Director of the Botanical Garden - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

An academy garden has existed at Lund University since 1690. Today's garden was designed in the 1860s and its structure is largely preserved. The botanical garden covers about 8 ha and has been a protected landmark since 1974. The garden includes a large exhibition greenhouse with different climate zones. There is also a shop, which is run under its own auspices and a café, which is run under external auspices. More than 700,000 visitors came through the gates to the garden in 2021.

The Botanical Garden is now looking for a manager to succeed the previous one who is retiring.

Description of the Botanical Garden’s operations
The Botanical Garden's vision is to be a first-class botanical facility with collections that are interesting for research and teaching, for conservation work and for disseminating information about nature's diversity and significance to the public. A high priority is to enhance public awareness of plants by highlighting their exciting lifestyles and adaptations. Our program today includes various types of guided tours as well as exhibitions as well as a substantial program for school children in Lund and surrounding area.

The Botanical Garden's operations currently include 15 employees: a manager, two scientific curators, three gardeners, six garden technicians, a store manager, an administrative coordinator, and an educator. During the summer, these operations are expanded with seasonal employees.

The Botanical Garden is part of Lund University's cultural and museum activities (LUKOM) and is under the leadership of the Pro Vice-Chancellor for education and culture.

Duties and responsibilities
As director of the Botanical Garden, you will represent the garden internally within Lund University as well as externally via contacts with other universities, other botanical gardens, and the general public. You will work actively to create networks with various actors within Lund University and the surrounding society, not least the media. You will be responsible for leading operations in accordance with the Botanical Garden's mission. As a manager, you will be responsible for developing the garden's public activities -ensuring that the garden contributes to spreading knowledge about nature's diversity in society.

You will have the overall responsibility for the garden's staff, finances, work environment, premises, and equipment and for ensuring that operations are conducted in accordance with current regulations. You will also be expected to conduct active development work that takes the garden into the future.

The Botanical Garden is in an exciting development phase. The display greenhouse is being renovated and rebuilt with a new palm house, and a new shop and exhibition space is also being built. At the same time, an older outbuilding is being converted into a teaching hall to create space for further educational activities. An outdoor classroom is also being built nearby. These new facilities need to be filled with exciting activities that can help us to reach our goals.

In the role of manager and leader, you will develop the group and the employees by engaging, creating participation, and by taking advantage of the employees' skills. You will adapt your leadership to the needs of the operation and act in a structured, clear, and transparent manner.

The work involves occasional evening and weekend duties as well as travel to participate in various conferences and network meetings.

Qualifications

Requirements for employment are:

• A doctoral degree in a biological subject with plants in focus and a broad knowledge of the plant world.
• Good knowledge of both cultivated and wild plants as well as questions about the conservation of biological diversity.
• Experience of popular science knowledge transfer.
• Experience of, and ability to exercise, management or leadership of personnel, the budget, and the work environment.
• A good ability to prioritize, communicate, work independently, make decisions and act professionally.
• A good ability to express yourself in Swedish and English, in both speech and writing.

Desirable qualifications for employment are:

• Experience of leadership where you inspire, involve, and listen to your employees.
• Experience of business development, preferably in a public business.
• Knowledge or experience of working in government activities.

We are looking for a person who can engage people and act as an ambassador for the Botanical Gardens to carry out projects. You need to have good collaboration skills and be able to solve problems by analyzing situations with good judgment, even under time pressure.

Other
The employment is a full-time (100%) permanent position beginning on October 1, 2022, or according to agreement. Probationary employment may be applied. 

Interviews will be held in our premises in Lund during weeks 34-36, between the 22nd of August and the 9th of September. Work tests may be applied.

We offer
Lund University is a government agency, which means that you will receive specific benefits, generous holidays, and a favorable occupational pension.

As a manager, you will have access to special training and development opportunities through the university's leadership platform.

Read more on the university's website about being employed by us at Work with us

Contact persons for the position are:
Ann-Kristin Wallengren, Vice-Rector ann-kristin.wallengren@rektor.lu.se

Christer Löfstedt, Chairman of the Board of Lund University's Botanical Garden christer.lofstedt@biol.lu.se

Sofie Olofsson, curator sofie.olofsson@botan.lu.se

How to apply
One must apply for the position via the university's recruitment system. The application must contain a personal letter with a justification of why you are interested in the position and in what ways the position matches your qualifications. The application must also contain a CV, a graduation diploma or equivalent, and any other supporting documents you may wish to include (e.g. copies of grade transcripts, information for references, letters of recommendation).