019126-Greenhouse Production Manager

Join a team that grows beauty, curiosity, and connection with nature every day! The Arboretum is seeking a passionate and skilled Greenhouse Production Manager to lead the operations of our vibrant greenhouse and nursery facilities. This role offers the unique opportunity to shape the living collections that inspire thousands of visitors each year-from stunning seasonal exhibits to educational displays and community programs. The ideal candidate will combine hands-on horticultural expertise with creativity, leadership, and a love for teaching and collaboration. As a key member of our mission-driven team, the Greenhouse Production Manager helps bring the Arboretum's story to life-cultivating plants, supporting education, and ensuring that every visitor experiences the wonder and care that define our gardens.

The primary purpose of Greenhouse Production Manager is to produce the bulk of herbaceous plant material that is used on the property. The nursery is also a part of the production facility providing propagation and support of trees and shrubs. This work unit also maintains responsibility for the perennial border, cut flower bed, and the interior plant scape management for the Visitor Education Center, Baker Exhibition Center and the Support Facility as well as curation of the Baker Exhibit Center Display Greenhouse. These duties include all aspects of curation and management from design conceptualization to plant installation and upkeep. In addition to daily and seasonal duties, this work unit participates significantly in several special events during the year by providing opportunities to connect people and plants through both revenue-producing and education experiences. The targeted production of plant material for daily retail and annual market sales is the responsibility of this position.

The primary responsibility of this position is the management of daily operations for the greenhouse and support facility, ensuring that all of the project goals set for the greenhouse and nursery unit are met. This responsibility requires daily management and supervision of Greenhouse assistants (both temporary and permanent personnel) and volunteers. The primary duties of this position include scheduling and projecting plans for the Arboretum, managing greenhouse and nursery operations, overseeing daily care for the plant collection, and fulfilling specific educational and public relation components involving the greenhouse and nursery. This position offers assistance to the Education Department through providing workshops, lectures and phone calls. The accuracy of the information presented by this position is how the Arboretum builds its reputation with the surrounding community.

Horticulture Planning and Production

Horticulture Exhibit Research, Planning, Production and Installation

This position maintains the primary responsibility of planning greenhouse crops relative to garden exhibit design and season. Planning involves research into varieties, making recommendations and working in collaboration with the Horticulture Department and garden designers. This position is also responsible for planning plant production as requested by the Director of Horticulture and coordinating the production of plants to be utilized for interior scaping, Baker Exhibit Greenhouse, container gardens and for various special events. This process will include researching crops, time needed to produce the crop and scheduling requirements as well as determining the most efficient means of production for each particular crop (i.e. seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, linters or pre-finished plants). Responsibility for determining the best potting soil, fertilizer and container for each crop, light requirements, pesticide requirements and ordering of these materials is a primary responsibility of this position. Following extensive research and planning, this role will be responsible for overseeing the watering of greenhouse plants, daily visual inspection and evaluation of plans for cultural needs, fertilizer calculation and formulation. Routine tests to monitor soil nutrition and pH in addition to plant diagnostics are key functions of the Greenhouse Manager. Responsibility for proper identification of harmful insects and their life cycles and using beneficial insects and bio-controls to thwart them is also required. This role must also develop and maintain an organized seed inventory, propagate from seeds and cuttings using various techniques, operate two walk in coolers that include environmental greenhouse control. Curation for an exhibit greenhouse that features changing themes will be the Greenhouse Production Manager's responsibility. This will include planning, installation, interpretation and daily oversight to the quality of the exhibit. This position also provides floral arrangements for special events.

Technical System Management

Greenhouse security and operation is paramount to the Greenhouse Production Manager's role. This should include acknowledging and responding to alarms regarding greenhouse security, finding the cause and solving alarm issues. Likewise, system management relating to heating, cooling, screen operation, thermostats and corresponding logging of data is the requirement of this position. Maintenance of equipment including cleaning, equipment inspections and cleaning is vital including vehicles, greenhouse floors, monitoring boxes, relay stations and sprayer maintenance. The Greenhouse Production Manager must also design and install automatic watering systems and upkeep the maintenance of these connections. Light maintenance of the Greenhouse coolers, nursery buildings (including winter protection), air conditioning equipment, cold frame structures is necessary.

Education & Outreach

The Greenhouse Manager will work with other agencies and businesses within the industry by providing expertise, participating in continuing education and assisting with industry relevant conferences and symposiums. Professional education planning and coordination will involve like agencies, companies and interested publics including greenhouse tourists. This role will also make presentations to media, garden clubs, and professionals in the field of Horticulture, visitors, plant societies, board members and a variety of other groups. This position also answers plant related web inquiries and phone calls. Education components include proper plant labeling for the Exhibit Greenhouse, floral arrangements, centerpiece baskets, and interior plants using proper Latin names for all plants. Interpretative information for the Exhibit Greenhouse is often required.

