Garden Designer & Horticulture Supervisor
hace 4 días
Ypsilanti
Job Description Are you a creative horticulturist who thrives on designing stunning gardens AND leading others to bring those visions to life? Proven Winners® is seeking a Display Garden Designer and Horticulture Supervisor to design, implement and oversee our award-winning Display Garden—often celebrated as a hidden gem in Southeast Michigan. The Display Garden is a "living catalog" that demonstrates the quality and value of Proven Winners® plants by providing endless design inspiration for home and commercial gardeners. Our Gardens are uniquely designed with ornamental shrubs, grasses, annuals and perennials to give its visitors new inspiration year after year. The Garden is open to the public and also serves as a venue for many events each year. As Garden Designer and Horticulture Supervisor, you'll wear three hats: creative designer, collaborator and team leader. In this position you will: • Craft fresh and innovative seasonal display plans each year., • Work alongside others to execute your vision and transform concepts into stunning reality., • Collaborate with other departments regarding design ideas, new products and trends to promote in the garden., • Supervise the garden lead and other support personnel, manage daily garden care (irrigation, pest scouting, soil monitoring, weeding), oversee seasonal installations, and ensure our gardens maintain the highest standards of quality., • Coach, train, and partner with others to create a productive and enjoyable work environment. The schedule for the position is flexible depending on the candidate. Schedule options are as follows: • *Year-round full-time employment, • *Year-round employment; full-time April through December and part-time January through March This position range is $24-32 per hour based on relevant skills, experience and education. We pay time and a half for all hours worked past 40 hours in a week. We also offer the opportunity for a merit increase after 90 days and annually thereafter. We provide a competitive benefits package for all three schedules. If you're ready to combine your design talent, love of plants, and leadership skills, we want to hear from you. Please provide a resume and imagery of previous landscape design work to demonstrate your skills and experience. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1. Seasonal tasks include but are not limited to: • Collaborate with Sales & Marketing to design and execute a unique seasonal display plan each year, • Installation of plants in landscape and container displays throughout garden season, • Mid-summer pruning of trees and shrub installations on property, • Cleaning and maintenance of tools & equipment area. 2. Daily tasks include but are not limited to: • Performing Grower duties in gardens for all plantings and displays, • Irrigation, • Pest scouting, • Monitoring quality of garden soil, pH/EC levels, • Provide critical stewardship tasks such as:, • Maintain accurate and orderly plant labels, • Maintain finer detail of garden areas and remove any trip hazards, • Monitor and report immediately any structural or mechanical issues, • Prevent and remove weeds in all outdoor display areas, • Organization of tools & equipment areas, • Collect photography and note phenological milestones, as needed 3. Cooperate with and assist other departments to successfully meet company objectives. Ensure a cooperative spirit that exceeds service-level expectations for all departments & employees., 4. Engage the team to create a productive and enjoyable work environment. Display leadership behavior and a work ethic that is contagious and results in a positive work environment. As the Supervisor, you will be responsible for building a cohesive and high functioning team., 5. Provide the team with the skills, support and resources through coaching and training to enable them to successfully perform their job. Recognize when additional training is needed, and approach training with each individual as a continuous process., 6. Recognize and celebrate employee success. Identify employee challenges and provide training, coaching and counseling to team members following the values of employee engagement and positive leadership methods., 7. Recognize the quality of each individual’s work and provide positive feedback on a 5:1 ratio with constructive feedback. If you can’t find enough compliments to keep this ratio in balance, please inform the Senior Manager of Greenhouse Operations without delay., 8. Personify the value of cleanliness, organization and sanitary guidelines of Proven Winners. Exemplify the values of cooperation, collaboration and teamwork in all of your day-to-day activities., 9. Achieve desired results by setting goals and standards for the team as well as yourself. Collaborate with the Senior Manager of Greenhouse Operations to craft individual SMART goals for each team member. Establish a relationship with each team member so that you understand their challenges, frustrations and struggles as well as what direction they want to go in with their career at Four Star., 10. Arrive here 10- 15 minutes before starting time to obtain all information needed to start the shift. Organize jobs in order to get the team focused at their scheduled start time. Prepare all relevant information and supplies for the team prior to the team’s start time. Organize jobs in order to get the team started after the morning focus meeting., 11. Self-educate in order to become an expert on each piece of greenhouse equipment or process used in your area., 12. Act as an advocate for all team members regarding equipment repairs or upgrades, obtaining supplies and resources and by representing the team with your interactions with department leadership. Continuously report the status of all open items so the team is always aware of how you are acting on their behalf., 13. Lock and unlock the building accurately using the security system as assigned. ESSENTIAL SKILLS: 1. Develop working knowledge of Proven Winners and Proven Selections plant varieties., 2. Develop techniques for garden tasks that promote