Horticulturist

Gunston Hall is a small museum with a highly collaborative, energetic staff dedicated to the power of place, historical objects, and storytelling to create meaningful experiences for visitors of all ages.  We offer an exciting opportunity for an energetic and action-oriented professional to join our team in the development, management, and interpretation of gardens and historic landscapes on our 550-acre historic site. Having recently adopted a twenty year Campus Master Plan and reconstructed the historic river-side garden at Gunston Hall, we are seeking a passionate and collaborative horticulturist with the vision, expertise, and ability to inspire, develop, and implement an active program of landscape restoration, maintenance, and education.

The ideal candidate will possess expertise in horticulture and landscape management, a compelling vision for the educational potential of gardens and landscapes, an enthusiasm for their work, a commitment to collaboration, a strong belief in the importance of ongoing personal and professional development, and knowledge of 18th-century horticulture.

Description of Duties

The horticulturist is a full-time, exempt-status position working within the education and guest experiences department under the direct supervision of the director of education and guest experiences.

Gardening: The horticulturist is responsible for 

• Taking the lead role in all garden and historic landscape work at Gunston Hall.
• Completing the implementation of the riverside garden planting plan.
• Ensuring that Gunston Hall’s horticultural work implements and reflects current best practices in the field and that the organization’s plant holdings and landscapes are documented appropriately.
• Establishing goals and providing daily technical and physical work to ensure the success of garden and historic landscape related activities.
• Adhering to the best care and management practices for planting, pruning, replacing, harvesting, seed collecting, and the overall care of a variety of flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs, trees, and shrubs. 
• Assuming responsiblity for amending the soil within the garden enclosures as necessary.
• Identifying, controlling, and treating weeds, diseases, and pests including the safe and proper use of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.

Working with others: The horticulturist is responsible for

• Expanding the volunteer corps; directly supervising volunteer and contractor gardeners, while fostering a climate of teamwork.
• Establishing and ensuring that workplaces are safe for all those helping in the gardens and that safe work practices are used.
• Supervising the timely harvesting of produce and as requested by the education and guest experiences department and the museum shop.
• Communicating with internal and external audiences about Gunston Hall’s garden and landscapes.
• Cultivating and maintaining professional relationships with other historic gardens and greenhouse facilities to exchange ideas and information.

Supporting the mission: The horticulturist is responsible for

• Conducting research on Gunston Hall’s gardens, plants, and landscapes including the sharing of findings with staff and the public through lectures, publications, tours, new media, and similar formats.
• Providing tours of the historic gardens and historic landscapes as needed.
• Interacting positively with visitors, answering questions, and giving directions.
• Working closely with the director of education and guest experiences to prepare the annual horticulture budget and work plan.
• Serving as the authority on Gunston Hall’s horticultural efforts, representing these initiatives and work to visitors, donors, the media, and the public at large.
• Collaborating with the executive director and development staff to raise funds necessary to complete needed horticulture initiatives and projects.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in agricultural sciences, horticulture, or a closely related field.
• Two to three years of progressive experience at a historic site, park, or comparable facility.
• Sound knowledge of the philosophy and fundamental principles, theories, and best practices of horticulture and landscape management.
• Demonstrated commitment and success engaging and educating the public.
• Ability to supervise and manage volunteers.
• Ability to work with staff of other departments and outside professionals.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong lines of communication.
• Ability to safely operate a variety of hand tools, power equipment, and gas-powered equipment (i.e. shears, blowers, chain saws, tractors, weed eaters, loaders, and trucks).
• Ability to obtain a Virginia pesticide applicator’s license.
• Ability to prepare and manage budgets
• Must be available to work weekends, holidays and evenings as needed.
• Ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Ability to work outdoors for long periods in various weather conditions.

This position is full-time, salaried, and classified as exempt. Compensation will be based on qualifications. Performance will be evaluated based on the achievement of collaboratively determined team and personal goals specific to the requirements of the position.

The mission of Gunston Hall is to stimulate the exploration and understanding of the principles expressed by George Mason in the 1776 Virginia Declaration of Rights.  Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a National Historic Landmark, Gunston Hall was built from 1755-1759.  The almost 6000 acre plantation was the home of George and Ann Mason, their children, and hundreds of enslaved people, indentured servants, wage workers, and tenant farmers.  Today, the site strives to tell the stories of these diverse people and how their stories contribute to our greater American narrative.  The physical plant includes the house called Gunston Hall; five reconstructed outbuildings; a visitor center, museum, event facility, and museum shop; an on-going restoration of the 18th-century garden, and 550 acres of diverse landscape situated along the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia.  For more information, please visit www.gunstonhall.org.

Gunston Hall is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply please send a cover letter and resume to Rebecca Martin, director of education and guest experiences, at rebecca.martin@gunstonhall.org.  Gunston Hall is an equal opportunity employer.

 Guest Services Representative

Gunston Hall is pleased to announce a part-time guest services position at an unparalleled historic site on scenic Mason Neck in Fairfax County, Virginia. We are seeking a candidate who is friendly, people-oriented, loves history, and is eager to share Gunston Hall’s story with visitors. Guest services staff divide their time between the visitor center and the mansion, and in some seasons guest services staff spend significant time in outdoor locations. Their responsibilities center on ensuring a positive and content-rich experience at Gunston Hall.

Specifically, guest services staff:

• project a positive image, serving as an ambassador for the museum;
• greet visitors, in a pleasant and welcoming manner;
• lead tours that are accurate and engaging for visitors of all ages;
• assist with the preparation for and implementation of public programs and special events;
• promote and relay accurate information about planned programs and events;
• monitor the museum exhibitions in the visitor center, period room installations in the mansion, and reproduction outbuildings;
• interact with visitors throughout their time on the property;
• answer telephones;
• schedule tours and special events;
• keep accurate records, including admissions records;
• reconcile cash and charge receipts;
• support other projects related to Gunston Hall’s educational mission.

The ideal candidate will be interested in history, solution-oriented, detail-oriented, able to adapt to changing circumstances, and committed to presenting Gunston Hall in the best possible light to teachers, students, program attendees, museum visitors, and other members of the general public.

This position reports to the Education Manager. It requires:

• excellent customer service skills;
• responsibility and trustworthiness;
• knowledge of basic office procedures;
• ability to read and write the English language and to understand, follow, and give oral instructions;
• knowledge of computers, telephone systems, audio-visual equipment, and cash registers;
• ability to reconcile cash and credit card receipts;
• ability to maintain an electronic calendar in order to schedule events;
• exhibition of professional manner and dress at all times;
• ability to multi-task;
• ability to lift up to 25 pounds.

Both weekend and weekday shifts are available; applicants should expect to work two to three days a week, including at least one weekend day. This is an hourly (wage) position, earning $10.87. It does not have health insurance, retirement or paid leave.

To apply please send a letter of interest, resume, and Commonwealth of Virginia application* to Lacey Villiva, Education Manager, at lvilliva@gunstonhall.org.

Applications are due by July 28, 2021.  We will begin reviewing applications as they arrive, therefore the position might close early.

Gunston Hall is an equal opportunity employer.

*To submit a Commonwealth of Virginia Job Application, please visit https://virginiajobs.peopleadmin.com/. You will need to create an account, fill out a draft application, and email a copy of the application saved as a pdf.