Assistant Director

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

Business Title:

Employee Type:

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

As the Assistant Director of Horticulture Teaching Facilities, you will serve under the Horticulture Department Chair (or Director) and will be responsible for the day-to-day management, strategic planning, and operational oversight of three hands-on educational facilities, including the Horticulture Center (a 15-acre farm with orchard, nursery, and small fruit plantings), the Horticulture Teaching Greenhouses (a 10,000 sq ft greenhouse), and the Horticulture Display Garden. These educational facilities are particularly important for hands-on student experiences via HORT courses and horticulture-aligned student clubs (Horticulture Club and HORTA – Horticulture Alliance). These facilities also support research, outreach, and community engagement activities.
 

In this role, you will play a critical leadership role in supporting academic programs by integrating facility operations with instructional goals, student engagement, faculty collaboration, and workforce development. You will perform and oversee the maintenance and repair of greenhouses, orchards and nurseries, and display gardens. You will exercise independent judgment and discretion related to operational planning, budget management, staffing, and safety compliance. You will coordinate the use of the facilities for research, extension, student clubs, and public events, ensuring optimal functionality, educational value, and alignment with university and departmental objectives. You may also conduct formal teaching via lectures and laboratories that align closely with student engagement with Horticulture Teaching Facilities.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time (100% FTE), permanent position. Overtime eligibility will be determined based on final salary placement. 

Monthly Salary: $4,942.10 - $7,569.55 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts; training and development; and employee tuition waiver. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for AP staff and Total Compensation.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, plant sciences, agriculture, ecology, natural resources, or a related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in greenhouse management, facility, program, or farm management, including at least one (1) year of supervisory experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

• Ability to work independently and make decisions that impact operational success and student learning outcomes.

• Washington Public Operator Pesticide License or the ability to obtain one within 6-months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in horticulture, agricultural education, plant sciences, ecology, or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated experience working in a collaborative setting with diverse stakeholders.

• Experience working in a university or educational setting.

• Knowledge of greenhouse climate control systems, orchard and nursery production, and sustainable farm management.

• Experience engaging students or supporting academic instruction in hands-on environments.

• Familiarity with student development and/or experiential learning theory.

• Experience coordinating or supporting outreach, research trials, and community engagement programs.

About Department/College/Area/ Campus - horticulture.wsu.edu

Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS)
Department Name: Horticulture
Location: Pullman, WA

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Resume

2) Cover Letter

External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application. Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:

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Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

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More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/