The Garden celebrates the diversity of all people, just as we honor the diversity of plants and ecosystems in our world, with a focus on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility.
GARDEN OVERVIEW
MISSION
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s mission is connecting people to plants by inspiring communities to explore and conserve nature.
VISION
We are a Virginia garden of international significance leading in horticultural and educational excellence. We cultivate experiences that enhance each person’s relationship with the natural world.
VALUES
Responsibility, Innovation, Integrity, Hospitality and Inspiration
Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a nonprofit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting educational programs. This cadre of identified learners is just a fraction of the more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected, and appreciated.
Salary Range: $80,000 - $100,000 per year
Garden Overview
Mission
We connect people to plants by inspiring communities to explore and conserve nature
Vision
We are a Virginia garden of international significance leading in horticultural and educational excellence. We cultivate experiences that enhance each person’s relationship with the natural world.
Values
Responsibility, Innovation, Integrity, Hospitality and Inspiration
Founded in 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a non-profit garden located in Richmond, Virginia’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Garden encompasses 82 acres, four lakes, 5,500 unique taxa of plants within 15 distinct outdoor gardens, 11 major buildings including a conservatory and greenhouse, plus an 80-acre branch site in Hanover County, the Lewis Ginter Nature Reserve. Annually, Lewis Ginter engages over 17,000 students in innovative and exciting education programs and more than 400,000 annual visitors to the Garden. In recent years, the Garden has been honored with inclusion in several top ten lists for botanical gardens in North America.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin in the hiring, retention, or promotion of employees. We support the diversity and inclusion policy adopted by The American Public Gardens Association: to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive culture where the contributions of all community members are valued, respected and appreciated.
We are committed to elevating diverse backgrounds and experiences that aren’t currently represented amongst our Horticulture Team. We value the opportunity to work with individuals from different cultures and understand that like diverse ecosystems, diverse workplaces are needed for success. Our Horticulture staff exhibits a tireless commitment to creating new and innovative gardens and displays that delight and inspire visitors of all ages and from all backgrounds. We are committed to demonstrating the use and cultivation of a wide palette of native and exotic plants suitable for use in Central Virginia and strive to maintain our collections to the highest standards in an environmentally responsible way. We think independently, work collaboratively, and are unified in our passion for horticulture. We come from diverse backgrounds and celebrate different ways of being, in ourselves and in others.
Job Description
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is searching for a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to elevate the Garden’s brand regionally and nationally. The CMO will lead marketing, communications and public relations efforts for the community-oriented nonprofit garden, which attracts nearly half-a-million guests annually and is
known for its community engagement, educational mission, and outstanding customer service.
As part of the senior leadership, the CMO will use problem-solving skills and relationship-building to manage complex issues involving multiple departments. The position will develop and lead communication strategies using a variety of channels, including media relations, social media, digital and print media, onsite visual collateral, and advertising.
Working across teams at the Garden and with the Marketing team, the CMO will identify and share compelling stories to showcase the Garden’s values, invite and welcome guests, strengthen the Garden’s case for support, and lift the Garden’s profile through strategic partnerships. This position plays a vital role as the Garden enters a period of transformational growth, which will see the implementation of its new Strategic Plan, a two-year $31 million expansion, and master site planning for an additional 6 acres.
Job Responsibilities
Planning, Research and Management: Plans and executes strategic public relations campaigns to reach organizational goals as defined by the Strategic Plan, focusing on mission, engagement and income generation. Tracks analytics and conducts research for decision-making.
Media and Public Relations: Maintains high visibility with frequent coverage in local, national and international media. Serves as spokesperson and identifies other team members for media interviews as appropriate. Experience in crisis situations is desired. Writes press releases and prepares statements and messaging as needed.
Social Media: Manages the team creating content, posting to, and monitoring social media channels. Writes website copy and blog posts.
Digital and Print Media: Oversees responsibilities for the Garden’s website by setting team expectations to update existing and develop new content. Manages Garden events e-newsletter.
Advertising & Brand: Strategizes with the Garden’s ad agency to develop, create and implement campaigns. Negotiates effective media partnerships. Works with corporate sponsors. Strives to maintain brand standards through all communication and on-site visual collateral.
Leadership and Administration
- Serves on the Leadership Team and advances the Garden’s strategic plan to ensure the accessibility and relevance of the Garden for the Community.
- Leads the Marketing Department and supports staffing needs that allow for the strategic growth of the department including interviewing, hiring, training, supervising, and performance assessment, with the ability to coach, counsel, and transition staff/interns and volunteers.
- Develops, tracks, monitors, and manages expenditures within the approved marketing budget.
- Develops and shares KPIs for success of Marketing Department including the analysis of data collection and preparation of reports.
- Demonstrates collaboration with other Garden Departments for progressing the Garden culture and brand with a focus on communication.
- Actively participates with Board of Directors, Board Committees, Board of Associates and Garden sponsors and constituents.
- Serves our local community through meaningful engagement opportunities.
- Pursues leadership opportunities in regional and national cultural associations, societies, and/or groups.
- Creates a positive work environment through effective and regular communication, being an approachable leader, and actively seeking input and suggestions. Celebrates staff and volunteers; looks for opportunities for nominating staff, volunteers, board and programs for recognition locally and nationally.
- Represents the Garden in the community and makes presentations.
- An innovator who can suggest new ideas and work with team members to implement them, especially in support of revenue centers, including Advancement, Admission, Membership, Education, Garden Shop, Facility Rental, and Dining.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Skills and Abilities
- An exceptional communicator with outstanding visual and written storytelling skills and an ability to share the relevance of the Garden’s mission to all people.
- Strong leadership skills; a good listener who considers multiple perspectives when decision-making.
- Highly organized with excellent follow-through, attention to detail, and a commitment to accuracy.
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills. Ability to work with a variety of audiences, including team members, volunteers, members, donors and community partners.
- Possesses a guest-centric focus that begins before visitors are even on-site. Reaches out intentionally and thoughtfully to new audiences to learn about their needs and desires to create the best possible experiences.
- Dedication to the integrity and consistency of the Garden brand, visually and in messaging.
- Proficiency with:
- Microsoft software programs (including Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word and PowerPoint).
- WordPress and Canva; familiar with Adobe programs InDesign, PhotoShop, and Illustrator.
- Social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Pinterest and Google Business.
Physical Demands / Working Conditions
- Able to move between sitting at a desk and computer work to standing for long periods and walking from facility to facility and around an 80+acre Garden property.
- Able to lift 15-20 pounds as needed.
Note: Duties described above, other duties, and physical demands have been identified as essential functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, advertising, graphic design, journalism, or related field
- Seven to ten years of experience in marketing, communications, and/or public relations, including wide-ranging experience in website and social media management.
- Experience supervising a small to mid-sized team.
Each Employee of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
- Must comply with provisions of the current Employee Handbook, all published personnel policies, and the requirements of their individual job descriptions.
- Must conduct herself or himself and perform all duties in a manner consistent with a public garden serving multigenerational and multicultural individuals and families, and in accordance with directed practices and procedures.
- Must be aware of surroundings and vigilant to threats to the safety of visitors, volunteers, and staff or to the security of their property, ensuring that all concerns are reported promptly.
- Must report all mishaps, injuries, and incidents immediately and ultimately in writing to supervisor(s) and HR.
- Must ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
- Must perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to: HR@lewisginter.org