Director [University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, St Paul, MN]

Description

Director, University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (MLA) is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) at the University of Minnesota. The MLA is one of the top visitor attractions in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and an important part of the culture, education, and economy of the Twin Cities and the Upper Midwest. It serves a broad audience with more than 400,000 visitors annually and 24,775 members in 2015. The MLA consists of almost 900 acres of unique public gardens including 32 display and specialty gardens, 12.5 miles of garden paths and hiking trails, 48 plant collections, 5,100 taxa of plants, and 8 native and restored natural areas. World class exhibits, events, and innovative natural science and horticultural education inspire individuals of all interests and ages.

The MLA is a distinct budgetary unit. In FY 2015, the MLA had a budget in excess of $10 million, placing it in the top echelon of large public gardens in the United States. In 2015, the Arboretum had a year-round staff of 113 and an additional seasonal staff of 122. This professional staff is supported by an enthusiastic team of more than 900 volunteers annually. The MLA is also home to the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener program staff.

A strength of the MLA lies in its close ties to faculty research, teaching, and Extension activities in the Department of Horticultural Science. Faculty within the department have released over 100 cultivars of cold-hardy fruit and landscape plants with support through the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and the MLA. These research programs are unique worldwide in developing fruit and landscape plants suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4.

Director Responsibilities

Administration:

• Serves as the chief administrative and executive officer of the MLA
• Possesses leadership vision and ability for long-range planning to build and facilitate growth in public engagement, education and research programs, and staff development
• Provides direct leadership for all aspects of operations, development, research, human resources and finance
• Communicates effectively with staff, faculty, students, University administration, surrounding community stakeholders, donors, and public and private partners
• Interfaces effectively with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation, an official foundation of the University of Minnesota, which is the chief fund-raising organization for Arboretum programs, maintenance, endowment and capital expenditures to guide growth and development
• Fosters diversity within the MLA staff and their constituents

Fundraising and Advocacy:

• In collaboration with the University of Minnesota, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and the Department of Horticultural Science, advocates for gardens, plant collections, and physical resources of the MLA
• Represents the MLA to public and private stakeholders and visitors to enhance visibility and grow support for new and existing programs and operations
• Sets direction and works in partnership with the advancement director to engage in fundraising efforts including direct donor cultivation and events to grow donor support
• Develops and maintains key relationships with the Arboretum and University Foundations, local, regional, state, federal government and other granting agencies, private foundations and corporate charitable giving organizations
• Supports Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation advisory board members in strategic activities and allocates appropriate staff time to facilitate, train and engage the advisory board in fundraising and advocacy on behalf of the MLA
• Focuses existing resources to raise the funds required to maintain sound operations and facilitate the strategic plan in keeping with the goals of horticultural and organizational sustainability and community outreach and engagement
• Reaches out to strengthen and build engagement across a broad set of constituents with focus on underserved communities
• Serves as a leader in national public garden and museum associations to work collaboratively in elevating the stature of the MLA

Leadership Competencies:

Our search process will include a review and discussion of leadership competencies necessary for this position, specifically in the following areas:

• Inspiring Results – creating a culture of team work, innovation, accountability, high quality and service
• Setting a Vision – establishing and communicating a compelling direction and aligning resources with priorities
• Modeling Integrity – adhering to the highest standards of moral and ethical principles
  Promoting Engagement – building, respecting, supporting, sustaining and retaining high performance individuals and teams
• Boosting Collaboration – effective at engaging diverse individuals and groups, building consensus, valuing diversity and inclusion, influencing others, and problem-solving
• Shaping Accountability – maintaining high standards for self and team, personally demonstrating and fostering a strong culture of accountability

Requirements

Qualifications

Required:

• A master’s degree or higher in a relevant field including horticulture, landscape architecture, plant biology, business administration or a field related to public gardens
• Minimum of five-years of relevant experience in leading and managing complex organizations
• A significant record of accomplishments that include revenue generation, endowment building and fundraising success
• Demonstrated administrative and governance ability
• Demonstrated success in past job performance
• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skill
• Ability to forge positive collaborative relationships with diverse public constituencies, private stakeholders and business interests
• Documented competency managing complex budgets
• Documented experience with strategic plan development and implementation
• Documented engagement with diverse audiences
• Demonstrated public speaking experience

Desired:

• A proven record in arboretum and/or botanic garden management
• A Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in horticulture, landscape architecture, plant biology, business administration or a field related to public gardens*
• Significant professional experience in horticulture, landscape architecture or other plant sciences
• Experience leading and managing organizations with public research and education missions
• A strong understanding of scholarship in an academic institution
• Significant education or experience in business, organizational management, and educational administration
• Knowledge and experience with northern gardens

* Candidates with interest in and qualifications for tenure in an academic department are encouraged to apply and may be eligible for tenure at the University of Minnesota in a relevant academic unit.

Nature of Appointment:

This position is a twelve-month, academic and administrative appointment as Director. The position reports to the Dean of CFANS. The initial appointment is for three years with subsequent annual reappointment dependent on performance and outcome of regularly conducted administrative reviews. Salary is commensurate with experience and achievement.

Applications must be submitted online at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/employment/index.html. Search for job id 307669.  To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a 1 – 2 page letter of interest that includes a description of your leadership style and a vision statement for the MLA. In addition, a current curriculum vitae and the names and contact information for three professional references are requested. Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your “My Activities” page and uploading documents there.

Review of applications will begin on March 8, 2016. The position will remain open until filled.