Nursery Coordinator

Title: Nursery Coordinator

Type: Full-time (FTE), 40 hrs/wk, at will, exempt.

Compensation: Annual starting salary $52,000, plus benefits.

Workplace Location: Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden (Garden) in Captain Cook, Hawai’i Island

Employer: Friends of Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden (Friends). A 501( c)3 non-profit organization.

Application Deadline: Immediate acceptance of applications. Applications accepted until the position is filled. Interviews begin in February 2024.

Application Instructions: Email a cover letter, detailed resume, and contact information for 3 professional references to: mariemorin24@gmail.com.

The Friends are seeking an experienced Nursery Coordinator to lead the plant nursery operations at Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook. This position is focused on the propagation and distribution of native Hawaiian plants (including 20+ endangered Hawaiian species) and heritage canoe plants. In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing the nursery functions including tracking and ordering supplies, propagating plants and maintaining inventory, seeking and managing accounts, supporting plant sales, overseeing volunteers and interns, and responding to customer queries. This position works in close coordination with the Garden Manager and Horticulturist: these three positions are responsible for the integrity and management of the living collections in the entire community forest Garden.

The Nursery Coordinator is supervised by, and works closely with, the Garden Manager, and coordinates with other staff, interns, contracts, and volunteers on the Garden team as needed. To ensure success, an applicant should have a basic knowledge of native Hawaiian plants, horticulture, organization and maintenance of a healthy nursery ecosystem, and a passion for growing plants.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRIORITIES:

1. Oversees, maintains, improves, and expands the functions of the nursery as directed by the Garden Manager.

2. Propagates the Garden’s extensive collections of native, endangered, and canoe plants for Garden replacement as well as for sale or donation. Maintains an inventory of plants for public nursery sales, Garden events, and client requests. Maintains an overall nursery plant species inventory.

3. In coordination with the Garden Manager and the Horticulturist, decides which plant species should be accessioned into the Nursery and/or Garden proper, and which plant species should be removed from the Nursery and/or Garden proper. The Nursery Coordinator works closely with Laukahi (laukahi.org) regarding seed storage both on- and off-site and ensures that appropriate permits are in place for endangered plant species for seed collection, uses, and exchanges both in the Garden and with other organizations, groups, and individuals.

4. Recognizes and helps to control or eliminate insects and other pests or diseases that damage the plant collections and pose a risk to the Garden.

5. Maintains nursery irrigation systems, monitoring watering times, soil conditions and plant positions. Applies BMPs (best management practices) of plant production, fertilization, pest control, and growing techniques.

6. Works with the Garden Manager and other staff and volunteers to assure that all plants are accurately identified and correctly labeled as to Hawaiian common name and scientific genus and species.

7. Ensures that endangered species are properly tagged, labeled, and inventoried, and endangered plants sold or donated are properly logged for reporting under the State permits.

8. In coordination with the Garden Manager and Horticulturist, decides the plant list for Garden plant sales and events.

9. Orders nursery supplies, including soil and pesticides, in coordination with the Horticulturist.

10.Assists in nursery expansion as necessary.

11.Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

➢ Bachelor’s degree in agricultural studies, horticulture, or a similar field.

➢ 3+ years working in a plant nursery or similar setting.

➢ Detailed knowledge of plant propagation, soil, fertilizers, and growing techniques.

➢ Able to maintain stock of soil, pots, fertilizer, etc., for continuous nursery plant propagation. Familiarity with POS and stock ordering software systems.

➢ Computer literate with competency in Microsoft Office and other standard computer software.

➢ Excellent communication and management skills.

➢ Professional and friendly demeanor.

➢ Experience with training staff, interns, and/or volunteers.

➢ Ability to create work rosters and delegate duties.

➢ Responsible and punctual.

OTHER HIGHLY DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS:

➢ A working knowledge of Hawaiian plants and their cultural uses and significance.

➢ Excellent interpersonal skills and a passion for customer service.

➢ Planning skills for ongoing nursery expansion.

➢ Involvement and interest in local, island-wide, and State horticultural groups, societies, and trainings.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This job is a mixture of office work and outside plant nursery work. Must be physically fit and able to lift (or pull in a wagon) at least 30 lbs. for short periods of time. Must be willing to use some pesticides and be willing to wear PPE as needed. Includes walking over uneven ground and some exposure to inclement weather.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status. In compliance with federal law and as a condition of employment, all employees must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact Marie Morin at mariemorin24@ gmail.com.

BACKGROUND OF THE FRIENDS:

The Friends of Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is a community-based non-profit founded in 2016 that owns and manages the ethnobotanical Garden/Community Forest (Garden) located in Captain Cook, Hawaii Island. The Friends purchased the decades-old Garden in 2019 after several years of fund-raising and after several years of closure prior to the purchase. The grand re-opening of the Garden was held in February 2020, after which the covid pandemic caused partial re-closure. The Friends have been rebuilding the Garden’s programs since then. Several recent grants have provided an opportunity for us to hire an Executive Director to work in coordination with the Friends Board.

MORE ABOUT THE GARDEN:

The Mission Statement of the Friends is: “As stewards of the Garden’s legacy, we cultivate opportunities for everyone to enjoy our Hawaiian botanical and cultural resources through educational programs, scientific research, recreation, and conservation for the islands and the world.” The Garden’s deed now ensures that it will be preserved as an open green space in perpetuity. The Garden is the only federally designated Community Forest in the Pacific. The 13.6- acre Garden is home to many unique native and endangered Hawaiian plants as well as Polynesian canoe plants of cultural importance, living collections of kalo (taro) and other agroforestry cultivars, a large intact archaeological remnant of the Hawaiian agricultural Kona Field System, representative plant zone groupings, and a Hawaiian Heiau. The Friends have an evolving Strategic Plan, and planned programming includes providing educational, recreational, and research opportunities. Our website is www.amygreenwell.garden. Our Vision Statement is: “Ka mālama’ana I ka mo’omeheu. I mea e ola ai mai kēia mua aku. Preserving culture. So that there is life to come.”