Job Title: Horticulture & Butterfly Encounter Manager
FLSA: Exempt, Full Time, (40 hours a week)
Reports to: Vice President of Visitor Experience
Wage Range: $56,000-$73,000 (negotiable based on experience)
Summary
Serving more than 300,000 adults and children each year, the Connecticut Science Center is the state’s premier destination for informal science learning, a top tourist attraction, a hub for teacher training, and one of the state’s foremost resources for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The Butterfly Encounter Exhibit is a world-class memorable experience for visitors of all ages. The exhibit contains a diverse lush botanical habitat that supports a healthy population of tropical butterflies. The Horticulturalist & Butterfly Encounter Manager will oversee the daily operations of the Butterfly Encounter venue, assuring the systems maintain a healthy tropical environment for the plants and animals contained within. The successful candidate will serve as the site’s USDA APHIS Containment Officer, creating and abiding by all SOP’s and protocols to keep the Connecticut Science Center in compliance with all USDA regulations, reporting and permit requirements. In addition, this position will oversee the design and maintenance of the 1,200 sq. ft. Roof Top Garden exhibit by creating and sustaining an outstanding educational experience for visitors in this exterior exhibit gallery. The Horticulturalist & Butterfly Encounter Manager will work with the Director of Facilities in design and maintenance of the Science Center’s exterior landscaping initiatives, including the exterior plaza and its pollinator gardens and other planted materials.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintains annual USDA permits related to the Butterfly Encounter exhibit and performs any reporting requirements. Serves as the Containment Officer to ensure compliance with current and written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) which this position will review and maintain, coordinating with USDA and internal Connecticut Science Center departments as necessary.
- Propagates species in-house as appropriate, employing best practices for captive animal husbandry, including choice of host plants, rearing programs, and containment.
- Sources, procures, receives, pins, labels, and releases chrysalides on a weekly/daily basis according to USDA guidelines. Achieves perfect balance of effective and efficient releases to density of experience. Provides all aspects of care for living butterflies and monitors their health.
- Ensures that the butterfly flight area is clean and optimally prepared with appropriate nectars, food, and water to support thriving, active butterflies.
- Has ability to problem solve when environment or other conditions are not producing the desired effect. Willing to euthanize any butterflies, according to standard butterfly husbandry practices, that pose a threat to the health of the rest of the butterfly colony.
- Conducts daily, routine maintenance including deep cleaning of the Butterfly Encounter venue, prep room, and emergence cabinet to create a clean, organized, and USDA compliant space.
- Maintains current and accurate record keeping for USDA and internal protocols and SOP’s.
- Serve as the spokesperson, as assigned, and “resident scientist” for the Butterfly Encounter, Roof Top Gardens, and exterior landscaping exhibits, assuring that educational information, publicity and other information disseminated by staff and the Science Center is accurate. Creates plant and butterfly identification systems to educate and engage the public.
- Preserves, protects, and transplants existing plants – includes soil preparation, planting, mulching, weeding, watering, fertilizing, irrigation, pest control and other related maintenance tasks.
- Thoroughly understands and has ownership of the Butterfly Encounter greenhouse environmental control (Wadsworth) system. Determines appropriate settings, monitors, records, and adjusts as necessary to maintain a healthy environment where the plants and butterflies thrive and create a rich and memorable visitor experience. Develops and executes proper maintenance plan for all greenhouse mechanical operations. Responds to alarms and problems outside of working hours when necessary.
- Designs, manages, and cultivates all the Connecticut Science Center’s diverse botanical collections including, but not limited to those located within the Butterfly Encounter and exterior landscape exhibits. Works in collaboration with other internal departments, ensuring these exhibits serve the needs of various audiences.
- Manages and prepares annual operating budget for the Butterfly Encounter and exterior landscaping exhibits. Achieves efficiencies and cost savings over time while achieving goals and delivering on a high-quality visitor experience.
- Supervises, trains and educates staff and volunteers associated with the Butterfly Encounter venue as well as those from other departments working within the Butterfly venue as necessary.
- Maintains lab/emergence room and equipment per USDA permit regulations. Properly cleans, sanitizes, and quarantines as necessary, incoming, and outgoing materials in strict accordance with USDA regulations.
- Monitors Butterfly Encounte greenhouse and Rooftop Garden and plaza exhibits for insect, disease and weed problems and implements appropriate IPM (Integrated Pest Management) practices.
- May support various other insect and/or animal specimen care needs of the Science Center, depending upon expertise.
Other duties as assigned
Requirements and Qualifications
- A college degree in horticulture or related field is preferrable, but hands-on experience in a similar environment may be substituted.
- A minimum of 3 years in the field of public horticulture or living collections. Tropical horticulture and greenhouse management preferred. Previous experience managing a Wadsworth or Argus greenhouse system is highly desirable.
- Comfortable with state-of-the-art greenhouse technology. Must have working knowledge of basic greenhouse technologies including mist systems, heating/cooling, shade, venting, R/O systems, etc.
- Skilled in all aspects of plant culture including watering, fertilization, pruning, pest management, plant propagation, knowledge of organic/natural pesticide and fungicide control.
- Experience maintaining numerous types of plants with various cultural practices, particularly nectar producing plants most suitable for a tropical greenhouse climate that would create a successful environment for tropical butterflies. Experience dealing successfully with plant pests, diseases, and nutrition.
- Previous experience with, and working knowledge of, butterfly husbandry, care, and ongoing support is highly desirable. Must be able to create and sustain a consistent, thriving butterfly population within the Butterfly Encounter venue from emergence cabinet through the entire butterfly life-cycle.
- Ability to understand and adhere to strict animal care guidelines, in particular USDA permitting rules and regulations applying to butterfly habitats, containment, and public visitation in such facilities. Must possess excellent organization skills to maintain required records and guidelines related to USDA and to general best practices for living collections management.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise staff and/or volunteers and work as a positive contributor to a collaborative, cross-functional culture.
- Experience with select reptile, small animal and/or insect care a plus.
- Excellent computer skills, particularly with MS Office Suite.
- Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work flexible schedule as needed to attend to early morning/after public hours’ duties, special events. Will include work on weekends, and some evenings and holidays.
- Valid State of CT driver’s license.
- State of CT Registered Technician pesticide license within six months of hiring.
- Ability and expectation to work on site at the Connecticut Science Center fulltime.
Physical Requirements
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs. or more.
- Use of hands, wrists and fingers, standing, walking reaching with arms and hands, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, lifting and carrying, digging and raking, repetitive motion.
- The Horticulturalist & Butterfly Encounter Manager may have to occasionally run small machinery/power tools and climb ladders
- Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
- Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the Horticulturalist & Butterfly Encounter Manager job.
- Must be able to work in the heat and humidity of a tropical greenhouse.
- Must be able to work in heat, cold, wind, bright sunshine, and uneven surfaces.
Qualified applicants will go through an application process and must successfully complete a background check.
The Connecticut Science Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Medical/Dental/Vision/401k match/FSA/PTO/company provided life/STD.
