Job Description

Required qualifications

• BA/BS degree or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least four years, in an applicable field such as museum studies, ethnobotany, sociology, history, or horticulture
• A cover letter and writing sample are required to be considered for this position.
• Excellent writing and speaking skills; experience developing educational content for a general audience
• Two years of documented experience collaborating with people from various cultures
• Project management experience; including project planning, monitoring task completion, and communicating among team members
• Willingness to work independently and as part of a team
• Must be able to provide own transportation to and from partner sites

Desired qualifications

• Formal training in horticulture; or at least 1 year experience working in a farm, urban garden, or botanic garden setting
• Experience developing interpretive displays in a museum, garden, zoo, or nature center setting
• Experience researching and teaching about horticulture and/or cultural uses of plants
• Deep familiarity with cultural communities and local food systems in the Upper Midwest
• Interpretive guide training, and experience delivering tours and hands-on activities
• Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Somali, and/or other language(s) and willingness to translate exhibit materials

This is a year-round, part-time position at 20 hours per week. Most work will occur Monday-Friday, but occasional, limited weekend hours may be required. Some remote work is supported, while other tasks require on-site presence at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Physical Demands
The work takes place in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings, at the Arboretum and partner sites. There will be occasional standing and walking, as well as speaking to the public, staff and program participants.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum:Garden Exhibit Coordinator

Location: Chanhassen, Minnesota


12 month 0.5 FTE Recurring
Reports to: Manager of Interpretation and Visitor Learning


The Garden Exhibit Coordinator coordinates two co-curated, interpretive “story garden” exhibits at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Through the Story Garden program, the Arboretum works with community partners to develop living garden exhibits, focusing on stories of plant-people connections that are historically underrepresented in botanical gardens. The Coordinator is involved in each exhibit for its entire 1-2 year lifespan from ideation to completion. Main tasks include managing exhibit logistics, maintaining relationships with co-curators from various communities and organizations, collaborating across Arboretum departments to complete time-sensitive deliverables, drafting interpretive text, leading tours, and planning small educational events. This position reports to the Manager of Interpretation.


This is a half-time (20 hr/week), year-round position.


Job Description


Responsibilities:


Exhibit development and execution (50%)

• Assist in identifying and building relationships with potential exhibit co-curators
• Communicate regularly with co-curators and internal Arboretum staff; involving a mix of in-person meetings, phone, video, and email communication
• Serve as a main point of contact with co-curators throughout each exhibit
• Maintain strong familiarity with subject matter related to each exhibit; utilizing library archives, peer-reviewed literature, cultural institutions, and other resources as needed
• Assist in writing exhibit project plans
• Under direction from Manager of Interpretation, draft interpretive text for signage
• Schedule and co-facilitate oral history interviews with co-curators
• Work with a team to help plan and implement the garden exhibit designs based on co-curators’ vision and guidance from Arboretum horticulture staff
• Order and install interpretive signage and labels

Project management (25%)

• Use collaborative project management tools (e.g. Asana) to track exhibit progress and task completion
• Ensure all tasks are completed on schedule with high quality outcomes
• Document exhibit progress through record-keeping, written reports, post-program evaluations, and photographs
• Resolve issues in a timely and respectful manner
• Identify and communicate with external vendors (e.g. graphic designers, sign fabricators, and language translation services)

Interpretative programs (25%)

• Lead exhibit tours to groups representing a diversity of organizations, ages, and cultural backgrounds, based on guidance from co-curators and Manager of Interpretation
• Collaborate with the Youth Education Manager to plan and execute custom field trips associated with exhibits
• Collaborate with Adult Education Manager and Culinary Instructor to plan classes associated with exhibits

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To apply, please include a resume, cover letter and writing sample with your application.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

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