Senior Manager of Garden Partnerships

Title: Senior Manager of Garden Partnerships

Exemption Status: Exempt

Department: Windy City Harvest 

Reports to: Director of Operations

Year-Round, Full-time - Funded through a multi-year program contract (continued employment contingent on ongoing program funding)

Direct Reports: Horticulturist, Seasonal Assistant Horticulturist, McCormick Place Rooftop Farm Coordinator

Indirect Reports: Trainees

Year-Round Full-time employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are eligible for the following Benefits:

• 2025 Chicago Botanic Garden Benefit Guide - Year-Round Full-time

Compensation Philosophy:

At the Chicago Botanic Garden, our compensation philosophy is rooted in our core values: Growth, Understanding, Resilience, and Trust through Transparency. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and appreciated.

Our objective is to create compensation and growth opportunities for our employees that are highly competitive, internally equitable and transparent. The foundation of our efforts is a straightforward approach that can be easily communicated by managers with defined pay ranges for all positions. When posting job openings, we share the minimum salary up to the budgeted amount.

The starting salary for new staff members is determined by considering the salary range assigned to the position and by reviewing the candidate's qualifications for the job as compared with job responsibilities. Prior work experience should be considered in determining the salary offer, provided that it is relevant to the job. Additional factors such as secondary language proficiency or advanced degrees that enhance performance may also be considered. A candidate's salary may exceed the minimum amount based on factors such as experience, additional skills (e.g., secondary language proficiency), or pertinent degrees that enhance the individual's contribution to the role but are not required. Opportunities for increased compensation are provided through referral bonuses, shift differentials, Thank You Pay, promotions, and periodic pay increases based on the Garden's overall performance and financial budgets.

Our total compensation and benefits package is people centric. We prioritize employee wellness across three pillars: physical, mental, and financial. Our goal is to offer innovative total rewards that support continuous professional growth, personal development, and provide the flexibility needed to balance personal and professional commitments.

Position Overview:

The Senior Manager of Garden Partnerships serves as the Chicago Botanic Garden's primary leader and main point of contact for two of our external partnerships: the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) and the McCormick Place Rooftop Farm. This role is the Garden's representative in these partnerships, responsible for strategic relationship management, operational excellence, and ensuring that both sites reflect the highest horticultural, educational, and sustainable standards expected by our partners and the public.

Responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for the following:  

Primary point of contact and strategic lead for the Obama Presidential Center, cultivating and strengthening a robust, collaborative partnership with OPC leadership and staff.Develop the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit & Vegetable Garden annual design and lead its operational implementation. Ensure the operational use of organic and sustainable methods of gardening through weeding, watering, crop rotation, deadheading, fertilizing, planting, transplanting, pruning, winterizing, trellising, releasing beneficial insects, removing debris, etc.Facilitate quarterly meetings with OPC staff aimed at fostering a positive relationship between both organizations and achieving the goals of the annual plan in accordance with the contracted agreement. Maintain ongoing communication with facilities staff at OPC.   Work with the director of operations to develop and manage the budget of the OPC garden and McCormick Place Rooftop Farm. Supervise Rooftop Farm and maintain relationship with its hospitality operator.Hire, train, coach, evaluate performance of staff; prioritize and assign work to meet partnership deliverables.Ensure the proper selection, ordering, planning, and coordinating of annual and permanent displays. Plan, coordinate, monitor, and implement maintenance programs to ensure proper care, growth, and development of the plant displays.Develop and implement the integrated pest management program for the gardens and keep accurate records of pesticide applications.Ensure the labeling of all plants for display in a timely manner.Serve as a horticultural resource for the Obama Presidential Center.Support Windy City Harvest program, providing work experience for trainees from August through October.Ensure the harvesting and packaging of vegetables is in compliance with Good Agricultural Practices and food safety standards. Ensure submission of progress reports to OPC, McCormick Place, and Windy City Harvest.Attend Windy City Harvest department meetings.  

Qualifications
 Our ideal candidate will have the following:

Associate's degree in horticulture or equivalent experienceMinimum five (5) years of professional experience in horticulture, landscape management, or urban farming, or commensurate experienceAt least five years of staff supervisory experience or comparable experienceMinimum two years of experience managing and tracking budgets, including proficiency in ExcelProven success/ability in building and maintaining high-level external partnerships or client relationships Strong knowledge of sustainable growing practices Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable representing the Garden to executive-level stakeholders with the ability to interact effectively across all levels via email, phone, video meetings, and in-personFamiliarity with post-harvest handling and food safety standardsAbility to lift up to 50 pounds and work in all weather conditionsValid driver's license with a clean driving recordAbility to work both independently and collaboratively to manage site productionProficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and Outlook

Physical Demands: 

This role involves frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, listening, and public speaking. Candidates must be able to work in all weather conditions and perform tasks that include lifting, pushing, and pulling items up to 50 pounds. Daily responsibilities include operating small farm machinery, using post-harvest handling equipment, and completing written documentation. The position also requires regular use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, scanners, and fax machines.

Why Apply? 
 Come work in a setting that is like no other as you support our mission: We cultivate the power of plants to sustain and enrich life. Take the first step toward being one of the employees who make the Garden one of the treasures of the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Apply today. Please note that applicants who do not meet the required qualifications will not be considered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of personnel so classified.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Chicago Botanic Garden does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs or activities, including in employment or admissions. Please call to contact our Title IX coordinator should you have questions or concerns. Please do not call this number to inquire about job postings or the status of your application, or with solicitations from companies or third-party recruiters.

---