Leadhand (Curator) Botanical Conservatory

:
The **City of Thunder Bay** provides exceptional quality of life to those who live, work, and play in Thunder Bay - a culturally vibrant, economically diverse community with a metro population of over 120,000. Located on the north shore of Lake Superior, under the protective watch of the Sleeping Giant, Thunder Bay is rich in people and resources, and connects Northwestern Ontario to the world. We value our high quality of life and promote a clean, green, beautiful, and healthy community that provides economic opportunity, respects diversity, and provides affordable and safe neighbourhoods that are accessible to all.

The City of Thunder Bay is a place where art, culture and nature come together

Watch this video to learn more about our City at:
**Job Description**:
***:Under the general supervision of the Supervisor Forestry & Horticulture, supervises and maintains the operation of the Botanical Conservatory and designs, leads the production operations, and participates in maintenance of floral and shrub displays throughout the community.

**MAJOR TASKS**:

- Oversees and participates in the planning, designing, ordering and development of seasonal and permanent floral and shrub displays throughout the community.
- Responsible for the planning and technical direction of caretakers of the tropical display within the Botanical Conservatory.
- Works with, and provides technical direction, training and guidance to staff in all aspects of the operation of the new production Greenhouses and operations.
- Coordinates and assists in the operational delivery of the annual growing requirements for the parks gardens, low impact development (LID) projects and the Botanical Conservatory.
- Responsible for product and material procurement for the production greenhouses, Botanical Conservatory and Parks gardens.
- Leads and coordinates the development of projects in partnership with external partners; represents the conservatory at the implementation stage of partnerships.
- Provides public garden experiences that are valuable to the community and visitors.
- Coordinates and participates in the technical production and provides horticultural direction to conservatory personnel according to accepted industry standards.
- Coordinates and conducts tours of the Botanical Conservatory, along with developing tour content and scripts.
- Under the direction of the Supervisor - Forestry & Horticulture, schedules and assigns work to full-time and seasonal conservatory staff, supervises the work and maintains records (electronic and print) for all phases of work.
- Makes recommendations concerning the hiring, promotion, performance and discipline of staff.
- Participates in budget preparations and planning for the operation of Production Greenhouses, Parks gardens and Botanical Conservatory.
- Assists in scheduling staff vacations.
- Investigates complaints, meets with the public, finds solutions, and makes recommendations to the Supervisor - Forestry & Horticulture.
- Ensures tools and equipment are safely operated and maintained; assists with training where appropriate.
- Applies the principles of Integrated Pest Management throughout the Parks system and at the Botanical Conservatory.
- Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:
**Education/Experience**:

- Degree in horticulture or related discipline; and
- Three years related practical experience in horticulture and greenhouse production operation; or
- Diploma in horticulture; and
- Five years’ related practical experience in horticulture and greenhouse production operations; or
- Landscape Horticulturist Red Seal Journeyperson (CLT Designation), along with seven years’ related practical experience in horticulture and greenhouse production operations, including supervisory experience

**Skills/Abilities**:

- Proven understanding of horticulture and associated terminology to lead the design, plant production, and plant maintenance, of the Thunder Bay Centennial Conservatory
- Proven understanding of manipulating growth environments control systems, infrastructure and equipment
- Must possess the ability to instruct, direct, assign work, and provide guidance to employees
- Must possess the ability to instruct, direct, assign work, and provide guidance to employees
- Must be capable of issuing and accurately comprehending written/oral information and instructions, with the ability to make presentations and deliver training to a variety of audiences
- Proven experience communicating with staff and the public in a professional and tactful manner
- Must be reliable and have the ability to work with minimum supervision
- Must be at an intermediate skill level in word processing and spreadsheet software
- Must possess and maintain a valid Class "G" Ontario Drivers Licence, or equivalent
- Must meet the definition of a competent driver as defined by the Corporation

**Assets**:

- Integrated Pest Management Accreditation (IPMAP)
- Pesticide License;