Summary: Responsible for providing leadership in support of the Africa program and across multiple international locations. Responsible for leading the definition, development, and implementation of the Garden's scientific, conservation, and restoration strategy among the applicable programs in Africa, and developing business plans in support thereof. Ensures that initiatives function proactively to support and achieve departmental and division-related objectives in support of the Garden's mission. Leads, develops and motivates an effective team. Helps to promote the Garden's role in science and conservation to internal and external audiences, and is instrumental in securing ongoing funding. Develops research on various flowering plant groups and related topics, focusing on tropical Africa, and involving a diversity of approaches, including field and herbarium studies as well as one or more analytical methods (e.g., biogeography, conservation analysis, etc.).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Director, Africa and Madagascar Program, leads the vision, strategic development, and delivery of objectives of the Africa Program in support of the Africa & Madagascar Department, the Division of Science and Conservation, and Garden's global mission of plant science, conservation and sustainability.
• Contributes to the strategic development, delivery, and assessment of the program's initiatives.
• Initiates, conducts and publishes significant independent research and writes results for publication in books and peer reviewed journals.
• Initiates, cultivates and sustains partnerships that enable long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between the program and other entities, including universities, botanical research institutions, other scientific organizations, and the private sector.
• Carries out and coordinates efforts to identify funding sources and prepares and submits proposals to raise funds to support initiatives within the program, department, and division, including independent research program.
• Develops a sustainable operating budget, aligned with available resources.
• Provides leadership to, and directly manages, coaches and develops the program's team of professionals.
• Establishes and maintains contact with professionals, community networks, professional organizations and other institutions with interests similar to those of the program in an effort to promote strengthened collaboration.
• Appraises, evaluates and reports the program's activities and results on a regular, systematic basis.
• Maintains scientific research projects that involve students, staff, and external collaborators.
• Writes, reviews, and facilitates grant proposals, journal articles, institutional reports, and publicity materials.
• Participates in scientific meetings and delivers lectures to professional organizations and to the general public as appropriate.
• Leads and serves on scientific panels/committees as appropriate.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation, within the program and department, as well as the division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and employees.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Directly supervises a team of employees in the Africa Program.

Competencies:

• Leadership: Leadership competency incorporates a cluster of knowledge, skills and abilities required for management of people, budgets and assigned business functions/operations.
• Communication: Combines listening skills, verbal and written communication skills and visitor relation skills.
• Collaboration: Incorporates teamwork, mutual respect, active engagement, cooperation and visitor focus.
• Accountability: Initiative to take ownership of responsibilities, the ability to prioritize and the working knowledge and skills to take action.
• Problem Solving: Blends problem solving skills, judgement and decision making skills along with creativity and resourcefulness.
• Stewardship: Merges the practical application of the Garden values and support for a positive organizational climate.

Qualifications/Experience:

• • Documented scientific record with a minimum of five+ years' experience and publication record.
  • Minimum five (5+) years relevant and increasingly responsible experience with a record of successful career growth leading to significant management responsibilities, leadership experience and a proven track record in strategic business planning preferably in a non-profit, learning organization.

• Demonstrated abilities in successful grant proposal writing, fundraising, and negotiating and managing budgets.
• Budget development and management skills; advanced understanding of financial operating budget process.
• Five or more (2+) years' experience in staff management including conflict resolution and other related management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels; must feel comfortable interacting and working with other departments.
• Strong presentation and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrates highest level of professional and ethical conduct, knowledge and understanding of organizational policies, procedures and systems, maintains confidentiality.
• Must be able to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure, demonstrate and instill in staff members a high degree of professionalism, integrity, loyalty and service to the organization.
• Scheduling flexibility is required to work evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed.
• Ability to travel frequently (local, domestic and international).
• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receiveall vaccinationsas recommended by your healthcareprovider prior to hire date.The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based onlocalhealth department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtainrequired travel clearances, driving permits, andvaccinationsfor all countries where travel is required.
• The requirements and duties listed are representative and not exhaustive of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education:

• Ms. in Botany, Biology or related field required.
• Prior experience working in non-profit environment helpful.

Other Skills and Abilities: N/A.

Language Skills: Ability to communicate effectively in English (oral/written).

Mathematical Skills:

• Proficient College Math Aptitude - Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals, etc.
• Ability to understand, analyze and create budgets.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to exercise independent judgment in the observation, analysis and resolution of issues.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in the allocation of resources.

Computer Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in navigating through various PC applications including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite (i.e., PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook).
• Experience in database management.
• Solid Internet research skills.
• Ability to use e-mail to communicate with Garden staff in order to answer questions and service their needs.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Must possess valid driver's license prior to employment.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a passport for international travel.
• Must be able to obtain visas, vaccinations and immunizations for all countries where travel is required.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to utilize computer keyboard (typing) and sit for extended periods of the work day.
• Operates copier, printer, fax, and computer.

• Ability to walk about facility frequently throughout work day, and sit for extended periods of the work day (may sit up to 50% of work day).

• Ability to travel independently for long periods on airplanes, trains and other conveyances both domestic and international.
• Ability to walk, stand, kneel, or climb as required and move about for extended periods of time.
• Physical fitness necessary for project visits and field studies involving multi-week hikes/rides/camping in difficult terrain.
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights and at high altitudes.
• Ability to understand field safety requirements and wear personal protective equipment, as needed.

• Ability to work in extreme weather conditions.

• May require working long hours to meet deadlines.

Work Environment:

• Office and laboratory environment in St. Louis and overseas; overseas assignments, including in developing countries and/or in remote and rugged regions.
• Outdoor setting; ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (i.e., in temperatures over 100F as well as temperatures below 0F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions as needed).
• Comfortable working in immediate proximity to general public, in a friendly manner, answering questions.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Garden:

• Senior VP for Science and Conservation
• Director, Africa & Madagascar Department
• Garden employees, volunteers, and visitors
• Collaborators, Guests and International Scientists
• Professional Organizations
• Governmental Officials
• Colleges/Universities

Supervisor's Title: Director, Africa & Madagascar Program

• Missouri Botanical Garden, 2345 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America