Staff and Volunteer Supervision and Training

This position will organize and direct work of personnel from hiring to job maintenance and separation. This will include duties such as scheduling, developing short and long term planning task lists, and holding staff meetings. This position maintains responsibility for the supervision of and training of all permanent staff members, temporary workers and volunteers. These responsibilities include developing a working schedule for staff, temporary workers and volunteers including holiday and weekend watering duties as well as inclement weather support. Duties for the Production Manager also include assigning tasks through various communication channels, setting deadlines and setting performance management standards to align with organizational goals and directives. In the overall administration of the greenhouse and nursery, this position is responsible for making recommendations as to the structure of the department. Job descriptions, position designing and review of job responsibilities is a part of this position.

Administration

As a manager, this position will have active participation in budget development and management, purchasing and inventory, provide safety reviews, and participate in Arboretum team programs as well as professional development for the staff. This will require financial management responsibilities including annual budget management, financial management of expenditures, recordkeeping and monitoring. The Production Manager is responsible for maintaining several safety procedures including posting signs for closing of the greenhouse when needed, supervision of the security of the support facility each day, maintaining safe pesticide storage in compliance with NCDA and OSHA regulations, changing the water in emergency eyewash stations on a monthly basis and stocking the first aid box in the support facility. This position will also provide training to staff and volunteers regarding pesticide handling, proper use of personal equipment and re-entry intervals. This position secures community partnerships to strengthen Arboretum relations while receiving donation of in-kind products as well as monetary support. Administrative support is provided by this position to the Senior Director for Mission Delivery in the production of the yearly seasonal Landscape Exhibits book and in plant selections.

Required competencies include:

Knowledge: Technical
To be successful, position candidates must be technically accurate in crop scheduling, dealing with pesticides, fertilizers, soil mixes, watering labeling, transplanting, sowing, pruning, entering information into database systems, changing control panel settings and using equipment. Errors made in the greenhouse can have significant consequences and attention to deal is required. The Production Manager should have a high level of horticulture expertise including plant growth, habits and care as well as general knowledge of overall nursery operations and management including tools and equipment, techniques and procedures in seed collection, site preparation and nursery production. All aspects of the principles of plant propagation and management along with the effects of environment, nutrition and technical factors on plant growth are essential knowledge. Experience with Integrated Pest Management and other techniques is preferred. The Production Manager must be willing to research and attempt a wide range of solution-based techniques to solve problems.
Communication:
Excellent written and verbal skills to communicate with industry leaders, lead adult education classes and tours, interact with executive management, other managers, employees, volunteers and the public are required. This position must also have the ability to read and understand complex labels on chemical, fertilizer and pesticide containers and then translate those needs to employees and volunteers. Negotiated issue management is a necessity as coordination occurs between the greenhouse and other Arboretum departments to maintain a cordial and productive working environment through professional communication channels. Frequent interface is also necessary with other industry professionals and suppliers to develop a support system and properly represent the Arboretum.
Physical Environment and Abilities:
The incumbent must be able to move a work load of 50 pounds of force occasionally. Typical activities include moving plants from one building to another, lifting bags of potting soil, mixing fertilizers, using ladders to place decorations, pulling water hoses in the greenhouse, digging and planting with at least 60 percent of total work time involving some kind of physical activity. The Production Manager will be exposed to much direct sunlight, heat and humidity, cold temperatures, machinery can make it a noisy environment and this role spends a significant amount of time standing on hard surfaces. Lifting, climbing ladders, squatting, twisting, using sprayers, walking on a variety of surfaces, digging, planting and exposure to the elements is commonplace. This role requires highly physical, finite visual attention skills, a high level of mental concentration and manipulation.

About the Team
The primary purpose of Greenhouse Production Manager is to produce the bulk of herbaceous plant material that is used on the property. The nursery is also a part of the production facility providing propagation and support of trees and shrubs. This work unit also maintains responsibility for the perennial border, cut flower bed, and the interior plant scape management for the Visitor Education Center, Baker Exhibition Center and the Support Facility as well as curation of the Baker Exhibit Center Display Greenhouse. These duties include all aspects of curation and management from design conceptualization to plant installation and upkeep. In addition to daily and seasonal duties, this work unit participates significantly in several special events during the year by providing opportunities to connect people and plants through both revenue-producing and education experiences.
The targeted production of plant material for daily retail and annual market sales is the responsibility of this position.

Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills
Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in horticulture, crop science, or a closely related curriculum and two years of greenhouse experience in the propagation and care of plant materials or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Certification by the North Carolina Pesticide Board as a Licenses Pesticide Public Operator is require as is a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

Management training and experience is preferred. All new supervisors are also required to complete a three-day EEOC workshop as part of the position training.

• Classification: Horticultural Specialist
• Position Competency Level: Advanced
• Position Number: UNCSO-A19126
• Employment Type: SHRA
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
• Recruitment Salary Range: 48000-56650
• Location: 100 Fredrick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806 USA
• Posting Open Date: 10/6/2025
• Posting Close Date: 10/20/2025

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To claim veteran's preference, all eligible persons must indicate their eligibility as requested on the application. A DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, may be required later in the selection process.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Human Resources Contact Information
Applicants needing assistance with the application process are asked to contact: recruiter@northcarolina.edu.