Description

The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Director of Education & Horticulture leads innovative programs that advance CNPS biodiversity campaigns by connecting people meaningfully with native plants, generating science on the biodiversity benefits of native plant gardening to inform policy advocacy, and collaborating with native plant industry partners to advance shared goals. The director leads a department responsible for guiding and supporting education, community science, horticulture, and restoration programming across CNPS and its 35 chapters. Key projects and initiatives include (and are not limited to): CNPS’s Calscape native plant platform, the triennial CNPS Conference (held next in February 2026), coalition-building within the native plant industry, and organization-wide education and community science projects.  
 
The director is a strategic leader, coalition builder, and ambassador for the urban biodiversity campaign., collaborating across CNPS teams, chapters, and a broad network of external partners to integrate native plants into urban landscapes and transform the built environment. The director is also an effective organizational leader who will build and support a cohesive education and horticulture team, foster cross-departmental collaboration, and guide the development of educational tools and engagement practices that empower chapter volunteers to deliver exciting and culturally relevant programming. 
 
The director is part of CNPS’s senior leadership team, comprised of three other directors, two senior directors, and the executive director. The director leads a skilled team of eight staff, including two direct reports, in delivering inclusive and accessible programming aligned with CNPS’s strategic plan and biodiversity campaigns. This work includes educational programming that engages people in learning about and forming deeper connections with native plants; community science that meets the needs of communities and addresses gaps in biodiversity science; and stewardship activities that promote the responsible use and protection of native plants and their habitats, with a focus on native plant horticulture and habitat restoration.  
 
What You’ll Do 
 
Strategic and Campaign Leadership (55%) 

• Conduct strategic planning to align Education & Horticulture programming with CNPS’s conservation and urban biodiversity campaigns. 
• Provide leadership for CNPS’s urban biodiversity campaign, including collaboration with public affairs and policy staff, coalition-building with native plant industry partners and cultivating trust-based relationships with Tribal, academic, nonprofit and private sector collaborators. 
• Develop concepts to guide discussions on developing a future CNPS Public Education Center. 

Organizational Leadership & Project Management (25%) 

• Lead annual departmental action planning and budget development. 
• Direct the design and implementation of programming in education, community science, horticulture, and restoration. 
• Mentor staff, partner with departmental managers to define and track project and staff performance objectives, provide feedback, support professional development, and conduct performance reviews. 
• Support the collaborative development and implementation of organization-wide project management processes.  
• Establish protocols and lead culture-building to enhance internal collaboration and synergy. 
• Strengthen staff and volunteer collaboration to support chapter activities. 

Fundraising & Grant Development (10%) 

• Collaborate with the Development team and executive director to cultivate partnerships with, and pursue funding from, foundations, organizations, and government agencies.
• Lead grant and contract development and implementation. 

Event & Conference Planning, and other responsibilities as directed (10%) 

• Provide oversight of planning and implementation of the triennial CNPS Conference (led by the Education and Community Science Manager and supported by an external event planning consultant). 
• Support other leadership tasks as directed. 
   

Location 
This is a full-time (40 hours per week) hybrid position open to residents of California. The role is based out of the CNPS Sacramento office, with an in-office presence required. In-office presence is currently expected for one day per week to support collaboration, attend director meetings, and participate in departmental programming, trainings, and meetups. This schedule may change periodically based on program needs and partner engagement. To support regular office attendance, we strongly prefer applicants who live or are willing to relocate to within 100 miles of Sacramento, and applicants within 60 miles of the office will receive preference. The role also involves occasional statewide travel to attend meetings and events, facilitate in-person training programs, and transport equipment and supplies. Travel to external sites will be reimbursed. 

Physical Requirements  
This job can require prolonged sitting and the use of a computer and mouse. It may require participation in field trips on uneven trails with variable grades. These requirements are representative, and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

Additional Information  

• Hybrid, full-time position (exempt). 
• Standard hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, with some flexibility. 
• Occasional travel throughout California is required. 

Requirements

Who You Are 
 
Strategic Leadership & Campaign Expertise: 

• 8 - 10 years of related professional experience, including 4 - 6 years leading campaign planning and implementation. 
• Demonstrated success in leading strategic initiatives and building diverse, cross-sector coalitions at local, regional, and statewide levels.
• Skilled in supporting or leading strategic planning processes and aligning programs with organizational goals. 

Project & Organizational Management: 

• 4 - 6 years of project management experience, including oversight of large-scale, complex programs. 
• Proven ability to develop and manage action plans, program budgets, and performance tracking systems.
• Demonstrated success in managing organizational change and implementing systems that enhance collaboration and operational efficiency. 

Education, Community Science, Horticulture, & Restoration: 

• Background in education, community science, horticulture, plant or biological sciences, or related fields. 
• Proven ability to design and implement inclusive, accessible educational programming. 
• Skilled in engaging diverse audiences through culturally relevant science communication and facilitation. 
• Experience mentoring volunteers, interns, and junior staff, and supporting capacity-building in community-based organizations. 
• Demonstrated familiarity with California native plants and plant communities. 

Team Leadership & Collaboration: 

• Minimum 4 - 6 years of supervisory experience, with a proven track record of mentoring staff and supporting professional development. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to lead diverse teams toward shared goals. 
• Experience fostering collaboration across departments and engaging volunteer networks. 

Technology & Communication: 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to generate ideas and solve problems collaboratively. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and experienced with hybrid/remote collaboration tools such as Teams, Zoom, and Slack. 
• Skilled in using project management platforms - including Microsoft Project, Planner and Asana - to coordinate timelines, track deliverables, and support cross-functional teamwork; capable of training staff and promoting best practices in tool usage. 

Equity & Values Alignment: 

• Demonstrated commitment to advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) in environmental and educational contexts. 
• Strong alignment with CNPS’s core values of interdependence, stewardship, partnership, and scientific integrity. 
• Dedicated to removing barriers to nature education and expanding equitable access to native plant knowledge and experiences. 

Nice to Have 
While CNPS recognizes that not every individual will exhibit all these characteristics, the successful candidate will possess at least one - and ideally more than one - of the following: 

• Graduate degree or higher in a relevant field. 
• Experience conducting and publishing research in the natural sciences. 
• Understanding of California’s conservation challenges and opportunities. 
• Knowledge of local organizations and government agencies involved in conservation. 
• Experience in marketing, advertising, or public policy. 
• Experience and relationships within the native plant and/or seed industry. 
• Experience building trust-based relationships with Indigenous partners and communities. 
• Familiarity with or prior experience working with CNPS. 
• Fluency in more than one language commonly spoken in California. 
• Experience managing and motivating distributed or remote teams.