ABOUT US

Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens (Foundation & Friends) is a not-for-profit organisation that supports the growth, sustainability and impact of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. This includes the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, the Domain, the Australian Botanic Gardens Mount Annan, and the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens Mount Tomah.

The recently renewed vision of Foundation & Friends is for ‘a thriving, connected community that leads fundraising and philanthropy to help the Gardens realise their vision’. That is the people, communities, institutions and industries that are informed and inspired by our Botanic Gardens, public spaces and the Australian Institute of Botanical Science. We aim to motivate them to recognise the importance of plants in their lives and to support their conservation.

It is an exciting time to be joining the team at the Foundation & Friends as a new 5-year transformative strategic springboard has been finalised with planned investment for future growth to support one of Australia’s oldest cultural institutions.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Growing Friends Plant Sales is an initiative of Foundation & Friends run by volunteers. It has been an important revenue generator for 25 years and is a much-loved volunteering opportunity for members. Plants are propagated and sold by skilled volunteers derived from the diverse living plant collections in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. Proceeds from plant sales help Foundation & Friends to support science, horticulture, conservation and education programs across three Botanic Gardens.

The primary purpose of Nursery Coordinator role is to work with and support the passionate and talented volunteer teams to scale up, innovate and improve the operations of Growing Friends Plant Sales.

The role will enable the volunteers to focus their passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm on propagating and growing plants. It will allow the Growing Friends volunteers to make plant sales more easily and effectively to the public. The Nursery Coordinator will be responsible for working with the Growing Friends’ Leadership Group to develop, implement and monitor a new Business Plan that will lead to further growth and improvement. This position will be the primary liaison between Foundation & Friends (Growing Friends) and the Botanic Gardens of Sydney staff who support and facilitate the production of plants in their three nurseries leading to the plant sales.

The role is to be undertaken between the three Gardens of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney. The time allocated between each will be determined by your own residential location and the needs of Growing Friends Plant Sales, with the majority of time at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Main Responsibilities:

Business Development

• Co-design, implement, monitor and evaluate the Business Plan.
• Develop improved systems, practices, and infrastructure.
• Research and implement suitable platforms for in-person (point of sale) and online sales, including production and inventory.
• Review and monitor pricing strategy.

Production, Facilities Management and Maintenance

• Assist with coordinating propagation of plants, as well as purchase of third-party stock.
• Support and oversee the management of plant selection, approval to propagate, stock control, distribution, plant care and maintenance.
• Ensure facilities are safe, fully equipped and have functional irrigation.

Administration

• Ensure good processes for plant and sales inventory tracking.
• Develop and monitor the annual budget for Growing Friends.
• Daily financial management systems and processes.

Customer Service

• Support training and systems that lead to good practice customer service, including at the sales desks and online.

Human Resources and Volunteer Engagement

• Determine the volunteer requirements of Growing Friends Plant Sales, with an aim to build capacity and coverage at all three Gardens. Assist the Volunteer Coordinator in preparing position descriptions, briefing sessions, recruitment, training, scheduling and retention.
• Coordinate regular meetings of Growing Friends Team Leaders and volunteers.
• Promote opportunities for the development of horticultural knowledge and skills to members of Growing Friends Plant Sales.
• Promote a safe working environment for the Growing Friends through the implementation and monitoring of the WHS system.
• Assist the development of a united culture within and across the Growing Friends’ teams.

Marketing and Communication

• In conjunction with the Communications and Marketing Manager, develop and implement the marketing and communication plan for Growing Friends Plant Sales.

Other Duties

• Take responsibility for Growing Friends compliance with Botanic Gardens of Sydney policies and procedures.
• Support and assist in other Foundation & Friends’ projects and activities as required by the CEO (or delegate) from time to time.

ABOUT YOU

Essential criteria:

• Qualification and/or over 3 years’ experience in the nursery industry, horticulture, plant nursery or a related field.
• Sound understanding and knowledge of the propagation of diverse plants and the development of a production nursery.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in sales, stock management and marketing, preferably in the nursery and garden industry.
• Ability to create a culture of exemplary customer service with a positive, engaging and approachable attitude.
• Understanding and/or experience of volunteerism.
• Excellent understanding of work, health and safety.
• Strong relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated computing skills, including database management and online marketing tools.
• Knowledge or/and experience of budgeting, banking, and risk management.
• Current Drivers Licence.

Desirable Criteria:

• Demonstrated experience in social entrepreneurship.
• Experience in paid or voluntary work for a not-for-profit organisation, especially within environment or cultural institutions.
• Experience working with rare and unusual plants.
• Current First Aid certificate.

For further information contact Pete Thomas, CEO at Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens, via [email protected] using the subject line: Nursery Coordinator - Growing Friends enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.