Job description

Historic Seattle Horticulture Manager

Historic Seattle’s Mission:

Saving meaningful places to foster lively communities.

Position Summary:

Historic Seattle invites applications for the position of Horticulture Manager. Our Horticulture Manager will be responsible for taking exceptional care of and making improvements to all of Historic Seattle’s portfolio of historically important landscapes including trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals; formal and informal gardens; lawns, hedges, pathways, and containers; and orchards with apples, pears, Asian pears, and plums. Primarily focused on the grounds of the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford, the Dearborn House on First Hill and the Garden House on Beacon Hill, Historic Seattle’s Horticulture Manager will be responsible for overseeing and performing a variety of related duties. These duties include, but are not limited to, hands-on maintenance and improvement, project management and supervision, budget development and ownership, relationship and volunteer management, and teamwork. Our Horticulture Manager will successfully achieve these duties through exceling at multi-tasking, creative problem solving, time management, and cultivating a people-centric approach to the work. Our Horticulture Manager will be an individual who focuses on providing exceptional stewardship of historic landscapes and will have opportunities to build or polish an extremely diverse and valuable skill set in a positive, supportive, people-centric environment. The successful candidate will understand best environmentally friendly horticultural practices, plant materials appropriate to the nature and historic character of the gardens and landscapes. Training opportunities for certain technical skills may be available.

This is a rare opportunity for the right individual to be part of a dedicated team of like-minded professionals who tirelessly work to achieve Historic Seattle’s mission of saving meaningful places to foster lively communities.

Position Status:

This position is a full-time, exempt, salaried position, and reports to Historic Seattle’s Director of Real Estate. Candidate must be willing to work outside of normal business hours on occasion.

Compensation:

$50,000 – $60,000 annual salary, dependent upon experience; eligible for medical benefits, long term disability, holiday, vacation and sick days.

Essential Job Functions:

The responsibilities of the position break down into the following broad categories:

• Hands-on Maintenance and Improvement
• Project Management and Supervision
• Budget Development and Ownership
• Relationship and Volunteer Management
• Teamwork

Hands-On Maintenance and Improvement

• Maintenance activities include raking, weeding, pruning, mulching, soil preparation, watering, turf maintenance, staking, edging, sheering, selective pruning of woody and herbaceous plants, dividing, transplanting, and other maintenance tasks as necessary utilizing both hand and power tools in a safe and effective manner within a pesticide-free, organic landscape.
• Installation and care of historically appropriate ornamental horticulture.
• Repair and/or installation of sprinkler and irrigation systems.
• Maintenance of pathways including sweeping, blowing and cleaning.

Project Management and Supervision

• Identification of landscape needs, application for approval of major changes to the landscape from the City of Seattle, development of scope of work, management of on-site contractor / vendor activities and approval of contractor / vendor invoices for both one-time capital improvements and on-going maintenance activities.
• Offer constructive guidance and content expertise to Historic Seattle’s real estate team responsible for bidding and contracting activities not included within the hands-on maintenance and improvements outlined above.
• Coordination and supervision of work performed by outside contractors such as snow and ice removal and grass cutting.

Budget and Database Development and Ownership

• Develop annual budgets for each property within Historic Seattle’s portfolio.
• Stay within budget throughout the year, and if budget adjustments are required, prioritize, and adjust activities accordingly.
• Assist with the development of landscape focused critical need assessments for each property.
• Creation and maintenance of plant database.

Relationship and Volunteer Management

• Build and steward professional relationships with co-workers, community groups, tenants, neighbors, and Historic Seattle constituents.
• Proactively engage with and professionally respond to individuals, interest groups and Historic Seattle colleagues on landscape related matters, projects, and initiatives.
• As needs arise, help to recruit, train, and supervise volunteers interested and capable of undertaking various labor-intensive tasks.

Teamwork

• Lend content expertise to Historic Seattle’s real estate team specifically with activities and projects impacting the landscape including, but not limited to, hardscape improvements, site security, interpretative and wayfinding signage, site utility upgrades, and capital improvements to historic structures.
• Play an integral, team-oriented role with other Historic Seattle Staff and Council members as we foster a supportive organizational culture based on transparent communication and mutual accountability.

Other landscape maintenance duties as assigned and needed across Historic Seattle’s real estate portfolio.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ability to effectively self-direct and manage scheduled activities and seamlessly adjust and prioritize workflow when unexpected activities and emergencies occur.
• Must be able to work effectively and efficiently at multiple concurrent tasks.

Minimum Performance Standards:

This position requires the employee to be present on-site on a reliable schedule and to perform duties and tasks in a timely and autonomous fashion. It requires people skills and the ability to work well with a team. It requires independent thought and decision-making skills. Organizational events and activities will require evening or weekend hours from time to time.

Desired Qualifications and Experience:

• High School graduate or equivalent. 2-year horticulture degree at an accredited post high school program preferred.
• Three years of related work experience in horticulture and landscape maintenance.
• Demonstrable skill and experience safely and effectively performing hands-on maintenance and improvement related tasks.
• Ability to read and interpret technical manuals, schematics, site plans, renderings, and drawings, and to effectively communicate with technical professionals.
• Well-rounded understanding of and practical experience with the care and maintenance of typically prevalent plant species found throughout the region.
• Ability to repair and maintain typical landscape-oriented systems such as sprinkler and drip irrigation.
• Time management skills and experience independently managing projects of varied size and scope.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize competing activities, and meet required deadlines.
• Experience working within a team environment, pro-actively solving problems in imaginative as well as practical ways, and effectively communicating with other team members, constituents, contractors and vendors.
• Experience interfacing respectfully with people from diverse populations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in both verbal and written form.
• Proficiency with personal computers and common software applications, such as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Ability and willingness to travel to multiple locations in Seattle and surrounding areas daily. Personal vehicle, valid driver license and automobile insurance is required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, climbing, balancing, and the use of power and hand tools regularly throughout the day. The employee must frequently lift or move items over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of the position, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and to conditions typical of an industrial environment. The employee is occasionally exposed to precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

How to Apply:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please submit a cover letter addressing qualifications and interest in the position, résumé highlighting relevant experience, and at least three references.

The hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17, and the Washington Fair Chance Act, RCW 49.94. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain and correct background information.

More information about Historic Seattle can be found at www.historicseattle.org.

Historic Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants representing the diversity of our community are encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Seattle, WA 98103: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• gardening, horticulture, and/or landscape maintenance: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Preferred)

Work Location: One location

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