Job Summary
The Horticulture Senior Coordinator supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of horticultural practices under the direction of the Horticulture Program Manager. The role advances CNPS’s Landscapes for Change campaign, which envisions a future where California native plants are the default choice in landscapes. This position will blend technical expertise with hands-on execution, by developing and refining horticulture industry standards, resources, and program materials. The position includes both independent work - such as managing data and scientific materials - and task-level leadership, including coordinating volunteers, supervising contractors and vendors, managing schedules, and overseeing small-project budgets. This role plays a key part in the quality and effectiveness of Horticulture projects and programs currently funded into 2028.
What You’ll Do
Propagation & Native Plant Protocols (40%)
- Support the launch and maintenance of a public-facing database of California native plant propagation protocols.
- Ensure relevance and accessibility of all protocol materials for various audiences.
- Create new and update existing best practices from current industry professionals and published scientific resources.
- Lead data entry and content management volunteers.
- Coordinate integration of the finalized protocols into the Calscape database’s plant profiles.
- Support Spanish-language resources and accuracy reviews.
- Collaborate on California Native American tribes review of the protocols by California Native American tribal partners to ensure culturally appropriate resources.
- Organize and schedule meetings and provide volunteer support.
- Responsibilities may also include industry outreach to nurseries and growers, including prospective partners, and coordination of meetings or committees that support engagement across these sectors.
Partner, Chapter & Committee Collaboration (40%)
- Participate in CNPS Chapter Council committees and communities as needed, which may include, depending on background and expertise, the Invasive Species Committee, Wildfire Community, Chapter Horticulture Chairs Committee, and others.
- Provide general support to chapter members and the broader CNPS community, including responding to emails and phone inquiries, connecting members with relevant resources, and assisting with other day-to-day chapter needs.
- Support chapter plant sale activities which include providing technical assistance with Square or other sales platforms as needed.
- Identify funding opportunities and advise program leadership and Development team on task-level scoping and resource planning.
- Manage discrete projects, schedules, and deliverables.
- Lead volunteers and contractors on assigned tasks.
- Serve as a point of contact for volunteers and partners; coordinate speaking opportunities and public presentations with Public Affairs.
- Contribute horticultural expertise to grants, reports, and publications.
- Uphold CNPS’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all program development and outreach activities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Calscape Content Quality & Tool Integration (20%)
- Review and improve plant profiles in the database, including updating scientific and common names, geographic ranges, cultivation notes, and links to relevant industry care protocols.
- Manage and respond to incoming correspondence, including emails submitted through Calscape, and route inquiries to the appropriate contacts as needed.
- Review data across platforms and tools to ensure accuracy and consistency.
- Develop and review plant care guidance covering irrigation, pruning, mulching, soil health, and pest and disease management informed by integrated pest management (IPM) principles and aligned with goals for biodiversity and pollinator support.
- Assist with testing new websites, pages, and database features before public launch, identifying issues, and providing feedback.
- Review new and updated content to ensure it is accurate, clearly written, and useful to both a general audience and professionals.
- Collaborate on a review process with tribal partners to ensure plant guidance reflects culturally appropriate and community-informed perspectives.
- Coordinate meetings and scheduling, and provide support to volunteers, including occasional in-person participation at events or gatherings.
Physical Requirements
- This job is performed primarily in an office environment and may require prolonged sitting and the use of a computer and mouse. It may also involve occasional work travel, including visits to nurseries and growing sites where walking on unpaved surfaces, bending, and periods of standing or sitting to inspect plants may be required.
- These physical requirements are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Additional Information
- This is a full-time, non‑exempt position eligible for overtime in accordance with CNPS policy and applicable law.
- Standard working hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
- Some evening and weekend work may be required to meet deadlines or to participate in meetings and activities.
- This is a hybrid role based in Sacramento (CA) that supports remote work while requiring in-office participation for meetings and team activities. Preference will be given to Sacramento or Bay Area-based candidates or to those willing to relocate. We may expand consideration to other California-based candidates only if it becomes necessary to meet our hiring goals.
- Occasional travel within California is required.
Who You Are
Experience & Education:
- 4-6 years of progressively responsible experience in native plant horticulture, seed conservation/propagation, or land management, or restoration including documented contributions to technical projects, published materials, protocols, or guidance documents.
