Royal Botanical Gardens

Position: Manager Horticulture
Organization: Royal Botanical Gardens
Location: Burlington/Dundas, near Hamilton, Ontario
Salary Range: $75,000.00 To $90,000.00 Annually

The Manager, Horticulture plays a key leadership role in stewarding the cultivated spaces of the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG). Responsible for daily staff operations and the care of diverse garden environments, this position ensures that RBG’s mission, vision, and values are reflected in every planting, pathway, and visitor experience.

Working closely with the Director, Horticulture, the Manager drives departmental goals and champions excellence across all horticultural practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide long- and short-term planning by partnering with the Director, Horticulture to set priorities, develop annual work plans, and establish operating procedures.
• Maintain a unified aesthetic vision across all garden areas, serving as a creative resource for staff and collaborators.
• Plan and manage budgets for maintenance, equipment, technology, and operational improvements.
• Allocate resources effectively to support departmental priorities and organizational goals.
• Lead and mentor a diverse horticulture team—including horticulturists, gardeners, seasonal staff, and students—through recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Support and guide volunteers to ensure they are well-trained, engaged, and contributing meaningfully to garden operations.
• Foster a respectful, collaborative environment through clear communication with staff, volunteers, and visitors.
• Promote professionalism and teamwork to strengthen morale and productivity.
• Ensure regulatory compliance by conducting procedural training, maintaining documentation, and enforcing safety standards.
• Champion a safe work environment for staff, volunteers, and guests.
• Oversee horticultural operations including seasonal displays, plant collections, turf care, pest management, and water feature monitoring.
• Ensure gardens remain vibrant and visitor‑ready through timely planting, maintenance, and aesthetic upkeep.
• Collaborate with Operations to maintain irrigation systems, equipment, fleet, and supply inventories.
• Support event logistics by coordinating materials, schedules, and staff assignments for seasonal and special events.
• Strengthen organizational alignment by integrating horticulture initiatives with broader RBG priorities.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure horticultural expertise enhances programming, events, and visitor engagement.
• Stay current with horticultural advancements and sustainable practices to elevate garden impact and environmental stewardship.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills

• Extensive horticultural and botanical expertise gained through formal/informal education and hands‑on experience.
• Strong design sensibility with the ability to apply horticultural knowledge to create compelling, cohesive landscapes.
• Deep understanding of plants suited to southern Ontario to support resilient, sustainable garden environments.
• Experience leading teams in a unionized environment, including recruitment, coaching, and performance management.
• Knowledge of safety procedures and regulatory standards to maintain a safe and compliant workplace.
• Financial planning and budgeting experience to ensure responsible stewardship of departmental resources.
• Exceptional leadership and mentorship abilities to build high-performing, collaborative teams.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills to coordinate complex operations and meet deadlines.
• Effective communication and relationship‑building to engage staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in resource and budget management to support efficient, sustainable horticultural operations.
• Valid driver’s license for travel between garden sites.

Please submit applications to rbg.ca/careers/ by January 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Please submit your cover letter and resume as one pdf file saved using the naming convention of your first then last name and position title (e.g Jane Smith Manager Horticulture.pdf).

 

RBG is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable accommodations are available under the Accessibility for Ontarians Act.

We thank all applicants however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance our recruitment process, ensuring efficiency and fairness. AI helps us review applications consistently, match skills to job requirements, and streamline communication. All decisions are guided by human oversight to uphold our commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity. If you have questions about the use of AI in this process, feel free to contact hr@rbg.ca .

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