture 

Direct Reports: Gardener 

About Butterfly Pavilion:  

At Butterfly Pavilion, we transform the way people think about invertebrates. These small but mighty animals that surround us are so much more than people think. They are everywhere because everything depends on them. They are the hidden heroes of the animal kingdom. As the leader in invertebrate knowledge, inspiration and connection, Butterfly Pavilion works to foster an appreciation of these critical animals by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation. Whether it is providing unique, firsthand learning experiences in our exhibits and educational programs, conducting new research that sets the standard for zoos across the country or building innovative solutions for species and habitat conservation in countries around the world, Butterfly Pavilion is leading the way in ensuring invertebrates are protected for the future. 

Looking forward, we are committed to providing the most enriching experience for our audience, being recognized as a scientific authority, and being a leading educational resource on invertebrates.   

Our Core Values are a large part of who we are as an organization 

• Make Science Cool 

• Love What You Do 

• Go Above and Beyond 

• Lead Change 

• Know Your Stuff 

• Be Positive 

• Welcome All 

These aren't just words, but words to live by here at Butterfly Pavilion. 

FLSA Status & Classification:  Exempt | Full-Time 

Work Schedule: Onsite | Tuesday-Saturday | 40 hours per week 

• Must be willing to work early hours (4 am) to accomplish tasks before opening and one weekend day/ week 

Salary: $58,000-$60,000/year starting salary is based on relevant experience. 

Benefits: 

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life/AD&D, LTD, STD, and Employee Assistance Program. 

• Voluntary Life, ID Shield, Legal Shield, and Pet Insurance plans available. 

• Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan with employer match. 

• Paid holidays, vacation, sick time. 

• Two personal holidays per year. 

• Butterfly Pavilion Membership and 25% Gift Shop discount. 

Position Summary:  

The Horticulture Manager leads the care, maintenance, and ongoing enhancement of Butterfly Pavilion’s indoor and outdoor plant collections, displays, and landscapes, including a 7,000 square foot tropical conservatory and over 10 acres of outdoor landscape.  

This role is responsible for maintaining plant health and aesthetic excellence across the organization’s living collections while ensuring compliance with applicable organizational, local, and federal requirements. The Horticulture Manager oversees horticulture operations, project planning, plant health monitoring, and recordkeeping, while providing day-to-day leadership, coaching, and performance management for horticulture staff, interns, and volunteers.  

This position works cross-functionally with internal teams to support Butterfly Pavilion’s mission, guest experience, animal care priorities, and conservation efforts.  

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:     

Plant Collections Management 

• Oversee the care and maintenance of Butterfly Pavilion’s diverse plant collections, including tropical plants, annuals, grasses, perennials, bulbs, woody plants, and wetland plantings.  

• Lead the installation of plantings on site, maintenance, and seasonal care of on-site plantings, gardens, and nature trails. 

• Maintain all foliage and plant stock within Wings of the Tropics and other exhibits to support plant health, visual presentation, and exhibit goals.  

• Evaluate and diagnose plant stock health issues and treat them as appropriate.  

• Collect and evaluate phenology, pest management and other pertinent health records for Butterfly Pavilion’s plant collections. 

• Partner with the Curatorial team to support USDA and AZA compliance requirements, animal health priorities, and habitat needs.  

• Recommend plant additions and collection enhancements aligned with Butterfly Pavilion’s mission, exhibit goals, and operational requirements.   

• Contribute horticulture expertise and content for interpretative materials, educational programming, tours, workshops, and classes.  

• Develop and maintain the off-site greenhouse propagation program to support exhibit displays, forage and browse needs, and conservation initiatives.  

Operations, Planning & Project Management 

• Support departmental and organizational goal setting through participation in leadership planning and cross-functional collaboration. 

• Develop project plans, timelines, budgets, risk considerations, and communication approaches for horticulture initiatives. 

• Coordinate horticulture projects and operational needs with internal teams and external partners.  

• Communicate operational priorities, updates, and relevant organizational information to direct reports.  

• Identify opportunities for operational improvement, efficiency, and long-term sustainability of horticulture programs and assets.  

Team Leadership & People Management  

• Lead day-to-day horticulture operations, including task prioritization, work assignment, and project execution.  

• Supervise, coach, and develop direct reports through clear expectations, regular feedback, performance management, and professional development support.  

• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and positive team culture.  

• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and performance evaluation processes for horticulture team members.  

• Provide leadership and oversight for interns and volunteers working within horticulture functions.  

• Ensure volunteers and interns have appropriate training, resources, supervision, and meaningful development opportunities.  

• Build realistic timelines and staffing plans to support operational and project success.  

• Manage vendor and contractor relationships related to horticulture operations and projects.  

• Address performance concerns in alignment with organizational policies and practices. 

Community Engagement & Organizational Collaboration  

• Collaborate with departments across Butterfly Pavilion to support programs, exhibits, guest experience initiatives, and organizational priorities.  

• Represent Butterfly Pavilion in public programs, community events, and professional settings as appropriate.  

• Help cultivate strong relationships with vendors, community partners, and mission-aligned collaborators.  

• Support guest engagement by answering horticulture-related questions and sharing expertise when appropriate.  

• Identify opportunities to expand volunteer and intern engagement in meaningful, mission-aligned ways. 

Qualifications & Experience:    

Education 

• This position requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in horticulture or related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirements. 

Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Minimum of five years of horticulture experience, preferably in public horticulture, botanical gardens, museums, zoos, aquariums, or similar mission-driven environments.  

• Prior supervisory or team leadership experience required.  

• Demonstrated experience in tropical horticulture and greenhouse management required.  

• Working knowledge and practical application of integrated pest management required.  

• Experience managing multiple priorities, projects, and operational workflows in a dynamic environment.  

• Strong plant diagnostic, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.  

• Ability to lead teams effectively through coaching, accountability, and development.  

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments.  

• Experience working with volunteers and/or interns preferred.  

• Familiarity with USDA and AZA standards or similar regulatory/compliance environments preferred. 

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:     

While performing the responsibilities of this position, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the position will encounter. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.  

At Butterfly Pavilion, the employee is occasionally exposed to moderate to loud environmental noise for extended periods of time. While performing the responsibilities of this position, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and stand, and use their hands and fingers, to handle/feel/grasp. The employee is required to reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is expected to perform tasks requiring lifting and carrying, digging and raking, and repetitive motion.  Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee should be able to lift, carry, and items up to 50 lbs. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to high humidity, intense sunlight, heat, cold, wind, precipitation, and uneven surfaces. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles. This position may have to occasionally run small machinery. This employee should expect some exposure to chemicals such as rubbing alcohol, herbicides, and vinegar.  The Horticulture Manager will be regularly exposed to a variety of living invertebrates.  

Employee must have an up-to-date Tetanus vaccination. 

How To Apply: 

Candidate must submit Resume and Cover Letter. 

No phone calls or drop-ins please.  

Butterfly Pavilion is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages people of all backgrounds to apply for open positions and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or veteran status.