Senior Manager of Botanical Systems and Operations

About the role

At The Huntington, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to support and promote the appreciation of the humanities, the arts, and botanical science. The Huntington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. The Huntington Founded in 1919, The Huntington is a collections-based research and educational institution open to the public, housing world-class library, art, and botanical collections. Its mission is to support research and promote education in the arts, humanities, and botanical science and to display and interpret its extraordinary resources for diverse audiences. The Culture Here we are committed to the highest of standards in all that we do - from preserving and protecting the collections, to exhibitions, educational and scholarly programming, visitor and reader services, and beyond. Achieving excellence across these pursuits requires a diversity of perspectives, expertise, experience, and methodologies. At The Huntington, our organizational Culture is shaped by the following core values: Intellectual curiosity, Collaboration, Stewardship, Belonging, and Integrity. Intellectual Curiosity: Knowledge, lifelong learning, and a spirit of inquiry are at the core of our mission and organizational culture. Collaboration: Teamwork and a collaborative attitude are important at all levels of The Huntington. We foster relationships internally among our departments and externally with organizations throughout the community. Stewardship: We are committed to the care and development of our collections, our financial and physical resources, our staff, and our community. Belonging: We strive to attract and maintain a workforce of individuals with diverse talents, backgrounds, and perspectives. Our organizational culture promotes a sense of welcome, inclusion, and connection. Integrity: We value respect and honesty, working to fulfill our mission with honor and ethical principles. Job Description Reporting to the Director of the Botanical Gardens, the Senior Manager of Botanical Systems and Operations is responsible for the strategic and hands-on oversight, performance, and resilience of garden-wide operational systems that directly support horticulture, living collections, public safety, and long-term sustainability. The position serves as the Botanical Gardens' primary authority for water production and distribution, irrigation, environmental and climate-controlled growing environments, safety and regulatory compliance, and horticultural infrastructure. This role leads the planning, operation, and continuous improvement of critical systems including wells, reservoirs, pumps, water features, irrigation networks, conservatories, nurseries, greenhouses, GIS mapping, and technical infrastructure. The Senior Manager ensures systems are reliable, efficient, and compliant, while actively guiding water conservation, sustainability initiatives, and infrastructure renewal in alignment with institutional priorities. The Senior Manager works closely with landscape and horticultural managers, curators, Operations and Facilities leadership, and external vendors to ensure that systems are efficient, resilient, compliant and aligned with best practices and institutional standards. S/he/they will demonstrate a background of working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, using a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible leadership approach. Essential Duties Leadership & Management Supervise staff responsible for garden-wide systems and operations, including water production, irrigation, nursery and greenhouse operations, plant health support, and the Rose Hills Conservatory for Botanical Science. Collaborate daily with the Garden and Grounds Superintendent to coordinate maintenance, operations, and staffing priorities. Coordinate training for curators, managers, technicians, and gardeners in the effective, safe, and sustainable use of systems, resources, and equipment. Foster a culture of shared responsibility, continuous improvement, and proactive communication. Water Production, Distribution & SCADA Oversee all aspects of water production and supply, including wells, booster pumps, reservoirs, and distribution systems. Provide oversight for SCADA systems, ensuring reliable monitoring, control, system integrity, documentation, and vendor coordination. Coordinate routine maintenance, preventive maintenance, inspections, and major repair projects for water infrastructure. Manage water rights and ensure compliance with all water related regulations, monitoring, and reporting requirements. Represent the Gardens in water related meetings