Horticulturist

Little Island’s Horticulture team is responsible for maintaining the Park’s beautiful 2.4 acre perennial landscape. Each Horticulturist facilitates the daily and seasonal landscape maintenance of an assigned zone within the park including planting, weeding, watering, pest management and snow management. Reporting directly to the Head of Horticulture, the Horticulturists are also essential members of the Operations team, and they will collaborate with park staff and supervisors to ensure Little Island’s landscape and facilities are kept to the highest standard. Situated over the Hudson River, Little Island provides a challenging and unique opportunity to hone your horticulture skills with over 350 varieties of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and perennials. The park also has 66,000 individual Spring bulbs and 18,000 sq.ft of lawn. Horticulturists will have the opportunity to collaborate with our Landscape Architect to ensure the integrity of her vision.

The ideal Horticulture teammates are hardworking self-starters who are detail oriented, have an aesthetic eye, and a variety of horticulture skills. Candidates should be comfortable working outdoors in all types of weather and experience working in a public space or garden is a must.

• Hourly Rate: $26
• Job Type: Full-Time, Year-Round
• Employment Status: Non-exempt
• Schedule Expectations: Monday-Friday 6 AM or 7 AM start, with the flexibility to work weekends as needed
• Projected Start Date: Week of April 15, 2024

What You’ll Do

• Perform all aspects of daily gardening including planting, transplanting, dividing, deadheading, cutback, clean-up, hand watering, editing, weeding, pruning, mulching
• Ensure cleanliness of the landscape through daily morning walkthroughs to clear damage, debris, and litter
• Monitor all plantings for hand watering during establishment and drought
• Ensure all necessary horticulture supplies are stocked
• Scout and monitor all pests and diseases within the landscape
• Keep consistent communication with the Head of Horticulture and the wider Operations Department to ensure landscape and facilities are kept to a high standard and there is cross departmental awareness of active projects
• Act as an ambassador for Little Island by answering questions from the public about the landscape, park history, and general park information
• Assist Head of Horticulture in collecting thorough garden records and photographs
• Contribute discussion items and topics for the weekly Horticulture Walkthrough
• Work with various outside Horticulture vendors as needed
• Assist Park Operations with snow removal and other tasks as assigned
• Other duties and tasks related to the park and its operations as assigned

What You Bring

• Prior experience in urban perennial gardening preferred
• A degree or certification in horticulture preferred
• Excellent plant and pest identification preferred
• Ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair irrigation a plus
• Ability to operate and maintain horticulture tools and equipment, including gas and electric powered hedge trimmers
• Ability to use basic computer programs; proficiency in Microsoft office preferred
• Availability work weekends and holidays as needed
• Ability to lift or transport objects up to 50lbs.
• Ability to squat, lift, stretch, bend, and stand for extended periods of time
• Possession of OSHA 10 or 30 or willingness to obtain
• Ability to work in the U.S.

Benefits and Perks

• 15 days’ vacation, 7 sick, up to 3 personal days
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental & vision care
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Commuter benefits
• Flexible spending accounts
• Basic Life Insurance, Short & Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Access to discounts at neighborhood businesses

Life at Little Island

• Park employees will spend time onsite at Little Island working in outdoor weather conditions, navigating the entire park multiple times a day, and interacting with park visitors to ensure operations are running effectively. Little Island is ADA compliant, and park employees are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for each other and our park’s visitors.
• Little Island’s Headquarters, located near the park, provides an open floor plan office, shared work areas and kitchen, a locker room, and rehearsal space. It is a dynamic and multi-use space where employees and artists can collaborate, connect, and unwind in between shifts, meetings, and events.
• Little Island is a proud equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, familial or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. In short, you are welcome here no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you look like. Our park is for everyone, and so is our workplace.