At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences.
Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do – from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies.
At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity.
Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture.
Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community.
Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community.
Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection.
Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles.
About the Role
Working under the supervision of the Superintendent of Gardens and Grounds, The Head Gardener oversees the Entrance and EVC (Education and Visitor Center) gardens, ensuring they remain vibrant, welcoming, and educational spaces for visitors. This role combines hands-on horticulture with leadership and collaboration across departments including assisting with the coordination of staff and volunteers and activation of educational activities related to these gardens and collections.
The Head Gardener should demonstrate experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Essential Duties
Planning, planting, cultivation, quality control, and appreciation of collections that constitute the EVC/Entrance.
Garden Maintenance: Oversee daily care and upkeep of the EVC and adjacent areas (bus drop-off, Celebration Garden, Stroll Garden, Rose Hill Garden Court), ensuring they remain clean, safe, and visually appealing
Adheres to written safety policy, follows all precautions and directions in use of equipment (hand and power tools) and chemicals and promotes a culture of safety among staff and volunteers.
Communicates continually with the Superintendent of Gardens and Grounds concerning planting, projects, construction, propagation, and management.
Supports the process for bed design updates and plant palette changes, proposing ideas and ensuring they move through the appropriate approval channels and that all associated plant accessioning and labeling are completed accurately.
Develop and propose bed design updates and plant palette changes, ensuring proper accessioning and labeling for all collections.
Coordination with other staff to expand collections educational and interpretive value, including the Gardens Director, Associate Director of Cultural Programs, Researchers, Senior Project Manager for Botanical Gardens, and Interpretive Manager, as well as staff from other Divisions, such as Advancement, Education, and Communications.
Work with Gardens interpretive and signage staff to address need for appropriate signage, placards, and illustrative support, from physical signage to digitally available information.
Leads in the development and maintenance of a volunteer program targeted to assist in EVC upkeep and evolution.
Coordinate volunteer activities and programming that inform and enlighten the public.
Furthers commitment of role through horticulture classes and seminars.
May perform other related duties as assigned.
Candidate Requirements and Experience
Knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Knowledge of Mediterranean climate plant care, pruning, and planting required. Must be able to perform weed and pest control; basic irrigation knowledge preferred.
Capacity to work outdoors, performing hands-on garden and plant care tasks.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to give public presentations and train volunteers.
In-depth knowledge and practical skills related to plant collections, propagation, and maintenance.
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and record-keeping abilities.
Able to take initiative while collaborating effectively with supervisors and coworkers.
Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally and perform physically demanding horticultural work.
Formal training in botany, biology, ecology, horticulture, or related field preferred.
2-4 years of landscape design or public garden experience preferred.
Experience with plant accessioning, labeling, and collection management.
Spanish proficiency desirable.
Demonstrated ability to contribute to long-term garden planning, design updates, and plant palette changes.
Commitment to conservation, sustainability, and maintaining high horticultural standards.
Competent in the proper use of hand tools, blowers, edgers and other powered equipment as required. Trained in specialized equipment such as chainsaws, weed whackers, hedge trimmers, etc.
Working Conditions
Works outdoors in all weather conditions.
Must be able to lift 50lbs on a regular basis.
Compensation & Benefits
We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including:
Pay Range: $24.00- $26.00/hr. Commensurate on experience
Medical, Dental, Vision
403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
Hybrid remote work schedule available for applicable positions
Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays
Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants
Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions
Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds
The Application Process
Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume as a single PDF attachment.
You will have the opportunity to submit additional documents on the “My Experience” section of the application.