Director of Horticulture and Landscape Operations

Full-Time, Exempt

Position Overview:

The Director of Horticulture and Landscape Operations is a full-time, exempt position within the Gardens and Landscapes Department and reports to the Executive Director of Gardens and Landscapes. The Director provides leadership, management, and oversight for Mount Vernon’s gardens, grounds, and greenhouse operations, ensuring that these resources are maintained to the highest standards of horticultural excellence, historical authenticity, and environmental stewardship.

As a key member of the Gardens and Landscapes leadership team, the Director works closely with the Executive Director to implement departmental priorities, advance departmental and institutional strategic goals, and support the preservation, interpretation, and stewardship of George Washington’s historic estate. The Director oversees the managers responsible for Horticulture, Grounds, and Greenhouse operations and is responsible for planning, budgeting, staffing, and day-to-day management of the horticulture, grounds, and greenhouse divisions.

The Director serves as a leader, collaborator, and ambassador for Mount Vernon’s gardens and landscapes, fostering cross-departmental partnerships and helping to ensure that the estate’s landscapes contribute meaningfully to preservation goals, educational initiatives, visitor experiences, and the interpretation of George Washington’s agricultural and environmental legacy.

Compensation

$81,200 - $101,500 annually. The anticipated starting salary for this position will be determined based on the selected candidate's relevant experience, education, skills, certifications, and internal equity, in accordance with applicable law.

Essential Duties:

Leadership and Administration

• Provides direct leadership, supervision, and support to the Horticulture Manager, Grounds Manager, and Greenhouse Supervisor, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Establishes divisional priorities and performance expectations and ensures alignment with institutional and departmental goals.
• Recruits, mentors, develops, and evaluates staff, promoting professional growth and succession planning across assigned divisions.
• Facilitates communication and coordination among Gardens, Grounds, and Greenhouse teams to ensure efficient operations and effective use of resources.
• Promotes a positive workplace culture that reflects Mount Vernon’s values and commitment to excellence.
• Serves as acting departmental leader in the absence of the Executive Director, as delegated.

Operations and Stewardship

• Oversees the care, maintenance, and presentation of Mount Vernon’s historic gardens, ornamental landscapes, grounds, greenhouse operations, living collections, and managed natural areas.
• Ensures that horticultural and landscape management practices reflect current professional standards while maintaining the historical authenticity of George Washington’s estate.
• Oversees arboricultural programs and the care, preservation, and management of Mount Vernon’s trees and woody plant collections, including coordination with contract arborists and other specialized service providers.
• Supervises the planning and execution of seasonal horticultural displays, landscape enhancement projects, greenhouse production schedules, and grounds maintenance activities.
• Ensures appropriate documentation, inventory management, and stewardship of plant collections and horticultural resources.
• Ensures compliance with applicable safety standards, environmental regulations, institutional policies, and operational procedures across Gardens and Landscapes functions.
• Coordinates with other departments to ensure appropriate review and mitigation measures are undertaken before landscape projects or activities that may affect cultural resources.
• Monitors the condition of gardens, landscapes, and grounds and develops recommendations for maintenance, restoration, and enhancement projects.
• Oversees contractors, consultants, and vendors engaged in horticultural, arboricultural, landscape, or grounds-related work.

Planning and Budget Management

• Collaborates with the Executive Director to develop and implement divisional work plans, operating budgets, capital priorities, and staffing plans in support of departmental objectives.
• Develops annual operational goals and work plans for Gardens, Grounds, and Greenhouse functions in support of departmental and institutional priorities.
• Monitors expenditures, staffing levels, equipment needs, and operational performance across assigned divisions and makes recommendations to support efficient and effective use of resources.
• Participates in long-range planning and supports the implementation and oversight of departmental capital projects, landscape improvements, infrastructure initiatives, and landscape stewardship efforts.
• Identifies opportunities to improve operational effectiveness, sustainability, and service delivery across departmental functions.

Visitor Experience And Interpretation

• Collaborates with Interpretation, Education, Guest Services, Operations and Maintenance, and Marketing teams to enhance visitor engagement with Mount Vernon’s gardens, landscapes, and agricultural legacy.
• Supports initiatives that expand the use and interpretation of George Washington’s gardens, landscapes, environmental stewardship practices, and agricultural innovations.
• Serves as a departmental representative in public programs, tours, lectures, media engagements, and special events as requested.
• Helps ensure that gardens and landscapes contribute meaningfully to a high-quality visitor experience and support Mount Vernon’s educational mission.

Institutional Collaboration

• Participates in cross-departmental planning, project teams, and institutional initiatives that advance Mount Vernon’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Collaborates with colleagues across the estate to support preservation, sustainability, visitor experience, and operational excellence.
• Supports institutional efforts related to data collection, assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Assists with donor cultivation activities, special events, and stewardship opportunities involving gardens and landscapes.
• Maintains active engagement with professional organizations and peer institutions to remain informed of emerging trends, best practices, and innovations in horticulture, landscape management, and public garden operations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in horticulture, landscape management, environmental science, agricultural sciences, historic preservation, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in horticulture, landscape management, public gardens, historic landscapes, arboreta, estates, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple operational teams, budgets, and complex projects, and communicating effectively with a range of constituents, including staff, supervisors, colleagues, and supporters.
• Sound knowledge of horticultural science, landscape management, arboriculture, greenhouse production, grounds maintenance, and environmental stewardship practices.
• Familiarity with garden and landscape history; knowledge of 18th-century American and British horticultural practices and landscape design preferred.
• Experience working in a historic site, public garden, museum, arboretum, estate, campus landscape, or similarly mission-driven organization preferred.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate staff, manage competing priorities, and foster collaboration across diverse teams.
• Strong budget management, project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing and managing annual operating budgets and capital project budgets preferred.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, donors, visitors, and professional colleagues.
• Professional demeanor, sound judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and the ability to represent Mount Vernon positively both on and off the estate.

Work Environment

Work is performed in outdoor and greenhouse environments with exposure to weather conditions, plant materials, and related environmental factors, including heat, cold, rain, and humidity. Exposure to pollen, dust, and various plant materials is common. The environment may be noisy due to equipment use. Tasks may be performed independently or as part of a team.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to move about garden and greenhouse spaces for extended periods
• Ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills (e.g., planting, pruning)
• Ability to position oneself (bend, kneel, reach) as needed
• Ability to move materials weighing up to 40 pounds

Benefits

• 403(b) Retirement plan with employer matching
• Employee recognition at 5 years of service
• Employee referral program
• On-site Library
• Employee Discounts
• Free Parking
• Health, Vision, and Dental insurance
• Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• Paid leave for sick time, vacation, and Holidays
• Flexible spending account for medical care

The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to building and retaining a team that represents a variety of skills, experiences, and perspectives. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, performance, and qualifications without regard to race, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, gender/sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, veteran and military status, family or parental status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.