Director, Administration

Full-time days; willingness to work weekends and evenings as needed.

Pay Rate Range: $95,000.00 to $, depending on experience.

Location:

Salt Lake City, UT.

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West, a regional center for plant‑based science education, conservation and research, and cultural enrichment. As part of a state arboretum that encompasses the University of Utah campus, the Garden cultivates an essential urban forestland of over 2,000 trees in 456 different taxa. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and consists of over 20 acres of developed gardens and approximately five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive 80‑acre natural area.

Community‑funded, the Garden is renowned for its diverse plant collections, themed gardens, and spectacular mountain setting, with over 600,000 springtime blooming bulbs, award‑winning horticulture‑based educational programs, and an iconic outdoor summer concert series. Guests come to the Garden for a myriad of reasons: to connect with nature, to participate in cultural programs, concerts, and wellness activities, and to attend lectures, classes and workshops.

Innovative children’s education programs promote environmental sustainability, and educate the next generation of botanists and naturalists, while engaging classes inspire adults to remain lifelong learners.

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is seeking a Horticulture Director to oversee the comprehensive management and stewardship of its outdoor gardens and natural areas. The horticulture director helps advance our strategic goal of positioning the Garden as an industry leader by elevating the department’s expertise, increasing the visibility of its work, and deepening its impact on the field. This role ensures the department operates smoothly and professionally while maintaining a high level of horticulture expertise within the team.

The Director will effectively balance and align multiple garden priorities, including maintenance and care, as well as mission‑driven and revenue‑generating programs and events, while proactively supporting collaboration and minimizing conflicts.

• Lead efforts to position the Garden as a recognized leader in horticulture, amplifying the department’s work and impact through professional engagement and other public‑facing opportunities, and collaborate across departments to develop communications and programs that elevate the visibility and impact of the Garden’s horticulture team.
• Manage and oversee all aspects of the Horticulture Department, including the care and maintenance of themed gardens, natural areas, living plant collections, and departmental events and plant sales. Assign responsibilities and ensure all maintenance and horticulture practices align with industry standards and best practices.
• Uphold departmental goals, priorities, timelines, and safety protocols while promoting the efficient use of water and other resources.
• Ensure smooth departmental operations and foster effective collaboration within the department and with other Garden departments.
• Oversee all departmental personnel operations while fostering a positive and growth‑oriented work environment. Provide continuous support for staff development through coaching, training, mentoring, goal setting, regular feedback, and performance evaluations.
• Promote a safe work environment by ensuring all tasks are performed safely and that safety concerns are addressed in a timely manner. Ensure compliance with University of Utah Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) policies and procedures, and manage pesticides safely in accordance with EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and Department of Agriculture regulations.
• Ensure the continued relevance of the Garden’s living plant collections by guiding and supporting collection goals and objectives, overseeing care and development evaluations, and facilitating future acquisitions.
• Maintain Garden aesthetics and design standards by collaborating with administration and key staff to prioritize improvements and establish clear expectations. Ensure new designs align…