California Native Plant Society
Director of Education and Horticulture
California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, California, United States, 95828
Overview
Join to apply for the
Director of Education and Horticulture
role at
California Native Plant Society . Department:
Education and Horticulture •
Location:
Hybrid: Sacramento, CA, USA •
Compensation:
$105,740 - $113,950 / year Application Deadline:
19 October 2025 Summary:
The CNPS Education & Horticulture Director leads innovative programs that advance CNPS biodiversity campaigns by connecting people with native plants, generating science on biodiversity benefits of native plant gardening to inform policy advocacy, and collaborating with native plant industry partners to advance shared goals. The director leads a department responsible for education, community science, horticulture, and restoration programming across CNPS and its 35 chapters. Key projects include CNPS’s Calscape platform, the triennial CNPS Conference, coalition-building within the native plant industry, and organization-wide education and community science projects. The director is a strategic leader, coalition builder, and ambassador for the urban biodiversity campaign, collaborating across CNPS teams, chapters, and external partners to integrate native plants into urban landscapes and transform the built environment. The role also involves building and supporting a cohesive education and horticulture team, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and guiding the development of educational tools and engagement practices that empower chapter volunteers. The director is part of CNPS’s senior leadership team and leads a skilled team of eight staff, including two direct reports, delivering inclusive programming aligned with CNPS’s strategic plan and biodiversity campaigns. Responsibilities include educational programming, community science, and stewardship activities focused on native plant horticulture and habitat restoration. Additional Information Hybrid, full-time position (exempt). Standard hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, with some flexibility. What You’ll Do
Strategic and Campaign Leadership (55%)
Conduct strategic planning to align Education & Horticulture programming with CNPS’s conservation and urban biodiversity campaigns. Provide leadership for CNPS’s urban biodiversity campaign, including collaboration with public affairs and policy staff, coalition-building with native plant industry partners, and cultivating relationships with Tribal, academic, nonprofit and private sector collaborators. Develop concepts to guide discussions on developing a future CNPS Public Education Center. Organizational Leadership & Project Management (25%)
Lead annual departmental action planning and budget development. Direct the design and implementation of programming in education, community science, horticulture, and restoration. Mentor staff, partner with managers to define and track project and staff performance objectives, provide feedback, support professional development, and conduct performance reviews. Support the development and implementation of organization-wide project management processes. Establish protocols and lead culture-building to enhance internal collaboration and synergy. Strengthen staff and volunteer collaboration to support chapter activities. Fundraising & Grant Development (10%)
Collaborate with Development team and executive director to cultivate partnerships with foundations, organizations, and government agencies. Lead grant and contract development and implementation. Event & Conference Planning, and Other Responsibilities (10%)
Oversee planning and implementation of the triennial CNPS Conference (led by Education and Community Science Manager and supported by an external event planning consultant). Support other leadership tasks as directed. Who You Are
Strategic Leadership & Campaign Expertise
8 - 10 years of related professional experience, including 4 - 6 years in leading campaign planning and implementation. Successful track record in leading strategic initiatives and building diverse, cross-sector coalitions at local, regional, and statewide levels. Skilled in supporting or leading strategic planning processes and aligning programs with organizational goals. Project & Organizational Management
4 - 6 years of project management experience, including oversight of large-scale, complex programs. Ability to develop and manage action plans, program budgets, and performance tracking systems. Experience managing organizational change and implementing systems that enhance collaboration and operational efficiency. Education, Community Science, Horticulture, & Restoration
Background in education, community science, horticulture, plant or biological sciences, or related fields. Experience designing and implementing inclusive, accessible educational programming. Ability to engage diverse audiences through culturally relevant science communication and facilitation. Experience mentoring volunteers, interns, and junior staff; support capacity-building in community-based organizations. Familiarity with California native plants and plant communities. Team Leadership & Collaboration
4 - 6 years of supervisory experience; mentoring staff and supporting professional development. Strong interpersonal skills; ability to lead diverse teams toward shared goals. Experience fostering collaboration across departments and engaging volunteer networks. Technology & Communication
