Propagation Coordinator

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

Posted Monday, January 26, 2026 at 7:00 AM | Expires Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 6:59 AM

Summary :
Duties are directly related to coordinating propagation for approved acquisitions and propagation requests of woody, herbaceous, and tropical plant material, utilizing appropriate plant propagation, and production techniques, and accurate plant recording. The Coordinator, Propagation works independently and with team members as necessary, coordinates and performs all duties associated with propagation, production, and establishment of plants at consistent levels of high quality amongst nursery site(s).

This position collaborates with nursery supervisor as part of ensuring overall nursery procedures and functions are efficient and effectively operational.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Researches, records and applies propagation techniques including but not limited to;
  Growing media, plant containers, propagation environment, scarification, stratification and the application of plant hormones and nutrients to aid in seed and cuttings propagation.
• Develops and implements propagation schedules to ensure plants are produced according to the time frame needed and if necessary re-propagate to ensure numbers requested are met.
• Sets up, monitors and records propagation using practical and experimental methodology that yields usable propagation data to create propagation protocols, enters propagation processes and results into the Living Collections Management System.
• Designs and applies propagation trials for knowledge building for species new to cultivation or without propagation information.
• Coordinates and guides the activities of other nursery staff involved in plant propagation and the establishment of propagules.
• Ensures backup collections of difficult to grow species are maintained using re-propagation to prevent loss from the collections
• Continually review and propose changes / upgrades to propagation processes, nursery environment and equipment to enhance successful propagation.
• Supports the testing and trialing of species on the edge of hardiness and climate survival envelope for St Louis for trialing on the Gardens grounds.
• Ensures the care, establishment and maintenance of woody, perennial and tropical plant material in the nursery, including but not limited to; watering, weeding, mulching, applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM), monitoring and scouting crops, growth regulator applications, achieving necessary plant nutrient levels, sowing seeds, sticking cuttings, dividing plants, grafting, transplanting, pruning.
• Identify and correct nutrient deficiencies.
• Ensure optimum temperature, light and humidit y levels.
• Identify and treat pests and diseases.
• Adjusts irrigation systems, shade and ventilation.
• Sterilize and clean greenhouses and their contents periodically.
• Utilizes the Garden’s Living Collections Management System to manage and record data for plants in the Nursery.
  • Update the Living Collections Management Database when a plant status has changed
  • Maintain highest standards of plant record keeping; ensure that plants are labeled with accession numbers and/or proper labels at all times; coordinates plant propagation records.
  • Complete periodic inventories of the nursery and greenhouses.
• Follows and is mindful of all appropriate legal and ethical processes when acquiring and sharing plants for the Garden; obliges with national and international permits and regulations including patent laws, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Operates technical equipment, submits maintenance requests in a timely manner, and maintains general care of tools and equipment necessary for operations to include but not limited to vehicles, forklifts, pallet trucks, carts, lifts, Cushmans, tractors, cultivators, mechanical sprayers, and a variety of hand tools.
• Trains, assigns, leads and directs the work of staff, students/interns, and volunteers to deliver and complete projects.
• Develops and submits budgets associated with plant propagation and propagation environment improvements.
• If requested, conducts tours, lead presentations and answer visitor’s questions about the Garden’s plant collections and displays; participates in media outreach (TV, radio, newspaper, etc.) when required.
• Ability to remove snow, ice, leaves, and results of storm damage from work environment.
• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed; adapts or modifies work methods to reduce hazards; report all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately.
• Ensures that all tool storage areas and work areas are kept clean and tidy.
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that…