- Demonstrated experience conducting literature reviews, synthesizing practitioner input, and translating findings into applied guidance or standards.
- A bachelor’s degree in restoration ecology, botany, plant science, environmental science, or related field.
- Relevant experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis in lieu of a degree. For applicants who substitute experience for a degree, the total years of professional experience required for this role will increase proportionately.
Technical & Scientific Skills:
- Applied horticultural experience with native plant propagation techniques (e.g., seed handling, dormancy treatments, cuttings, divisions), supported by examples of past protocols, Quality Assurance/Quality Control processes, or production outcomes.
- Foundational-to-intermediate taxonomy and data‑standards skills, with the ability to identify and correct inconsistencies in plant profile data, ranges, or nomenclature; experience with native plant databases (e.g., Calscape) strongly preferred.
- Intermediate data analysis skills, including organizing and validating datasets, summarizing findings, and producing deliverables using productivity and collaboration tools; ability to provide work samples upon request.
- Demonstrated ability to develop or refine methodologies, workflows, or repeatable processes that improve accuracy, consistency, or quality of horticultural content.
Writing, Communication, & Public-Facing Skills:
- Strong writing and editing abilities, with demonstrated experience developing technical or educational materials for diverse audiences, such as protocols, cultivation guidance, public webpages, or training materials.
- Ability to translate complex scientific or horticultural concepts into accessible public resources, with examples of past publications, resources, or presentations preferred.
- Experience providing quality‑assurance reviews for multilingual materials, including Spanish-language content, is a plus.
Project & Task Leadership
- Demonstrated experience coordinating volunteers, committees, or contributors, with the ability to provide clear task instructions, monitor progress, and document outcomes.
- Experience working with or directing contractors or vendors at the task level, including tracking deliverables, timelines, or budgets.
- Proven ability to manage discrete projects - including scheduling, organizing information, and reporting on progress - within established parameters under the direction of a program manager.
Collaboration & Relationship Building:
- Experience collaborating with chapters, community groups, California Native American tribes, or partner organizations, with a commitment to respectful communication and shared learning.
- Ability to operate effectively in a remote work environment, using digital tools to maintain coordination, clarity, and accountability among dispersed teams.
Cultural Competence & Values Alignment:
- Demonstrated experience engaging with tribal partners, cultural experts, or community reviewers in a manner that honors Indigenous knowledge and protocols.
- A strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility, with evidence of integrating these principles into prior programs, outreach, or communications work.
Nice to Have
While CNPS recognizes that not every individual will exhibit all these characteristics, successful candidates will possess at least one - or more - of the following:
- Graduate degree in ecology, environmental science, botany, or relevant field.
- Fluency in Spanish.
- Knowledge of CNPS and familiarity with native plants and plant communities throughout California.
- Experience and knowledge of the native seed industry.
- Experience building trust-based relationships with Indigenous partners and communities.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Experience working remotely or in a hybrid work environment within a distributed team.
What You’ll Get
- Compensation: A starting hourly rate between $31.51 - $33.96.
- Reflecting CNPS's commitment to competitive, fair, and transparent compensation, we publish the full potential starting pay ranges for new hires and do not negotiate hiring bonuses.
- Performance Based Compensation Increases: Employees may receive up to a 3.8% performance-based annual rate increase.
- Health Insurance: 100% coverage of employee premiums for health (Kaiser or Anthem), life, dental, and vision insurance.
- Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with up to 6% matching contributions, available immediately upon employment.
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Options for a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), Dependent Care Account (DCA), and Transportation Savings Account (TSA).
- Paid Leave: 13 holidays, 12 sick/wellness days, and 10 vacation days.
- Parental Leave: 12 weeks of supplemental paid parental leave, after one year of employment.
- Work-from-Home Support: CNPS-issued laptop, a $750 home office stipend, and a $60/month telework stipend.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Comprehensive support for employees and their families.
- Professional Development: Annual budget of $500 and 32 hours for professional development opportunities.
- Team Building: Attendance at semiannual staff team-building events.
- Community: Complimentary CNPS membership.
- Meaningful Impact: Join a team where your work genuinely supports the planet – cape optional!
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