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to generate ideas and solve problems collaboratively. Proficient with Microsoft Office; experienced with Teams, Zoom, Slack; skilled in using project management platforms (Microsoft Project, Planner, Asana). Ability to train staff and promote best practices in tool usage. Equity & Values Alignment
Commitment to advancing DEIJ in environmental and educational contexts. Strong alignment with CNPS core values: interdependence, stewardship, partnership, scientific integrity. Dedication to removing barriers to nature education and expanding equitable access to native plant knowledge. Nice to Have
CNPS recognizes not every candidate will have all characteristics. Desired qualifications include at least one of the following: Graduate degree or higher in a relevant field. Experience conducting and publishing research in the natural sciences. Understanding of California’s conservation challenges and opportunities. Knowledge of local organizations and government agencies involved in conservation. Experience in marketing, advertising, or public policy. Experience and relationships within the native plant and/or seed industry. Experience building trust-based relationships with Indigenous partners and communities. Familiarity with CNPS. Fluency in more than one language commonly spoken in California. Experience managing and motivating distributed or remote teams. Location
This is a full-time (40 hours per week) hybrid position open to residents of California. Based out of the CNPS Sacramento office, in-office presence is required. In-office presence is currently expected for one day per week. Preference given to applicants within 60-100 miles of Sacramento. Occasional statewide travel; travel reimbursed. What You’ll Get
Compensation:
Starting annual compensation between $105,740 – 113,949. CNPS publishes full pay ranges and does not negotiate hiring bonuses. Performance-based compensation increases up to 3.8% annually. Health, life, dental, and vision insurance (employee premiums covered). 401(k) with up to 6% matching; available immediately upon employment. FSA, HSA, DCA, TSA options. Paid leave: 13 holidays, 12 sick/wellness days, 15 vacation days. Paid parental leave: 12 weeks after one year of employment. Work-from-home support: CNPS laptop, $750 home office stipend, $60/month telework stipend. EAP, professional development budget, team building, CNPS membership. "Superhero to the Planet" bragging rights for conservation contributions. Employment Type & Seniority
Full-time Director Note: This refinement preserves the core content related to the CNPS Director of Education and Horticulture role while removing unrelated postings and formatting inconsistencies. The description now uses only allowed tags and presents responsibilities and qualifications clearly.
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Join to apply for the
Director of Education and Horticulture
role at
California Native Plant Society . Department:
Education and Horticulture •
Location:
Hybrid: Sacramento, CA, USA •
Compensation:
$105,740 - $113,950 / year Application Deadline:
19 October 2025 Summary:
The CNPS Education & Horticulture Director leads innovative programs that advance CNPS biodiversity campaigns by connecting people with native plants, generating science on biodiversity benefits of native plant gardening to inform policy advocacy, and collaborating with native plant industry partners to advance shared goals. The director leads a department responsible for education, community science, horticulture, and restoration programming across CNPS and its 35 chapters. Key projects include CNPS’s Calscape platform, the triennial CNPS Conference, coalition-building within the native plant industry, and organization-wide education and community science projects. The director is a strategic leader, coalition builder, and ambassador for the urban biodiversity campaign, collaborating across CNPS teams, chapters, and external partners to integrate native plants into urban landscapes and transform the built environment. The role also involves building and supporting a cohesive education and horticulture team, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and guiding the development of educational tools and engagement practices that empower chapter volunteers. The director is part of CNPS’s senior leadership team and leads a skilled team of eight staff, including two direct reports, delivering inclusive programming aligned with CNPS’s strategic plan and biodiversity campaigns. Responsibilities include educational programming, community science, and stewardship activities focused on native plant horticulture and habitat restoration. Additional Information Hybrid, full-time position (exempt). Standard hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, with some flexibility. What You’ll Do
Strategic and Campaign Leadership (55%)
Conduct strategic planning to align Education & Horticulture programming with CNPS’s conservation and urban biodiversity campaigns. Provide leadership for CNPS’s urban biodiversity campaign, including collaboration with public affairs and policy staff, coalition-building with native plant industry partners, and cultivating relationships with Tribal, academic, nonprofit and private sector collaborators. Develop concepts to guide discussions on developing a future CNPS Public Education Center. Organizational Leadership & Project Management (25%)
