Horticulture Supervisor
The Horticulture Supervisor at Little Island will assist with leading a team of seasonal Gardeners in overseeing the effective implementation of Little Island’s Landscape Management and Succession Program. Spanning 2.4 acres, the landscape includes 350 varieties of trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, perennials, 66,000 bulbs, and 14,000 sq. ft. of lawn. The Horticulture Supervisor ensures the daily Horticulture workflow is well integrated into the Operations Department and assists with the hiring and ongoing development of the Horticulture team. This role is a field-based position reporting to the Head of Horticulture.
The ideal candidate is a seasoned Horticulturist with a passion for urban perennial maintenance and public horticulture. They possess excellent plant and pest identification skills, are fluent in botanical Latin, and have a keen eye for detail and planting composition. The candidate should have a proven ability to supervise and motivate a seasonal Horticulture team.
About the Role
About the Role
- Hourly Rate: $36 per hour
- Job Type: Year-Round
- Employment Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
- Schedule Expectations: The schedule will be 5 days per week Monday-Friday, with flexibility to work weekends and holidays as needed.
- Work Environment: On-site, field-based position
- Projected Start Date: February 3, 2025
- How to Apply: Please click the ‘Apply Here’ button below. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete your application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please let us know at jobs@littleisland.org
What You’ll Do
Team Development and Collaboration
- Supervise the horticulture team in the field, providing guidance and feedback on essential tasks, ensuring proper horticultural maintenance techniques and best practices are followed.
- Collaborate with the Head of Horticulture to develop seasonal work schedules, prioritizing plant health and landscape aesthetics.
- Maintain daily communication with the Head of Horticulture regarding plant health, irrigation issues, and overall landscape conditions.
- Facilitate team meetings to ensure daily priorities are identified and met, essential information is communicated, and End of Day logs are completed.
- Support the Head of Horticulture in hiring and training seasonal Gardeners.
- Collaborate with the Head of Horticulture and the Horticulture and Facilities Associate on the horticulture department’s inventory system, including the acquisition, maintenance, and organization of tools, equipment, and supplies.
- Supervise and document services and contracted work performed by external horticulture vendors.
- Work with the Head of Horticulture and the Horticulture and Facilities Associate to produce monthly landscape guides.
- Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and organization in the Horticulture back of house workspace.
- Ensure adherence to Little Island safety protocols through leading the monthly departmental safety training.
- Support Horticulture team and Operations staff in addressing landscape emergencies and damage.
General Horticulture
- Perform all aspects of daily gardening including planting, transplanting, dividing, deadheading, cutback, clean-up, hand watering, editing, weeding, pruning, mulching.
- Plan and execute timely, large horticulture projects including but not limited to Spring Cutback and Fall Planting alongside the Head of Horticulture.
- Ensure cleanliness of the landscape through daily morning walkthroughs to clear damage, debris, and litter.
- Troubleshoot and repair irrigation systems, including drip lines, sprinklers, and manifold components; participate in system start-up and winterization.
- Serve as an ambassador for Little Island, answering public inquiries about the landscape and park history.
- Perform other tasks related to the park and its operations, as assigned by the Head of Horticulture.
Data Collection and Record Keeping
- Assist the Head of Horticulture in refining Little Island’s Landscape Management and Succession Program through detailed record-keeping and priority setting.
- Lead a weekly landscape evaluation program to identify distressed species and map any conditions requiring remediation.
- Collaborate with the Head of Horticulture to identify and manage pest and disease issues using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles.
- Facilitate and maintain the collection of specific landscape data including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) observations, Vendor Onsite Reports, Lawn Maintenance records, and the creation of Landscape Maps.
- Research and source new Horticulture products, tools, and best practices as directed.
What You Bring
- 4 years of hands-on, field-based horticultural experience in a supervisory capacity; prior public park management experience is preferred.
- A strong desire to teach, train, and develop staff.
- Expertise in urban horticultural practices; related advanced degree or certification a plus (including ISA Certified Arborist).
- Energetic, hardworking, and detail-oriented with a commitment to safety.
- Strong ability to communicate effectively with staff, stakeholders, and the public, conveying the park’s mission and goals.
- Ability to transport, move, and use park equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. and safely handle gardening tools and materials.
- OSHA 10 or 30 certification or willingness to complete a plus.
- Valid NYS Driver’s License preferred.
- Availability to work early morning hours and on weekends as necessary.
- Ability to squat, lift, stretch, bend, and stand for extended periods of time.
- Comfort working in a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, including light rain, summer heat, and in intermittent direct sunlight.
- Eligibility to work in the U.S.
Benefits and Perks
- 15 days’ vacation, 7 sick days, up to 3 personal days annually (all prorated based on hire date)
- Health Benefits: Medical, dental & vision care
- Flexible spending accounts
- 401(k) retirement plan with company matching
- Commuter benefits
- Basic Life Insurance, Short & Long-Term Disability
- Employee Assistance Program
- Partial cell phone reimbursement
- 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 visitors to ensure smooth operations. Little Island is ADA compliant, and our employees are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for each other and our park’s visitors.
- Little Island’s headquarters, located nearby, features an open floor plan office, shared work areas, a kitchen, a locker room, and rehearsal space. This dynamic, multi-use environment encourages collaboration, connection, and relaxation among employees and artists between shifts, meetings, and events. space where employees and artists can collaborate, connect, and unwind in between shifts, meetings, and events.
- As a proud equal opportunity employer, Little Island 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, regardless of who you are, where you come from, or what you look like. Our park is for everyone, and so is our workplace.