Director of Operations

About the Role

Reports to: Executive Director

Position: Full-time; exempt

Benefits: Health, Dental, PTO

Coordinates with: Director of Communication, Business Manager, Maintenance Manager, and Garden Manager

Oversees: Nursery Manager, Store Manager, Café Manager, Event Coordinator

The Director of Operations (DOO) is a key leadership position at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. This is a full-time, exempt position that provides leadership and organizational direction for staff and volunteers.

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a dynamic nonprofit organization that serves as both a local hub for learning through hands-on garden experiences and a valued resource with national and international reach. The ideal candidate for this position is a collaborative and inclusive leader who values teamwork, transparency, and continuous improvement. The DOO is responsible for business and administrative operations, including budget monitoring and tracking for our three retail centers, contract oversight, human resources, and revenue-generating initiatives. The DOO also supports the Executive Director with long-range strategic planning and provides operational and administrative support for day-to-day operations.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Working with the Executive Director and Senior Staff, this position will foster a workplace environment that is welcoming, respectful, and grounded in shared purpose
• Participates in long-term planning and financial management of guest service operations, which include Admissions, Store, Café, and the Nursery
• Acts as direct supervisor to Guest Services Manager, Nursery Manager, Café Manager, and Event Coordinator
• Under the direction of the ED, thinks strategically about how to steadily improve operational efficiencies, business processes, space planning, and use, and the development/enhancement of revenue streams
• Demonstrates initiative in identifying issues and developing solutions to help the organization
• Maintains confidentiality of personnel and appropriate financial and planning information

Organizational Operations

• Works with the Leadership Team to develop, implement, and regularly review operational policies and strategies guided by the organization’s mission, vision, and goals
• Supports the ED and Maintenance team with outside contractors by securing bids, reviewing contracts, communicating with the board, scheduling projects, and ensuring effective coordination with department leaders
• Works with ED and Business Manager to develop annual budget for retail centers and events
• Develops and implements attendance metrics, tracking, reporting, and analysis
• Ensures effective coordination and implementation of external services that support business operations, such as information technology, ticketing, and POS
• Implements and manages consistent and equitable HR practices -Ensures that MCBG remains compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws; maintains and updates the Employee Handbook as needed; manages required training, documentation, and reporting
• Develops and implements safety policies, training, and manages the Disaster Preparedness Program
• Ensures compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations

Guest Services

• Ensures a high standard of visitor experiences in our three retail centers: Nursery, The Garden Store, and Rhody’s Garden Café
• Monitors and analyzes budget performance for guest service operations and events, ensuring prudent and responsible resource allocation by communicating regularly with department managers about balances, spending, and spending patterns
• Sets and maintains guest service standards, policies, and documentation, including, but not limited to, safety, ticketing, operational transactions, and data collection
• Provides support for the day-to-day functioning of the Gardens’ guest services, ticket and store sales, membership, events, and retail operations
• Works with our box office platform (Agile) to set up and administer sales operations for admissions, program registration, and memberships
• Oversee our POS/ retail management system (Lightspeed), including our online store

Events

• Provides operational oversight for events, including but not limited to our two large annual fundraising events, Art in the Gardens and Festival of Lights
• Under the direction of the ED, work with key management staff to improve events through efficient organization and revenue-generating initiatives

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5-10 years of progressive leadership experience in business operations, preferably in a non-profit, horticulture, or cultural institution
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred
• Must have management experience in a guest services setting
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated record of strong supervisory and leadership skills in managing and supporting staff
• Must be well organized with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through
• Is a self-starter and exhibits fairness, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions
• An appreciation for environmental conservation and for the mission of the Gardens
• Must be flexible and able to work some weekends and evenings

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter and resume to the MCBG Executive Director, Jaime Jensen, at director (at) gardenbythesea (dot) org. Applications via LinkedIn will not be accepted. The application deadline is Monday, June 22, 2026.