Salary: $75,400.00 - $108,868.00 Annually
Location : Kernersville, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Parks and Recreation
Division: Garden
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 8/25/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA: Exempt

Position Overview

Beginning salary based upon qualifications and previous experience. The Garden Curator has the overall responsibility for the vision, direction, strategy, planning, coordination, maintenance, and supervision of the of the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. This includes supervision, maintenance, and operations of equipment, indoor rentals and programming functions, gift shop retail operations, and the facility staff supervision. Future additional duties will consist of greenhouse & nursery operations and management. An employee in this class must possess a hard-working demeanor, knowledge of proper maintenance techniques, efficiency in completing tasks in a timely manner, strong knowledge of greenhouse/nursery plants, an attitude toward safety, and a background or familiarity in landscape construction practices. This employee must also display a basic of knowledge of business in relation to venue operations and retail The Garden Curator will directly supervise and lead two fulltime Gardeners and a Facility Manager. Work is performed under the regular supervision of the Parks and Recreation Director and is reviewed by frequent project inspections, site visits, reports, and staff meetings.
Examples of Duties

• Crafts and adheres to innovative horticultural management plans that ensures best practices and cost efficiencies within the Garden.
• Continually assessing existing landscape and/or greenhouse challenges and working with gardener staff to address those challenges and implement changes as needed.
• Creating short- and long-term goals for all components of the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. This includes staff improvement, financial, events, and programming goals.
• Providing expertise, training and vision for departmental staff, including volunteers and interns

• Providing planning and direction related to all horticulture projects, with attention to long-term planning and problem solving
• Bearing a no-nonsense attitude with the goal of completing projects and moving on to the next task; treating all garden spaces as of equal importance so that the visitor experience is one of a seamless procession of horticultural splendors and excellence
• Envisioning and developing, managing, and adhering to the departmental budget, including capital projects that fall within the Paul J Ciener Garden
• Drafting RFPs for third-party vendors as required; reviewing proposals, engaging, and coordinating activities of third-party vendors
• Works with the Town's Horticultural Supervisor to plan and coordinate special projects and tasks
• Seeks and applies for grants to improve educational programs and development projects.
• Evaluating existing plant records and creating a long-term plan for translating pertinent information to online resources and print material and a labeling/interpretive system
• Provides guidance and training to Garden staff, volunteers and interns.
• Conducts and coordinates Paul J Ciener Garden outreach programs.
• Assists in set up for special Garden and Town functions and activities.
• Performs related duties as required.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Work requires considerable knowledge of horticulture maintenance.
  • Employee must have basic business knowledge in the venue rental industry and gift shop retail
  • Ability to work outside in heat, cold, or light rain and can continuously walk, stand, bend, and stoop.
  • Work requires considerable knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions
  • surrounding the maintenance of grounds.
  • Employee must have the ability to direct, train, supervise and evaluate subordinate personnel.
  • Employee must have the ability to maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, peers, subordinates and citizens.
  • Employee must have the ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
  • Professional-level knowledge and experience with landscape and greenhouse/nursery equipment and related tools

Minimum Qualifications

Associate's or Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture or a related field. A minimum of four years previous public horticulture experience preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational support functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, walking, pushing, pulling, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking and hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform heavy work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to be the operator of trucks, tractors, sprayers, blowers and other equipment.
• The worker is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions and noise.
• The worker is subject to hazards such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, or exposure to chemicals.
• The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilations.
• The worker may come in contact with potentially infectious bodily fluids during the performance of his/her duties.

Supplemental Information

FLSA Status: Exempt