Principal Horticulture Specialist

Description

Department: Buildings & Grounds
Location: Sunnyside – Harrisonburg
Reports to: Assistant Director of Buildings & Grounds
FLSA: Non-Exempt

Starting pay will vary based on job-related skills, experience, and qualifications

The Principal Horticulture Specialist plans, develops, and manages the therapeutic, aesthetic, and ecological landscapes throughout Sunnyside’s 150-acre, Arboretum-accredited Life Plan Community.

Working collaboratively with the Buildings & Grounds team, this position helps ensure the campus provides a beautiful, safe, sustainable, and welcoming environment that enhances residents’ quality of life and supports overall well-being.

The Principal Horticulture Specialist serves as a subject matter expert in plant health, landscape sustainability, horticultural practices, and landscape management. This position also supports resident engagement through gardening activities, educational programs, and collaboration with resident-led environmental initiatives.

• Develop and implement annual horticultural plans with the Assistant Director of Buildings & Grounds.
• Design, install, and maintain seasonal flower displays, perennial gardens, container plantings, and specialty landscape features.
• Monitor trees, shrubs, lawns, and ornamental plants and address plant diseases, pests, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental stress.
• Recommend and implement sustainable landscape practices, including water conservation, soil health initiatives, integrated pest management, and native plantings.
• Evaluate existing landscapes and identify opportunities to improve beauty, function, sustainability, and resident experience.
• Provide horticultural guidance and technical support to the Grounds Manager and Grounds team.
• Coordinate planting, pruning, fertilization, irrigation, mulching, and seasonal landscape maintenance.
• Train and coach Grounds staff on proper planting, pruning, plant identification, horticultural practices, and landscape maintenance techniques.
• Maintain gardens and outdoor spaces that promote resident enjoyment, connection with nature, wellness, and community engagement.
• Collaborate with the resident Green Committee on education, habitat needs, native plantings, and invasive species.
• Develop and facilitate gardening workshops, educational presentations, demonstrations, and other horticultural programs for residents.
• Assist with landscape improvement projects, renovations, master planning, and capital improvement planning.
• Maintain horticultural inventory and assist with budgeting and purchasing.
• Coordinate with landscape contractors, arborists, irrigation specialists, nurseries, vendors, and other external partners.
• Maintain records related to horticultural activities, treatments, projects, inventories, and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in snow and ice management operations as needed to maintain safe and accessible outdoor spaces.
• Follow all organizational safety policies, applicable OSHA standards, and federal and state requirements.
• Ensure the safe handling, storage, use, and application of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other horticultural products.

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Landscape Management, Plant Science, or a related field preferred.
• Three to five years of professional horticulture or landscape management experience.
• Experience managing ornamental landscapes, trees, shrubs, seasonal color programs, and plant health care.
• Experience supervising, training, or leading landscape or grounds crews preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of plant identification, plant health care, pruning, soils, irrigation, and landscape design principles.
• Ability to identify and diagnose plant…