Executive Director of Botanica, the Wichita Gardens

The City of Wichita seeks to hire an Executive Director for Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, a Division Manager position within the City’s Division of Cultural Arts and Services. This position reports to the Director of Cultural Arts and Services and works in collaboration with Botanica, Inc., the non-profit operator of the Gardens, and the non-profit’s Board of Trustees. The successful candidate will be an open-minded, diplomatic, collaborative, and creative professional who builds upon the Gardens’ historic strengths and record of success while motivating ambitious change and growth. Most importantly, the candidate will have a passion for the mission and programs of Botanica with an ability to inspire and engage others.  

Salary

$76,698.00 - $139,149.00 Annually

ABOUT BOTANICA

In 1982, the Wichita Area Garden Council joined forces with the City of Wichita with a unified vision to provide area residents with a center for horticultural enjoyment and education within a landscape garden setting.  Ground was broken in September of 1985 and in 1987, Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, opened to the public. Since its opening with four gardens and a horticultural library, Botanica has added 30 additional themed gardens and exhibits. 

This botanical paradise on the plains has expanded to 18 acres of stunning garden scaping that features more than 4,000 species of plants both native and new to the region. Also, on display is a collection of 50 elegant sculptures, flowing streams, fountains, and waterfalls that complement the beauty of plants, creating a visually stunning environment. 

Today, Botanica is known for exceptional gardens, including the Chinese Garden of Friendship, the Koch Carousel Gardens and Downing Children’s Garden, and as a premiere events space both for private and public events. Signature events include Illuminations, Tulip Festival, Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular and entertaining performances on the Dr. David and Mickie Brown Grand Lawn and Stage. Botanica has more the 6,900 members and an annual attendance of more than 300,000, making it one of the most-visited attractions in Kansas.

CITY OF WICHITA AND BOTANICA, INC PARTNERSHIP

The City has a unique, long-term public/private partnership agreement with Botanica, Inc., the not-for-profit corporation that is responsible for operating the Gardens and its programs, exhibits and activities, as well as the custody, care, maintenance and development of the land and garden improvements. Botanica, Inc., is a non-profit, scientific, and educational organization founded to foster, promote, develop, and operate the Gardens. It is governed by a 24-member Board of Trustees, including four City-designated positions.
 
The City of Wichita owns the land on which Botanica is located, as well as Botanica’s main building and other capital improvements. The City’s Division of Cultural Arts and Services provides management oversight to ensure development and improvements meet the deed covenants of the land. The City also provides financial and in-kind services and support as needed to maintain a park environment. 

ORGANIZATIONAL AND REPORTING STRUCTURE

The Executive Director of Botanica reports to the Director of Cultural Arts and Services and works collaboratively with Botanica, Inc.’s Board of Trustees. The Executive Director manages all positions – both City and Botanica, Inc., – for the most effective and efficient operation of the organization, facilities, and grounds. This position will work with Botanica, Inc.’s Board of Trustees in hiring and management of these positions.

QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES

The ideal candidate is an exceptional, visionary leader who understands the value of creating effective work teams, embraces diversity, builds employee and community relationships, and leads by example to drive organizational success. Leadership characteristics include: 

Catalyst for Change:  Action-orientated and has the ability to serve as a leading change agent for culture shifting and change management.

People leadership: ensuring the organization has the talent needed to achieve desired results and reflect the diversity of the community. The candidate will possess the intellectual depth, maturity, and skills to work effectively with all levels of City leadership, Botanica trustees, staff, donors, members, and visitors.

Strategic leadership: ensuring alignment around overall direction priorities, plans, objectives using data-driven strategies and decision-making.

Business Acumen and People Management Skills – understanding the financial and strategic aspects of the organization and know how to lead, motivate, and develop a team, fostering a positive work environment while achieving business objectives.

Stakeholder leadership: effectively cultivating and managing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. 

Examples of Work Performed

The work of this position is a coordinated effort with the Director of Cultural Arts and Services and Botanica, Inc.’s, Board of Trustees. The Executive Director: 