Lead annual departmental action planning and budget development. Direct the design and implementation of programming in education, community science, horticulture, and restoration. Mentor staff, partner with managers to define and track project and staff performance objectives, provide feedback, support professional development, and conduct performance reviews. Support the development and implementation of organization-wide project management processes. Establish protocols and lead culture-building to enhance internal collaboration and synergy. Strengthen staff and volunteer collaboration to support chapter activities. Fundraising & Grant Development (10%)
Collaborate with Development team and executive director to cultivate partnerships with foundations, organizations, and government agencies. Lead grant and contract development and implementation. Event & Conference Planning, and Other Responsibilities (10%)
Oversee planning and implementation of the triennial CNPS Conference (led by Education and Community Science Manager and supported by an external event planning consultant). Support other leadership tasks as directed. Who You Are
Strategic Leadership & Campaign Expertise
8 - 10 years of related professional experience, including 4 - 6 years in leading campaign planning and implementation. Successful track record in leading strategic initiatives and building diverse, cross-sector coalitions at local, regional, and statewide levels. Skilled in supporting or leading strategic planning processes and aligning programs with organizational goals. Project & Organizational Management
4 - 6 years of project management experience, including oversight of large-scale, complex programs. Ability to develop and manage action plans, program budgets, and performance tracking systems. Experience managing organizational change and implementing systems that enhance collaboration and operational efficiency. Education, Community Science, Horticulture, & Restoration
Background in education, community science, horticulture, plant or biological sciences, or related fields. Experience designing and implementing inclusive, accessible educational programming. Ability to engage diverse audiences through culturally relevant science communication and facilitation. Experience mentoring volunteers, interns, and junior staff; support capacity-building in community-based organizations. Familiarity with California native plants and plant communities. Team Leadership & Collaboration
4 - 6 years of supervisory experience; mentoring staff and supporting professional development. Strong interpersonal skills; ability to lead diverse teams toward shared goals. Experience fostering collaboration across departments and engaging volunteer networks. Technology & Communication
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to generate ideas and solve problems collaboratively. Proficient with Microsoft Office; experienced with Teams, Zoom, Slack; skilled in using project management platforms (Microsoft Project, Planner, Asana). Ability to train staff and promote best practices in tool usage. Equity & Values Alignment
Commitment to advancing DEIJ in environmental and educational contexts. Strong alignment with CNPS core values: interdependence, stewardship, partnership, scientific integrity. Dedication to removing barriers to nature education and expanding equitable access to native plant knowledge. Nice to Have
CNPS recognizes not every candidate will have all characteristics. Desired qualifications include at least one of the following: Graduate degree or higher in a relevant field. Experience conducting and publishing research in the natural sciences. Understanding of California’s conservation challenges and opportunities. Knowledge of local organizations and government agencies involved in conservation. Experience in marketing, advertising, or public policy. Experience and relationships within the native plant and/or seed industry. Experience building trust-based relationships with Indigenous partners and communities. Familiarity with CNPS. Fluency in more than one language commonly spoken in California. Experience managing and motivating distributed or remote teams. Location
This is a full-time (40 hours per week) hybrid position open to residents of California. Based out of the CNPS Sacramento office, in-office presence is required. In-office presence is currently expected for one day per week. Preference given to applicants within 60-100 miles of Sacramento. Occasional statewide travel; travel reimbursed. What You’ll Get
Compensation:
Starting annual compensation between $105,740 – 113,949. CNPS publishes full pay ranges and does not negotiate hiring bonuses. Performance-based compensation increases up to 3.8% annually. Health, life, dental, and vision insurance (employee premiums covered). 401(k) with up to 6% matching; available immediately upon employment. FSA, HSA, DCA, TSA options. Paid leave: 13 holidays, 12 sick/wellness days, 15 vacation days. Paid parental leave: 12 weeks after one year of employment. Work-from-home support: CNPS laptop, $750 home office stipend, $60/month telework stipend. EAP, professional development budget, team building, CNPS membership. "Superhero to the Planet" bragging rights for conservation contributions. Employment Type & Seniority
Full-time Director Note: This refinement preserves the core content related to the CNPS Director of Education and Horticulture role while removing unrelated postings and formatting inconsistencies. The description now uses only allowed tags and presents responsibilities and qualifications clearly.
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