Director, North Carolina Botanical Garden
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications and
nominations for the position of Director of the North Carolina Botanical
Garden, whose mission is to inspire understanding, appreciation, and
conservation of plants in gardens and natural areas and to advance a
sustainable relationship between people and nature. The Garden
(http://ncbg.unc.edu/) had its beginnings in the early 1900s with the
development of a teaching collection of trees and shrubs that later became the
Coker Arboretum. The Garden now comprises more than 1,000 acres and includes
the Display Gardens and Allen Education Center, the Coker Arboretum, Battle
Park, Mason Farm Biological Reserve, UNC Herbarium, and a number of natural
areas in Chapel Hill and surrounding areas. It serves as a leading resource
for expertise on native plants and wildflowers, promotes plant conservation,
protects and restores natural areas, and provides access to well-maintained and
beautiful gardens. The Garden, which employs 28 permanent and 31 temporary
staff, is supported by the affiliated Botanical Garden Foundation and hundreds
of volunteers.
The Director is responsible for overall leadership and management of the North
Carolina Botanical Garden and for ensuring that the Garden fulfills its mission
in research, conservation, plant collection, public education, and university
instruction in the context of the University's tripartite mission of teaching,
research, and public service. Specific responsibilities include the following:
. Strategic planning and fundraising. In collaboration with colleagues from
the Garden, University, Botanical Garden Foundation, and community, the
Director gathers information on institutional and public priorities,
establishes a shared vision and purpose, and stimulates responsive and
innovative conservation, horticulture, research, education, and outreach
initiatives. The Director works closely with Garden staff, University
Advancement staff, and members of the Botanical Garden Foundation to identify
and gather-through major fundraising initiatives-the resources needed to
fulfill the Garden's mission and strategic priorities.
. Program and resource development, implementation, and evaluation. The
Director ensures that the Garden serves as a leading center for research and
education on the flora, horticulture, and plant communities of the Southeast
and oversees a varied set of programs and resources dedicated to that goal,
ensuring that priorities are set and projects are managed efficiently and
effectively. These include educational programs for schoolchildren, university
students, professionals, and members of the public; opportunities and programs
for volunteers; and resources and opportunities for researchers.
. Outreach and partnership development. The Director sees that the Garden
serves the local community, the state, the Southeast, and beyond by providing
programs, expertise, knowledge resources, and access to gardens and natural
areas. Collaboration is a hallmark of the Garden's work; consequently, the
Director establishes and nurtures partnerships with public and private
organizations and individuals to further the Garden's mission and goals, always
with attention to the inclusion of diverse constituencies.
. Fiscal, administrative, and operational oversight. The Director is
responsible for sound financial management of the Garden and its programs,
promoting the financial wellbeing and economic stability of the Garden, and
securing resources through which the goals of the Garden are accomplished. The
Director oversees budget preparation, fiscal practices, and financial analyses.
He or she also oversees management of the lands under the Garden's
stewardship. The Director effectively organizes and supervises employees, sets
priorities, cultivates teamwork and open communication, promotes diversity,
fosters a culture of scholarly engagement and service, evaluates performance,
and provides opportunities for recognition, training, and professional
development.
The position requires significant experience and achievement in leadership and
administration in a botanical garden or similar institution; extensive
knowledge of plant ecology/biology, horticulture, and the multi-faceted mission
and activities of a conservation garden; and a minimum of a Master's degree,
with doctorate strongly preferred. The successful candidate must demonstrate
many of the following qualifications: visionary leadership; strong managerial,
fiscal, and administrative abilities; an understanding of academic culture,
policies, and procedures typical of major public research universities;
experience with academic outreach and community engagement; demonstrated
fundraising ability and entrepreneurship; excellent communication skills;
ability to forge strong collaborative relationships with faculty,