safety, efficiency, and best horticultural practices, 3. Demonstrate strong analytical skills & foresight in identifying areas in need of improvement and developing innovative solutions., 4. Identify and effectively resolve conflicts within the team as they arise in collaboration with the Senior Manager of Greenhouse Operations resulting in a high degree of ongoing team harmony., 5. Create design plans as a collaborative effort with Sales & Marketing teams that meet the promotional goals of the gardens., 6. Demonstrate strong creative competency with an ability to evaluate and apply color harmony, design principles and aesthetic elements to produce visually effective garden displays. ESSENTIAL WORK HABITS: 1. Establish priorities, work independently, accomplish objectives, & report progress with minimal supervision., 2. Demonstrate regular and professional communication with managers, crew members, and visitors to the gardens., 3. Perform all aspects of the job in compliance with company safety standards, operate and handle equipment safely and responsibly by following all manufacturer’s safe operating procedures as listed in the operator manual(s)., 4. Adjust schedule daily, weekly, or seasonally as needed, i.e. work more or less hours depending on seasonal labor needs of various company departments., 5. Maintain a positive and cooperative attitude with all fellow employees, promote morale in the department through effective teamwork and leadership., 6. Ensure that the team accurately uses the time clock so we may keep track of hours and labor costs., 7. Report to work as scheduled, maintaining a level of absences that results in minimal departmental disruption and minimal unfair burden on other employees., 8. Actively contribute to the continued success of the company by expressing new ideas that can result in lower costs, improved profits, and improved efficiency., 9. Utilize equipment only after completing the required training. Including but not limited to Kubota, Sprayers, Power Washers, Injectors, Tow Carts, Hi-Los, Scissor Lifts, Ladders, etc., 10. Perform all work as quickly and efficiently as possible, without compromising safety or quality., 11. Report to work as scheduled, maintaining a level of absences that results in minimal departmental disruption and minimal unfair burden on other employees., 12. Collaborate with the IPM Supervisor on crop related issues and remedies. QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Prior garden design experience is required, 2. At least 2 years of landscape leadership experience is required, 3. Must have a valid driver’s license for equipment operation., 4. Must pass respirator evaluation and “fit” test and maintain the ability to have a safe proper fit of a respirator on an ongoing basis. PHYSICAL ASPECTS: 1. Large percentage of work takes place outdoors. Employee will be exposed to sun, wind, and daily weather conditions including high & low temperatures, occasional precipitation, etc., 2. Daily work involves long periods of standing and regular kneeling/bending over., 3. Regularly involves lifting a minimum of 20 lbs., occasionally up to 50 lbs. CORE VALUES: Collaborating as One Team, One Proven Winners: Our future success is rooted in how well we work together—as one team, who are accountable to each other. Open, transparent, and direct communication remain central to our culture. We value the diverse strengths and perspectives each person brings and are committed to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and respectful environment where everyone feels safe to challenge and learn from each other. Embracing Continuous Improvement: Proven Winners was built on the belief that we could always offer something better. This mindset continues to guide us—whether improving our products, our capabilities, or how we work together. Embracing change strengthens our future and helps us continue leading the industry. Pursuing Excellence: From superior plant genetics to building the most trusted brand in horticulture, excellence has always defined Proven Winners. We hold ourselves to high standards across product development, customer service, operations, and internal processes. By striving for excellence in everything we do, we continue to deliver exceptional value to our customers, partners, and one another. Doing the Right Thing: Our brand is all about trust. We make ethical, transparent, and well-intentioned decisions, even when the outcome is difficult. We honor our commitments and rely on one another to act with integrity. Together, we uphold this value by caring for one another and the communities that we serve. Prioritizing Safety: We prioritize the safety of our employees above all else. Our approach is proactive and prevention-focused, ensuring we maintain safe facilities, provide proper training, and empower every employee to prioritize safety in their daily work. Company DescriptionLocated in Carleton, MI, Four Star Greenhouse has been producing high quality garden products since 1977 and is the largest partner/supplier of the nationally recognized #1 plant brand Proven Winners®. Proven Winners® is known for its unique varieties and high quality products that enable consumers to be successful gardeners. Proven Winners® has grown to be a substantial national brand with distribution in national retail chains as well as thousands of independent garden centers. As a team member of Four Star Greenhouse, you will join a highly successful growth company with a very pleasant and rewarding work environment.Located in Carleton, MI, Four Star Greenhouse has been producing high quality garden products since 1977 and is the largest partner/supplier of the nationally recognized #1 plant brand Proven Winners®. Proven Winners® is known for its unique varieties and high quality products that enable consumers to be successful gardeners. Proven Winners® has grown to be a substantial national brand with distribution in national retail chains as well as thousands of independent garden centers. As a team member of Four Star Greenhouse, you will join a highly successful growth company with a very pleasant and rewarding work environment.