Head of Horticulture

Job Details: Job Location: Legal Address - Brainerd, MN, Position Type: Seasonal Full-Time, Salary Range: $19.00 - $24.00Hourly, Madden's is an award-winning resort, located on more than 1,000 acres, that anticipates the wishes and desires of vacationers and offers them fantastic golf, upscale dining, lakeside spa, tennis, activity programs for children, biking, shopping, and art gallery with painting classes and almost every kind of on-the-water recreation possible in Minnesota, including fishing. Madden’s has distinguished itself by an emphasis on gracious hospitality, quality, and diversity. Our philosophy is simply to provide the best that Minnesota has to offer. Madden’s is currently seeking a seasonal Head of Horticulture. This position is Responsible for the overall beauty, health, and consistency of flowers and softscapes across Madden’s Resort and golf courses. Leads seasonal flower installations, landscape design direction, horticulture staff, greenhouse operations, plant production, and inventory planning while ensuring high standards of presentation and maintenance.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Works with the Assistant Superintendent to establish, enforce, and maintain presentation standards for all landscaped areas, including directing and overseeing the work of the Lead Landscaper to ensure edging, mulch, rock beds, and detail work align with resort expectations.
Leads the annual flower installation program, including seasonal planning, plant selection, bed layout, scheduling, and hands-on planting to ensure timely and high-quality execution.
Establishes and defines the landscape and softscape design direction for the property, selecting plant varieties, color themes, textures, and seasonal combinations that elevate the overall resort aesthetic.
Directs, schedules, and works alongside horticulture team members in daily plant care operations, including watering, pruning, deadheading, transplanting, bed preparation, and weed control—while setting clear expectations and ensuring accountability for plant health and presentation standards.
Conducts routine property inspections with the Resort Assistant to proactively identify and address plant health issues, appearance concerns, and improvement opportunities.
Oversee greenhouse operations including propagation, plant production, inventory planning, and seasonal crop scheduling to support installation programs and ongoing refresh cycles.
May apply liquid and dry fertilizers and nutrients as needed and ensure safe handling of all materials.
Operates EZ-Go, John Deere utility vehicles, water trailers, and other equipment safely and efficiently.
Coordinates with the Grounds Assistant Superintendent to align horticulture efforts with overall resort and golf course maintenance operations.
Incorporates safe work practices in job performance
Attends training and staff meetings and maintains regular and reliable attendance.
Performs additional duties as assigned to support resort grounds operations.

Skills and Abilities:

Excellent listening, speaking, and writing skills.
Communications skills should be at a level where employees can converse with guests and other employees
Ability to work in a team and coordinate work functions with fellow workers
Maintains a proactive “Can-do” attitude
Follows Madden’s “Core Values”

Education/Experience:

Associate’s degree in horticulture, landscaping, or related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum of one full season of professional landscape or horticulture experience required; leadership experience strongly preferred.

Work Environment:

Work is performed mainly outside in varying weather conditions.  

Physical Demands:

Primarily stationary such as sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time. Must have the ability to occasionally required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch and lift up to 50 pound boxes and items sometimes repeatedly and carry 5 gallon buckets of water.

Expected Hours of Work:

7:00 AM- 3:00 PM Monday through Friday with varying hours based on sunlight and weather conditions.

Travel:

Less than 10% travel required.