Senior Horticulture Manager

Material Institute is a registered charity with the vision ‘Connected communities shaping regenerative futures’. In addition to our flagship food education program, 24 Carrot Gardens, we run a range of social enterprises and an annual program of community events. 

Our organisation is young, unique and our mission is bold. If you work with us, not only will you be challenged professionally, but you will be connected with a diverse community of social impact change-makers.

We are seeking a passionate and experienced horticulture guru to take on the role of Senior Horticulture Manager. This newly created position will develop and operationalise a horticulture strategy that services the whole organisation, including our market garden and nursery (Botanical, Bridgewater), community site (Bond Place, Gagebrook) and the 24 Carrot Gardens school sites (24 schools statewide). Leading a horticulture team, you’ll be capable of balancing operational presence with long-term strategic thinking, ensuring our horticultural activity remains in service of our programming beneficiaries.  

Position Summary:

• Develop and operationalise an organisational horticulture strategy that delivers consistent and high-quality outcomes, spanning amenity horticulture and food production. 
• Oversee all facets of the market garden activities, including nursery management, equipment purchasing and maintenance, budget management and market garden production.
• Ensure community and educational programming spaces are inviting, hazard-free and inspiring places for community partners and beneficiaries.
• Work closely with the horticulture team to understand individual strengths, ensure alignment with strategy, and refine operational processes as required.
• Standardise processes and develop the skills of team members, ensuring cross-pollination of skills and decreased reliance on individual expertise.
• Ensure that the horticulture spaces are maintained to the highest standards of beautification, complementing the organisation’s arts and aesthetic origin 
• Manage horticultural operations to relevant safety standards and compliance, considering edible, amenity and educational horticultural spaces.
• Work closely with the 24CG Operations Manager, to ensure participating schools statewide receive appropriate and meaningful levels of horticultural support.
• Work closely with the Head Chef to ensure produce maintains the desired quality and that crop planning has suitable variety and appropriate lead times.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with peers across the organisation to support our community partnerships and social enterprise opportunities.

The you: 

• A specialist within your field of expertise, you’ll ideally have a diverse horticulture background that includes team leadership and the requirement to stretch between strategic thinking and operational needs. 
• Thrives in a complex work environment and loves to share knowledge & skills, with experience mentoring & teaching peers and volunteers alike. 
• Proven team leader with experience in creating a collaborative and supportive work environment, and managing diverse horticultural operations.
• Highly experienced in a market garden setting, including nursery management, and with a track record of delivering high-quality produce that is fit for purpose.
• Capable of balancing and integrating food production spaces with amenity horticulture that focuses on native vegetation.
• An organised operator, capable of managing work activities across multiple locations with separate and localised needs.
• Demonstrates a growth mindset, remaining curious to new ideas and knowledge, while actively sharing with those around you to foster an environment of collective growth.
• High attention to detail with an emphasis on the presentation and maintenance of greenspace.
• Experienced in managing or leading landscape development projects, including contractor and financial management, would be advantageous.
• Motivated by the opportunity to work in a purpose-led organisation that serves children, young people and their families, coupled with the challenge of delivering a horticulture strategy that balances safe and inclusive learning environments alongside productivity and abundance.

Please submit your application below by 9am, Monday the 24th of February. For further information, contact hello@materialinstitute.org.

We are a child-safe organisation, dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children we work with. We expect all staff to share this commitment.