our garden – Employment

Manager, Buehler Enabling Garden and Horticultural Therapy Services

PURPOSE: To plan, market, implement, and evaluate state-of-the-art collaborative programming both on- and off-site that positions the Chicago Botanic Garden as a premier resource in horticultural therapy, barrier-free gardening, and people-plant wellness concepts. Serve as spokesperson and leader for the professional advancement of horticultural therapy, the broader health and wellness applications of people/ plant relationships, and the design and programming of healthcare gardens.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:
1. Perform managerial duties including setting annual operating plans, budgeting and implementation, and program evaluation as well as the personnel functions of hiring, performance appraisals, training, counseling, and assigning work.

2. Insure that the design, programming, interpretation, evaluation, and maintenance of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s state-of-the-art Buehler Enabling Garden for people with disabilities serves as a demonstration and teaching garden exhibiting barrier-free gardening designs, tools, techniques, and therapeutic plants for people with disabilities, older adults, and their caregivers, while meeting earned- revenue targets.

3. Ensure that the off-site contractual therapeutic services to the Chicago area health care/social service industry advances therapeutic goals and/or improves the quality of life of the participants and meets earned revenue targets.

4. Develop, market and evaluate a series of intellectual properties including fact sheets, activity plans, books, videos, audio tapes, CD-ROM, etc. to position the Garden as a premier resource in horticulture therapy.

5. Design, market, and evaluate educational opportunities for professionals including workshops, conferences, certificate programs, internships, and study tours.

6. Serve on interdepartmental planning teams that advance institutional initiatives.

7. Identify potential funding sources and, in cooperation with the Development Department, produce grant proposals and make presentations to donors that support horticultural therapy and wellness-related programs and support writing of donor reports.

8. Cooperate with Public Relations & Marketing to publicize the Horticultural Therapy programs and resources.

9. Cultivate external partnerships and relationships with organizations, agencies, and individuals who offer resources and collaboratives useful to Horticultural Therapy; negotiate all service contracts for Buehler Enabling Garden and Horticultural Therapy Services.

10. Lead advisory board and focus group meetings for the program that gain insights for program planning and evaluation.

11. Submit papers to conferences, offer consultations, write articles, and speak on Horticultural Therapy to the profession and elevate the Garden’s profile as a premier resource.

DEPARTMENT: Community Programs

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Community Education Programs

SUPERVISES: Horticultural Therapist; Horticultural Therapy Assistant; Coordinator, Buehler Enabling Garden; Volunteers; Interns; Senior Supervisor, BEG horticulture, professional education and consulting

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY:

COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS: All departments, American Horticultural Therapy Association, AABGA, American Association of Museums, Allied Health Professions, Regional Medical and Social Service sector.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Advanced degree in horticultural therapy or horticulture with coursework in behavioral sciences/Allied Health. Five years management/supervisory experience directing Horticultural Therapy Program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Knowledge of health care/social service industry, people with disabilities, and therapeutic plant materials essential. Strong writing and public speaking skills. Ability to use word processor. Licensed driver insurable by the Horticultural Society.

February 25, 2009