Working/Functional Title

Director, Beal Botanical Garden

Position Summary

The Beal Botanical Garden Director is a faculty position, with a 70% appointment in the garden and 30% in the home department. The Director will facilitate and promote the garden’s role of advancing cross-disciplinary inquiry and experiential learning at a major public research university.  The Director will demonstrate a commitment to BBGCA’s values of connectedness, service, sustainability, and the promotion of wellbeing for campus and community, and develop an action plan to achieve the objectives of the BBGCA 2023 strategic plan, in alignment with MSU 2030. The Director will also have a commitment to and understanding of diversity—in-all its dimensions—and further BBGCA activities and engagements that align with MSU’s DEI Plan. Building and sustaining relationships with campus constituents and regional communities, the Director will also advance BBGCA’s engagement with and contribution to national and global networks.  

The next Director will be a mission-focused leader who involves staff and others in designing and implementing strategic decisions around collecting, programming, and stewardship. The Director will help to promote a shared culture of engagement both for those who use the gardens for teaching and research and for BBGCA’s staff.  The Director will also understand the importance of engaging past, current and future donors in BBGCA’s mission and vision and will partner with University Advancement to cultivate and steward donor relationships.

The Director reports to the Vice Provost for University Arts and Collections. In this role the Director will:

• Ensure that BBGCA furthers the research and education missions of the university, ensuring that priorities and projects are mission aligned
• Foster community relationships and partnerships, including building connections to regional sustaining a robust volunteer program
• Maintain a collection that supports and advances MSU’s teaching and research missions, adheres to the highest standards in collecting and care practices, and is properly documented in a way that is accessible for teaching, research and public education
• Oversee the development of a comprehensive garden interpretation plan
• Create an inclusive, collaborative organizational culture and provide and promote professional development for staff
• Practice sound fiscal management of BBGCA, and work toward growing its long-term sustainability through sound economic planning and active fundraising
• Keep BBGCA policies updated and aligned both with MSU policies and with best-practice standards for botanical gardens
• Represent MSU and Beal by connecting the garden with relevant national and international organizations

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate

Minimum Requirements

• PhD in a relevant field, including but not limited to ecology, horticulture, plant biology, or sustainability.
• As this is a shared academic appointment, the candidate must already have a tenure system MSU faculty or continuing academic staff appointment.
• The candidate should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in an administrative role, and a demonstrated knowledge of and experience in organizing and managing scientific collections.
• The candidate must have staff management experience.
• Strong financial and budget management skills are essential, as evidenced by experience managing a unit level budget, as is knowledge of strategic planning and plan implementation.
• The candidate must have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of organizational operations and activities.  

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability as a results-oriented leader with a team-oriented working style, helping to build a shared vision and actively promote teamwork and collaboration
• Demonstrated ability to connect with various stakeholders within and across the university and broader community
• Demonstrated ability to oversee fiscal and personnel decision-making, with the perspective to consider the impact of decisions, strategic plans, initiatives, and new programs on BBGCA and the university more broadly
• Demonstrated commitment to leading with personal and professional integrity of the highest degree and holding public interest and public trust in the highest regard

Required Application Materials

A letter of interest that addresses the leadership priorities and skills and abilities described in the position description

• Current curriculum vitae
• A statement addressing how past and/or potential contribution to diversity, equity and inclusion will advance MSU’s commitment to inclusive excellence
• List of 3 references

Special Instructions

Review of applications will begin on June 1, 2024

Website

https://bealbotanicalgarden.msu.edu/

Department Statement

The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden and Campus Arboretum (BBGCA) illuminates the interconnectedness of people, plants, and place through learning, research and stewardship. Established in 1873, Beal is the oldest, continuously operated university botanical garden in the United States.  This living laboratory encourages learning and exploration of the natural world.  With a collection of over 2000 plants from around the globe situated in the heart of MSU’s campus along the Red Cedar River, this natural landscape provides collaborative programming to advance research, teaching, wellbeing, and public engagement.  The Beal Botanical Garden is listed on the State of Michigan Register of Historic Sites. BBGCA is part of University Arts and Collection in the Provost’s Office.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.