About the Role  

Reporting to the Director of the Botanical Gardens, the Senior Manager of Botanical Systems and Operations is responsible for the strategic and hands-on oversight, performance, and resilience of garden-wide operational systems that directly support horticulture, living collections, public safety, and long-term sustainability. The position serves as the Botanical Gardens’ primary authority for water production and distribution, irrigation, environmental and climate-controlled growing environments, safety and regulatory compliance, and horticultural infrastructure.  

This role leads the planning, operation, and continuous improvement of critical systems including wells, reservoirs, pumps, water features, irrigation networks, conservatories, nurseries, greenhouses, GIS mapping, and technical infrastructure. The Senior Manager ensures systems are reliable, efficient, and compliant, while actively guiding water conservation, sustainability initiatives, and infrastructure renewal in alignment with institutional priorities.  

The Senior Manager works closely with landscape and horticultural managers, curators, Operations and Facilities leadership, and external vendors to ensure that systems are efficient, resilient, compliant and aligned with best practices and institutional standards. 

S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible leadership approach. 

Candidate Requirements and Experience  

Knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Horticulture, Plant Science, Environmental Engineering or a related field (preferred).  
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in botanical garden operations, landscape operations, public gardens, campuses, or comparable environments supporting living collections and complex systems.  
• Demonstrated expertise overseeing water production and distribution systems, including wells, booster pumps, reservoirs, and irrigation infrastructure.  
• Substantial experience managing large-scale irrigation systems, including system design, maintenance, performance monitoring, and emergency response.  
• Proven experience overseeing conservatories, nurseries, and greenhouses, including climate and environmental control systems.  
• Proven experience supervising five or more employees, including managers and supervisors.  
• Experience supporting capital projects and overseeing consultants and subcontractors.  
• Demonstrated experience with budget planning, resource management, and project execution. 
• Commitment to inclusive leadership, collaboration, and professional development. 

Preferred: 

• Documented experience with landscape construction and infrastructure oversight.  
• Knowledge of Southern California horticultural practices, climate considerations, and green industry standards.  
• Fluency in Spanish. 

Working Conditions   

• Must have visual acuity and ability to communicate to quickly identify and address safety and security concerns.  
• Must be able to access and traverse across a large campus on paved and unpaved roads and work in all weather conditions. 
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.  
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times. 

Compensation & Benefits 

We provide competitive compensation, generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees including: 

• Pay Range: $130,000.00- $140,000.00. Commensurate with experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision  
• 403(b) retirement plan and matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match 
• Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and holidays 
• Discounts for staff in The Huntington Store and restaurants 
• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions 
• Free passes each month to welcome family and friends to visit the grounds