Full time, Exempt

To be considered for this position, submit the following items by email to: jobs@ruthbancroftgarden.org:

1. Resume

2. Letter of interest.

3. Works samples in an electronic portfolio.

Applicants without the above three items will not be forwarded for consideration. See job announcement on our website at: https://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/opportunities/

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Ruth Bancroft Garden (“Garden”) seeks a seasoned and passionate Design Services Manager to join the world-renowned Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California! The Ruth Bancroft Garden is a 3.5-acre nonprofit public garden known for its stunning dry garden design and exceptional plant collection. The Design Services Manager will demonstrate excellent leadership in promoting the Ruth Bancroft mission and managing the Department as a cost center generating revenue to the organization by providing exceptional customer service though high quality landscape design and consultation, and in teaching clients about climate-appropriate plants. The Design Services Manager will be an expert in dry gardening and dry garden design with particular emphasis on succulents and California Native plants that are exemplified in the Ruth Bancroft Garden collection. As a department head and part of the Garden leadership team, the Design Services Manager will work closely with the Executive Director to provide vision and foresight for the department and will possess excellent customer service, business acumen, staff management, writing skills, and graphic skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Management of Design Services & Designers

Manage a team of designers and their associated responsibilities
Create new design products
Manage new client requests, assign jobs to designers based on skills, style, availability, and location
Oversee department administration including pricing, contracts, advertising, outreach, marketing, brochures, signs, website, and payments
Prepare, forecast, and manage annual Department budget in collaboration with the Executive Director for annual adoption by the Board of Directors. Take primary responsibility to oversee adopted Department budget and periodically review and report on status of Department finances throughout the year.
Lead bi-monthly department meetings and support/collaborate with department designers
Oversee scheduling, manage personnel requests, client billing, and process payroll for the department
Conduct consultation services to clients and sell additional design services

Design landscape plans and provide consultative services

Provide consultative services on simple plant lists and recommendations
Draft custom computer-aided landscape plans, plant information, plant purchase list, and planting instructions
Collaborate with nursery staff on weekly orders, providing expertise on current and past trends to fulfill Design Service (DS) orders
Retrieve plants from Nursery inventory in support of design needs
Assist clients in the purchasing process from Nursery inventory
Facilitates Garden engagement by showing customers mature specimens, generate excitement, and bridge their experience between residential landscaping projects and the Garden & Nursery

Education and Outreach

Collaborate with Curator and other staff to assist with the development of classes as needed
Develop Dry Garden Design Classes on an as needed basis
Write course materials and curate images for both DGDCP and stand-alone classes
Provide class instruction for public programs and private speaking engagements
Enrich the visitor and client experience

Technical Skills and Knowledge

Business Acumen: Understands business implications of decisions; displays orientation to profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; aligns work with strategic goals.
Design and horticulture: Possess an eye for design, perspective, proportion, color, and scale; must be knowledgeable about the cultural needs of plants; must understand irrigation systems and sprinkler to drip conversion; must be knowledgeable about soil science and proper soil amendment; lawn removal knowledge and experience is preferred.
Project Management: Develops project plans; coordinates projects; communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and budget; manages project team activities.
Contract management: Prepares and negotiates contracts for design service contracts. Oversee contracts including invoicing, extra services, and contract closeout.
Managing People: Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; makes themself available to staff; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); fosters quality focus in others; improves processes, products and services; continually works to improve supervisory skills.
Consultative Selling: Qualifies potential customers; builds rapport and establishes trust; asks questions to identify client needs; applies product and market knowledge effectively; presents options and solutions that meet customer objectives; manages and documents sales process.
Customer Service: Maintains a high level of customer engagement with an ability to manage difficult or emotional customer situations; respond promptly to customers; meet deadlines; moves project forward.
Professionalism: Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments; grounded in honesty, integrity, credibility, commitment to quality, and dedication

Other Garden Duties

Work Garden events as needed including evenings and weekends.
Facilitate Garden engagement by showing customers and guests mature specimens, generate excitement, and bridge their experience between residential landscaping projects and the Garden & Nursery
Enrich the client and visitor experience

Administrative Duties

Prepare client proposals and contracts
Write clearly in email and letter formats
Reply to and track inquiries for Design Services
Answer calls, emails, and on-site inquiries regarding Design Services
Adhere to procedures, guidelines, and policies outlined by the Garden

Qualifications

2+ years professional experience managing landscape design staff in an office setting
5+ years professional experience working as a landscape designer under the direction of Senior Designer or Licensed Landscape Architect
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Landscape Architecture, horticulture, or similar field preferred. Candidate may also qualify with an Associate’s (A.A.) plus relevant experience.
Current driver’s license
Landscape Architecture License issued by the State of California is required.
Strong organizational skills and technological savvy
Strong computer literacy skills, including Vectorworks, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Slack, Zoom and general internet navigation.
Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Write routine reports and correspondence. Speak effectively before groups of customers or employees.
Excellent team leadership skills
Flexibility and willingness to take on and manage multiple tasks and responsibilities simultaneously
Passion for the mission of the Ruth Bancroft Garden
Able to work weekends and evenings as necessary and accommodate a flexible schedule.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job requirements and duties.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Manage a team of designers and their associated responsibilities.

Work Environment:

Work to be performed both indoors and outside, although mainly outdoors.
May be exposed to the elements
Ability to drive and travel by car to client and business meetings
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, and hear and use hands to handle or feel. The employee is required to stand and walk, often for extended periods of time out in the heat or cold, depending on the time of year. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. In addition to lifting, the employee must be able to carry items for some distance.

Benefits

Pay range based on skills and experience: $81,600/yr - $96,900/yr.
Benefits include three weeks paid time off (PTO), which increases after five years of service, 10 paid holidays, health insurance subsidy, 403b available with company match.

To be considered for this position, submit the following items by email to: jobs@ruthbancroftgarden.org:

1. Resume

2. Letter of interest.

3. Works samples in an electronic portfolio.

Applicants without the above three items will not be forwarded for consideration. See job announcement on our website at: https://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/opportunities/

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $81,600.00 - $96,900.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Paid time off
Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

Do you have experience in the use of Vectorworks Software?
Do you have exceptional knowledge of climate resilient plants and dry garden design?
Have you provided the required over letter and sent your completed submittal to jobs @ruthbancroftgarden.org?

Education:

Associate (Required)

Experience:

professional landscape design: 5 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

State of California Landscape Architect License (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Walnut Creek, CA 94598

The Ruth Bancroft Garden jobs

Landscape Design Services Manager

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