Horticulture Senior Coordinator

The Horticulture Senior Coordinator supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of horticultural practices under the direction of the Horticulture Program Manager. The role advances CNPS’s Landscapes for Change campaign, which envisions a future where California native plants are the default choice in landscapes. 

This position will blend technical expertise with hands-on execution, by developing and refining horticulture industry standards, resources, and program materials. The position includes both independent work - such as managing data and scientific materials - and task-level leadership, including coordinating volunteers, supervising contractors and vendors, managing schedules, and overseeing small-project budgets. This role plays a key part in the quality and effectiveness of Horticulture projects and programs currently funded into 2028. 

Propagation & Native Plant Protocols (40%) 

• Support the launch and maintenance of a public-facing database of California native plant propagation protocols.
• Ensure relevance and accessibility of all protocol materials for various audiences.
• Create new and update existing best practices from current industry professionals and published scientific resources.
• Lead data entry and content management volunteers. 
• Coordinate integration of the finalized protocols into the Calscape database’s plant profiles.
• Support Spanish-language resources and accuracy reviews.
• Collaborate on California Native American tribes review of the protocols by California Native American tribal partners to ensure culturally appropriate resources.
• Organize and schedule meetings and provide volunteer support.
• Responsibilities may also include industry outreach to nurseries and growers, including prospective partners, and coordination of meetings or committees that support engagement across these sectors. 

Partner, Chapter & Committee Collaboration (40%) 

• Participate in CNPS Chapter Council committees and communities as needed, which may include, depending on background and expertise, the Invasive Species Committee, Wildfire Community, Chapter Horticulture Chairs Committee, and others.
• Provide general support to chapter members and the broader CNPS community, including responding to emails and phone inquiries, connecting members with relevant resources, and assisting with other day-to-day chapter needs.
• Support chapter plant sale activities which include providing technical assistance with Square or other sales platforms as needed.
• Identify funding opportunities and advise program leadership and Development team on task-level scoping and resource planning.
• Manage discrete projects, schedules, and deliverables.
• Lead volunteers and contractors on assigned tasks.
• Serve as a point of contact for volunteers and partners; coordinate speaking opportunities and public presentations with Public Affairs.
• Contribute horticultural expertise to grants, reports, and publications.
• Uphold CNPS’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all program development and outreach activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Calscape Content Quality & Tool Integration (20%) 

• Review and improve plant profiles in the database, including updating scientific and common names, geographic ranges, cultivation notes, and links to relevant industry care protocols.
• Manage and respond to incoming correspondence, including emails submitted through Calscape, and route inquiries to the appropriate contacts as needed.
• Review data across platforms and tools to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Develop and review plant care guidance covering irrigation, pruning, mulching, soil health, and pest and disease management informed by integrated pest management (IPM) principles and aligned with goals for biodiversity and pollinator support.
• Assist with testing new websites, pages, and database features before public launch, identifying issues, and providing feedback.
• Review new and updated content to ensure it is accurate, clearly written, and useful to both a general audience and professionals.
• Collaborate on a review process with tribal partners to ensure plant guidance reflects culturally appropriate and community-informed perspectives.
• Coordinate meetings and scheduling, and provide support to volunteers, including occasional in-person participation at events or gatherings. 

Physical Requirements

• This job is performed primarily in an office environment and may require prolonged sitting and the use of a computer and mouse. It may also involve occasional work travel, including visits to nurseries and growing sites where walking on unpaved surfaces, bending, and periods of standing or sitting to inspect plants may be required. 
• These physical requirements are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

Additional Information 

• This is a full-time, non-exempt position eligible for overtime in accordance with CNPS policy and applicable law.
• Standard working hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
• Some evening and weekend work may be required to meet deadlines or to participate in meetings and activities.
• This is a hybrid role based in Sacramento (CA) that supports remote work while requiring in-office participation for meetings and team activities. Preference will be given to Sacramento or Bay Area-based candidates or to those willing to relocate. We may expand consideration to other California-based candidates only if it becomes necessary to meet our hiring goals.
• Occasional travel within California is required.