• Assumes full financial and operational management responsibility for a $4M budget, 50-60 staff, volunteers, visitor services and activities on an 18-acre site with gardens/exhibits/structures. 
• Plans, implements, manages, and evaluates all aspects of the business and daily operations. Coordinates efforts in matters of short- and long-range planning, expansion, membership, publicity, programs, fundraising, grants, sponsorship, etc. Prepares administrative and financial policies and procedures for approval.
• Leads and assists in the development of organizational vision and future development of Botanica to include City capital improvements. Plans land use, expansion, operational growth, and changes in future delivery of services.
• Manage educational programming regarding plants, landscapes, ecosystems, and the understanding of and appreciation for the natural environment. 
• Follows all City policies and procedures in include operations, City employment, days of operation, and life/safety policies and procedures. 
• Works closely with Botanica’s Board of Trustees in all areas of responsibility to insure continuous communication and transparency.  
• Develops annual organizational goals and objectives and a strategic plan. This includes planning, directing, and coordinating long and short-term goals; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures with staff. Reports to both Director of P&R and Botanica Board.
• Oversees the research, planning, implementation, financial performance, and evaluation of all annual events, exhibits, and activities. Sets and maintains the annual master calendar.  
• Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the Botanica, Inc. budget that is approved annually by its Board of Trustees. Also, advises on the City’s financial and maintenance operations.  Forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; secures funding, sponsorships, contributions, and grants; approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate; allocates resources responsibly to maximize financial performance. 
• Establishes service, volunteer, and staffing levels to fit the available budget while maintaining a safe environment. Recruits, hires, orients, trains, manages, evaluates, and terminates all staff of Botanica as necessary. Provides or coordinates staff training for employees to correct deficiencies; implements discipline when applicable. 
• Develops and implements professional human resource policies and procedures, including hiring practices, orientation, management, evaluation, professional development, recognition, advancement, termination, and records management/retention. Motivates and cultivates positive, productive working relationships with staff, utilizing open and frequent communication and feedback.
• Oversees development and implementation of a strategic and innovative volunteer plan that includes strategies for recruitment, management, retention, and recognition; understands the value of volunteers and the need to personally cultivate and recognize their efforts on behalf of Botanica. 
• Serves as principal spokesperson for Botanica. Explains and justifies programs, policies, and activities; responds, negotiates, and resolves sensitive and controversial issues, citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Provides quality public presentations and responds to questions from the community on Botanica and its activities on a regular basis. This position represents Botanica to the public, other City departments, elected officials, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and outside constituents. 
• Monitors and ensures that best horticultural practices are occurring inside the gardens, greenhouses and on exterior landscapes. Reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures with staff.
• The City of Wichita and Botanica Board of Trustees may assign other related duties as needed. 
• These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive. 

Requirements of Work

The successful candidate will possess the ability to:

• Advise and support the Director of Cultural Arts and Services as needed.  
• Work collaboratively with Botanica’s Board of Trustees to operate Botanica, including management of Botanica, Inc. staff.
• Work with the Division of Cultural Arts and Services to promote the department and Botanica.
• Develop partnerships and relationships with City staff and other organizations.
• Regularly report to the Director of Cultural Arts and Services and Botanica’s Board of Trustees on financial performance, operations, fundraising, marketing, staffing, programs, and activities, including successes and challenges.
• Ensure that the Board follows all financial requirements of law and regulation.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with City staff, Botanica’s Board of Trustees, employees, volunteers, donors, sponsors, corporate business leaders, other organizations, the public, and persons engaged in horticultural, education and development activities.
• Oversee development and implementation of a strategic marketing, advertising, and community relations plan, including social media strategies.  Enhance and analyze strategic marketing efforts to broaden impact, grow audiences, build brand awareness, and expand community participation.  
• Oversee and direct a dynamic development and fundraising strategy including, but not limited to, cultivating public and private funding sources, grant writing and grant management, sponsorships, corporate and individual donors, and building mutually beneficial partnerships across education, arts and cultural, environmental, and related sectors. 
• Utilize technology at all levels to improve data and communications, enhance the visitor experience, and implementation and utilization of new CRM platform.
• Use a computer to access, analyze, interpret, and record information.
• Help in the gardens physically with plantings or assisting the staff as needed.  
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Acquire and maintain a valid Kansas driver’s license and operate motor vehicles (car, truck, cart, etc.)
• An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Required Experience and Training

Required:  Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or related field. Three to five years’ experience serving as CEO, President, or Executive Director of a private, corporate, or non-profit organization or five to seven years as an Assistant or Deputy Director. Demonstrated experience in executive decision-making, financial management, strategic planning, administration, operational and project management. Excellent people skills at all levels, and a strong record of recruiting staff and/or volunteers, fostering a transparent and collegial work environment, and increasing effectiveness through established objectives, performance standards, quantifiable benchmarks, and mentoring. 

Preferred:  Experience managing a multi-million-dollar operating budget in a corporate or non-profit entity. Proven ability to personally cultivate, solicit, and steward individual and institutional donors at seven to eight-figure levels through diplomacy, collaboration, and creativity, and oversee a major capital campaign. Experience working with a dual operational structure. Special consideration will be given to applicants who have a high level of energy, creativity, people skills, event coordination, and experience in dealing with the public. Experience in public gardens or horticulture a bonus.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal record check.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading, and writing. The employee is also required to maintain physical condition necessary for operating assigned equipment, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending or sitting for prolonged periods of time and lifting to 45 pounds. Ability to make sound, logical decisions that directly impact the business. 

WORKING ENVIRONMENT 

Indoor, outdoor and greenhouse environment; confined working spaces; humid air. Exposure to radiant energy and inclement weather. Exposure to fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, and pest control agents. Work independently, irregular work hours including evenings and weekends.