Associate Director Of Student And Public Engagement, Marsh Botanical Garden

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Salary Range

$92,000.00 - $146,750.00

Overview

Reporting to the Director of Marsh Botanical Garden, the Associate Director (AD) of Student and Public Engagement strategically develops and executes the public and educational mission of Marsh Botanical Garden through the growth and expansion of our permanent plant diversity collections and student and public programming, fundraising, events, and tours. Through active collaboration with other Yale and community partners, the AD develops and oversees an ambitious and diverse array of programs that support engagement by Yale students and the New Haven community, and the use of garden collections as resources for education, student research, and public engagement. The AD will contribute significantly to the garden's role as a vital creative and intellectual force within the university and the greater New Haven community. This position facilitates campus and community outreach and develops programs to engage students, faculty, and the larger community around the collection, its greenhouses, and outdoor facilities including participation in community-wide activities with local educational and non-profit organizations.

1. Partners with the Faculty Director and the Associate Director of Research to conceive, develop and execute the strategic vision and programming for Marsh Botanical Garden (MBG), which includes Marsh Botanical Garden activities and collaborations with other universities, programs, public institutions, potential partners and research centers. 2. Fosters the integration of garden collections into teaching across the Yale curriculum. Develops collaborative relationships based on a broad view of how the garden can contribute to scholarly endeavors. Ensures maximum teaching opportunities are available by strategically partnering with faculty members from a wide range of academic departments and programs. 3. Leads and oversees the advancement and growth of the Marsh Botanical Garden community and educational programs. Directs the operations of various initiatives within Marsh Botanical Garden. Provides direction and leadership in support of the philosophy, mission, strategy, annual goals, and objectives. Assists with recruiting students to engage in MBG research and outreach activities. Facilitates both internal and external collaborations. 4. Identifies and pursues funding sources to support and grow teaching and outreach programming, which includes managing the lifecycle of this process from identification of funding sources, to grant writing and submission, and collaboration with necessary partners, including the Yale Peabody Museum and the Yale School of the Environment. 5. Develops and maintains successful relationship with Yale's development office to cultivate a community of garden supporters. Works directly with University donors. Interacts directly with existing donors to offer updates on current funded projects; works with existing donors on emergent projects and initiatives. Works directly with Yale alumni and alumni-facing initiatives. Develops MBG alumni network; works directly with alumni to support special projects, collaborations and research; develops and hosts programs for Yale reunions. 6. Supervises indoor and outdoor horticultural team to care for living plant collections, implementing sustainable gardening practices and integrated pest management. 7. Establishes and oversees a systematic plant record policy, including direction of the plant collection and accessioning policy and labeling in line with the MBG mission. 8. Manages and ensures maintenance of BG-Base and other relevant electronic collections records. 9. Coordinates proper climate control in the greenhouses, irrigation systems and maintenance of horticultural equipment collaboratively with University Grounds, Facilities and other appropriate entities. 10. Manages and ensures maintenance of the inventory of plant propagation and maintenance equipment and supplies and ensures that materials and equipment are ordered as needed. 11. Develops communication materials for the campus, the botanical community, and the public. Designs and produces brochures for the Marsh Botanical Garden and for program initiatives. Designs, writes, edits, produces and distributes newsletters and annual reports. Manages and provides guidance for the MBG online presence and initiatives, including content for the website, social media, and the production of digital publications. Designs and maintains websites for the Garden and individual initiatives. 12. Develops, manages and administers budgets for programs and initiatives, in partnership with the Operations Manager. Revises contracts and contract renewal processes as appropriate. 13. Establishes and maintains high horticultural standards and practices. Manages and develops the team of Marsh Botanical Garden salaried and hourly staff, volunteers, docents and student employees. 14. Maintains, and promotes positive and professional relationships with Yale faculty, students, administrators, internal staff, volunteers, members, vendors, contractors, and the general public. 15. Utilizing science background to represent Marsh Botanical Garden with Yale faculty and external scientific community. 16. Teaches topical classes as needed.

Preferred Education and Experience:

1. Ph.D. in Botany, Horticulture, Plant Science or a related discipline and relevant field experience; or Masters in Botany, Horticulture, Plant Science or a related discipline.

2. Experience with managing staff with a diverse range of technical expertise within a garden or museum setting.

Required Skills and Abilities:

1. Broad-based knowledge in garden management and/or educational programming.

2. A working knowledge of basic landscape maintenance, including various garden equipment, operations, troubleshooting and repair.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to safely and routinely lift 40 lbs., and to engage in manual labor of horticulture and to navigate and develop a hilly landscape.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Directs, monitors, and assesses needs and directs the application of resources of an administrative University office dealing with one or more major functional areas. 2. Directs and implements solutions to problems that are routine to complex in nature and that affect multiple functional areas of responsibility. 3. Plans and/or participates in planning University activities on a long-term basis to comply with University goals and objectives. 4. Establishes and implements consistent university-wide policies in multiple functional areas of responsibility. 5. Ensures that University office policies and procedures are in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. 6. Develops and monitors goals and objectives for managerial and professional staff in compliance with University strategies. 7. Directs a staff of exempt and non-exempt employees. 8. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Bachelor's Degree in related field and seven years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.

Job Posting Date

02/02/2026

Job Category

Manager

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Manager; Program Leader (26)

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

Hybrid

Location

227 Mansfield Street, New Haven, Connecticut

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role's grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.