Landscape Director

Landscape Director Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to learn new skills and work with a great team. This position offers career growth and stability in an environment where the employees are highly valued. Advance your career and horticulture knowledge at The John Hay Estate at The Fells.

Organizational Overview 

The John Hay Estate at The Fells is a nonprofit organization nestled on the shores of Lake Sunapee in Newbury, New Hampshire. This exciting property is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is a preservation project of the Garden Conservancy. 

The Fells (a Scottish term for “rocky upland pasture”) is one of the finest examples of an early 20th century summer estate in New England. It fulfilled that function for three generations of the Hay Family beginning in 1891. John Milton Hay was Private Secretary to President Abraham Lincoln in the executive office and served as Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. The Fells has 84 conserved acres, which include a late 19th century Colonial Revival house, woodland trails, a walled garden with arbors, trellises, flowering trees and shrubs, neoclassical statuary, a rose terrace, 100-foot perennial border, a small apple orchard and a rock garden. Approximately 10,000 people visit annually, attend programs and events and enjoy the serenity of the site. (Website: www.thefells.org) 

Position Overview

The John Hay Estate at The Fells has initiated a search to fill the position of Landscape Director. This is a year-round, full-time position with peak hours in the spring, summer, and autumn; flex-schedule in the winter. The director will be responsible for hands on maintenance and preservation of the historic landscape following our mission, master plan and professional standards. 

The Landscape Director reports directly to the Executive Director and serves on the Landscape Committee. 

Primary Responsibilities 

Landscape Management: 

• Provide day-to-day management of key historic gardens and landscape
• Manage acquisition of plants and supplies, which may require driving to nurseries and suppliers
• Recruit and train staff, volunteers and interns as needed
• Supervise Nursery Manager, Landscape Assistant(s) and 1-2 interns during the summer
• Prepare projects for and supervise garden volunteers (twice a week)
• Supervise partner organizations to assure tasks are successfully implemente

Secondary Responsibilities 

Education/Outreach:

• Teach informative gardening classes and workshops
• Mentor staff and volunteers in their horticultural and professional development
• Serve as point person for landscape tours, symposia and other programs related to the landscape
• Cultivate positive relationships, build support, and elevate general understanding of our history and mission
• Follow our culture and core values while making decisions and solving problems
  • Serving others by listening and leading
  • Getting things done, together
  • Earning Trust in everything we do
  • Centering equity in all our work
  • Honoring the nonprofit workforce 

Competencies/Skills: 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for working with volunteers and staff
• Ability to identify and resolve problems in a collaborative manner in a team environment
• Strong project management skills
• Ability to operate and maintain power tools and landscape equipment required
• Focus on all things plant related using horticultural best practices for each task

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of five years experience in fine gardening and/or landscape management 
• Knowledge of horticultural principles, practices, and ecology
  • Knowledge of Northern New England native plants and rock, alpine, and woodland gardens
  • Ability to identify native, ornamental, and invasive plant species
  • Embrace working outdoors in all types of weather and ability to lift up to 50 pounds
  • Weeding is part of the job - ability to reach, kneel, and dig in garden beds

Administrative Requirements: 

• Developing and maintaining Landscape Department Budget using appropriate computer-based tools
• Writing skills are necessary to generate internal reports and articles for the Newsletter
  • Primary responsibility for the hiring and management of Landscape assistant(s) and 1-2 interns.