Curator

Background and Mission

Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve (the Preserve) embraces its mission to increase the knowledge and use of native plants by serving as an educational resource and destination that inspires conservation action as the nation’s only accredited museum focused exclusively on native plants. Founded in 1934, the Preserve is a member-supported nonprofit organization that welcomes over 30,000 visitors annually on 134 acres with over five miles of hiking trails through undeveloped forest, meadows and the Pidcock Creek watershed. The Preserve boasts renowned educational programming, a robust special events calendar and a regionally-recognized Native Plant Nursery.

Position Summary

The curator serves a critical leadership role for the Preserve, managing all aspects of the Preserve’s museum-accredited native plant collection and ensuring that the Preserve conforms to the highest standards of museum practices. The curator is a manager-level position and a key member of the senior leadership team. This is a public-facing position, interfacing with Preserve’s donor community, supporting education activities and serving as the organization’s link to science and research initiatives as well as academic relationships. Additionally, the position is a hands-on role, responsible for directing invasive plant management programs and specific land stewardship activities at the Preserve. The ideal candidate is credentialed, has a passion for native plants of the Mid-Atlantic region, ecology and conservation, and is fulfilled by meaningful public interactions. The curator reports to the executive director.

Responsibilities

AAM-Accredited Museum Plant Collection and Living Plant Collection:

• Manage the accessioning, evaluation, inventorying, labeling and monitoring of the Museum Plant Collection with emphasis on rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) species of local provenance to establish viable populations within the Preserve
• Plan and execute the seed and plant intake process of wild populations within the Northern Piedmont (Level III Ecoregion) for addition to the Preserve’s Living Plant Collection
• Update and maintain the comprehensive plant records database and GIS mapping system
• Lead 2026-2027 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) reaccreditation process
• Build and implement the annual departmental budget and collections enhancement, protection and management plan to optimize financial and material resources
• Prepare a plant catalog and report of curatorial activities annually for accreditation, board and staff review

Native Plant Nursery (in collaboration with the nursery manager):

• Establish nursery processes to properly collect, document and propagate native plant material for collections purposes
• Perform hands-on nursery propagation and/or obtain appropriate native plant material through partner organizations and vendors to expand and enhance the collections
• Retain appropriate accessioned plant material for reserve collections stock purposes

Land Stewardship (in collaboration with grounds management staff and volunteers):

• Manage all aspects of the identification and control of invasive plants using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) best practices
• Ensure compliance with state and federal laws governing the use of chemical pesticides and maintain active pesticide applicator licensure for direct pesticide application
• Oversee the care of special habitat areas such as meadows and ponds, utilizing appropriate equipment such as the Preserve’s Kubota tractor, zero turn mower, skid steer and others as needed
• Direct all aspects of deer control, including
  • leading seasonal deer drives
  • working with third party deer cull organizations, USDA and PA Game commission to remove deer legally and safely
  • applying deer repellant in sensitive areas
• Serve as point of contact for internal and external scientific initiatives and data-collecting activities relating to IPM, phenology, environmental health and climate change, using shared data to inform management recommendations
• Provide project management for medium- to large-scale planting and landscape renovation projects
• Support limited hazard tree removal and trail maintenance managed the PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources, grounds management staff and volunteers

Community Engagement:

• Establish and cultivate relationships with government entities, organizations and private landowners to identify and obtain native plant material through offsite collection
• Steward academic relationships and partnerships in science and research
• Represent the Preserve externally through professional symposia and partner organization initiatives
• Recruit, educate, train and support volunteers to assist with collections, inventories and invasive plant removal efforts
• Lead the Preserve’s Collections Committee and serve as key member of senior staff leadership team

• Support limited Preserve fundraising initiatives and education programs managed by their respective departments

Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Master’s degree in botany, curation, plant science or related field
• Minimum of five years of work and field experience
• Possess or obtain an active P.A. pesticide applicator’s license
• Extensive knowledge of native plants of the Mid-Atlantic region
• Conversant in ecological principles to audiences of all sizes
• Excellent people skills
• High attention to detail
• Excellent computer skills are strongly preferred, especially database management
• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record
• Experience with motor vehicles and equipment, including tractors & attachment, mowers, skid steer and dump truck
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and to perform strenuous physical tasks in all weather and temperature conditions

Work Schedule

This is a permanent full-time position with occasional weeknight, weekend and holiday work as needed. This is an onsite position with the primary work location at the Preserve.

The Preserve is open 7 days a week and on most federal holidays, including Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day. The Preserve is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Physical Requirements

This position requires regular periods of physical labor. Candidates must be able to:

• Effectively maneuver on uneven gravel and stone surfaces for prolonged periods of time
• Bend, squat, reach and lift
• Lift up to 50 lbs.
• Perform strenuous physical tasks in all weather and temperature conditions
• Operate motor vehicles and equipment, including tractors & attachment, mowers, skid steer and dump truck

Compensation and Benefits:

The annual salary range is $70,000 to $75,000 and is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Benefits include:

• Health insurance cost-sharing program
• Generous paid time off policy
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Employee discounts
• Complimentary Preserve membership

Visit us at www.bhwp.org for more information.

A background check is required.

The Preserve is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to non-discriminatory policies. All decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, promotion and all other terms of employment will be made without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, marital status, status as a qualified handicapped or disabled individual, or any other impermissible factor in accordance with applicable laws.